Legacy Podcast Episode Summary: "Stalin | The Terror | 2"

Release Date: May 7, 2025
Hosts: Afua Hirsch and Peter Frankopan
Podcast: Legacy by Wondery

Introduction

In the second installment of their series on Joseph Stalin, Afua Hirsch and Peter Frankopan delve deeper into the life and reign of one of history's most notorious dictators. This episode, titled "The Terror," explores Stalin's consolidation of power, the brutal policies he enacted, and the pervasive atmosphere of fear he cultivated within the Soviet Union.

Rise to Power

The episode begins by setting the stage in Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg) during the tumultuous year of 1917. As Russia grapples with violent revolution and societal upheaval, Stalin returns to the scene of his ascent. Peter Frankopan narrates:

"[00:37] Afua Hirsch: When Stalin comes back from exile, not one person turns out to welcome him, but he can see his chance coming. Within months, Joseph Stalin will become one of the most powerful men in the country with his steely eyes set on the very top job."

Stalin's strategic positioning within the Bolshevik party becomes evident as he aligns himself closely with Vladimir Lenin, although their relationship is complex and fraught with underlying tensions.

Relationship with Lenin and Early Leadership

Stalin's alliance with Lenin is crucial for his rise. Peter Frankopan explains:

"[03:43] Peter Frankopan: Lenin never really liked Stalin, but he needs an enforcer. Lenin is a thinker. He needs someone to go and implement. And Stalin, on the other hand, needs to have a kind of papal authority given to him by Lenin to allow him to get things done too."

Stalin adeptly navigates the internal conflicts within the Bolshevik party, positioning himself as a reliable and efficient leader. His appointment to key roles—policy-making, organization, and control over Pravda—cements his influence within the party hierarchy.

Internal Party Struggles and Triumph over Trotsky

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the intense rivalry between Stalin and Leon Trotsky, Lenin's charismatic and intellectual protégé. Afua Hirsch highlights:

"[19:23] Afua Hirsch: ...in an Islington restaurant on a Friday night, these two men hated each other. They have a common goal. They are united in their ambition to have the top job to succeed Lenin. But it is a zero-sum game."

This enmity is further explored through a dramatized scene depicting Stalin intercepting Lenin's Testament, which disparages him and suggests his removal from power. Peter Frankopan comments on Stalin's maneuvering:

"[25:10] Peter Frankopan: ...the only good thing for him is that Lenin is equally damning of Trotsky. And that gives Stalin the wiggle room he needs."

By October 1927, Stalin effectively eliminates his rivals, consolidating his grip on power by expelling key figures like Trotsky, Zinoviev, and Kamila from the Communist Party under the guise of enforcing party loyalty.

Policies and Early Repressions

With his position secure, Stalin embarks on aggressive policies aimed at transforming the Soviet Union. Frankopan outlines Stalin's dual focus on industrialization and agricultural collectivization:

"[28:53] Peter Frankopan: So Stalin's first target is the countryside. He wants radical change. He wants an end to private ownership, and he wants the formation of huge collective farms, by force if necessary."

These initiatives are marked by extreme violence and coercion. Stalin's personal involvement in grain requisition is dramatized:

"[09:25] Peter Frankopan: ...Stalin knows he doesn't have the authority to make such demands. But... he decides he'll do whatever he considers necessary to achieve his aims."

The episode starkly portrays the human cost of these policies, including the Holodomor famine in Ukraine, which resulted in the deaths of millions.

Personal Life and Effects

Stalin's personal life is examined to provide insight into his character and motivations. His marriage to Nadia is portrayed as tumultuous, culminating in her tragic suicide:

"[34:46] Peter Frankopan: Then one evening, after a Politburo dinner... Nadja storms out... and she shoots herself."

Afua Hirsch reflects on the rarity of personal accountability in Stalin's regime:

"[35:27] Afua Hirsch: I think, in a way, I see her suicide as one of the very few forms of accountability."

This personal tragedy fuels Stalin's increasing paranoia and brutality.

The Great Purge

The narrative progresses to 1937, marking the onset of the Great Purges, where Stalin's fear of dissent leads to the widespread execution and imprisonment of millions:

"[37:08] Afua Hirsch: ...the Great Purges become extremely familiar. Familiar."

A dramatized encounter with Mikhail Tukhachevsky, a prominent military leader, illustrates the arbitrary and lethal nature of Stalin's repressions:

"[38:00] ...Tukhachevsky: ...I would never betray Comrade Stalin... [39:17] Peter Frankopan: ...Stalin takes it to a new level. The man who industrializes the Soviet Union industrializes terror."

The episode underscores the extensive human suffering caused by Stalin's relentless quest for power, with an estimated 680,000 official deaths during the purges.

Soviet Union in 1939 and the Non-Aggression Pact

As 1939 approaches, Stalin strategizes to secure the Soviet Union against external threats, particularly from Nazi Germany. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression treaty between the USSR and Germany, is depicted as a pragmatic yet morally dubious move:

"[41:11] Peter Frankopan: ...the Soviet Union is not ready for a war... And Stalin doesn't believe that Hitler is crazy enough to ever turn on the Soviet Union."

The episode concludes with the Soviet invasion of Poland and the onset of World War II, foreshadowing the inevitable confrontation between Stalin and Hitler.

Conclusion and Reflection

Throughout the episode, Afua Hirsch and Peter Frankopan emphasize the catastrophic impact of Stalin's policies on both the Soviet Union and the broader world. They reflect on the enduring legacy of Stalin's terror, particularly in regions like Ukraine, and question the historical narratives that have sometimes sanitized the brutal realities of his regime.

Afua Hirsch poignantly observes:

"[32:57] Afua Hirsch: ...the transformation of the Soviet Union in the 1930s is one of the most brutal moments in human history."

The episode effectively captures the complexity of Stalin's rise, the mechanisms of his dictatorship, and the profound human suffering that accompanied his pursuit of power.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Afua Hirsch:
  "[00:37] ...Within months, Joseph Stalin will become one of the most powerful men in the country with his steely eyes set on the very top job."

• Peter Frankopan:
  "[04:02] Stalin works out that the way to [establish his position] is to make himself a reliable, consistent official and master of the paperwork."
  "[19:06] ...the Stalin Trotsky rivalry was strong enough to outlive both Stalin and Trotsky and well into the 20th century."
  "[35:27] ...I see her suicide as one of the very few forms of accountability."
  "[37:08] ...the Great Purges... are absolutely incredible."

• Afua Hirsch:
  "[16:01] ...the sheer numbers, the mindlessness of the violence... it's just really hard for the human mind to process this level of brutality."
  "[31:32] ...children literally dying in the schoolroom... collapsing and dying at their desk."

Final Thoughts

"Stalin | The Terror | 2" offers a harrowing exploration of Stalin's authoritarian regime, highlighting the intersection of political ambition, ideological extremism, and unbridled violence. Through engaging storytelling and rigorous research, Afua Hirsch and Peter Frankopan provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of Stalin's dark legacy and its enduring repercussions.

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