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Soviet Union : Soviet unionThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR or Soviet Union; Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik, SSSR written in the Cyrillic alphabet as СССР) was a communist-ruled union with a totalitarian regime that existed from 1922 until 1991. It stretched from the Baltic and Black Seas to the Pacific Ocean. In its final years it consisted of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics (SSRs). Russia was by far the largest Republic in the Soviet Union in terms of both land area and population, and also dominated it politically and economically.
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Unhappiness with the Russian involvement in World War I led to the Russian Revolution and a civil war, ending in the establishing of the Soviet Union, the first communist state, on December 30, 1922.
The Soviet Union was the successor state of the Russian Empire but was smaller as a result of the independence of Poland, Finland and the Baltic States.
The territory of the Soviet Union increased during its period of hostility with Nazi Germany. Under Premier Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union emerged from the World War II as a major world power with a territory including the Baltic States and a significant portion of the territory of pre-war Poland together with a substantial sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. For more details see the article on the Soviet Empire. Political confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States persisted for many years and is termed the Cold War.
In 1991, the Soviet Union fell apart after a failed coup attempt by military leaders.
In chronological order, the leaders of the Soviet Union were:
After the revolution, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) outlawed every other political party. The governing of the country was, in theory, to be done by local and regional democratically elected soviets. In practice, however, each level of government was controlled by its corresponding party group (see democratic centralism). The highest legislative body was the Supreme Soviet. The highest executive body was the Politburo. (More about the political organization of the USSR can be found on Organization of the Communist Party of the USSR.)
See also: List of leaders of the Soviet Union
In its final decades of its existence, the Soviet Union consisted of 15 Socialist Soviet Republics (SSR). Three of these in particular shared some common history and were referred to as the Baltic Republics. They are all independent countries now, only very loosely organized under the heading Commonwealth of Independent States.
Former Soviet Republics |
Current Independent Countries |
During the period of its existence, the Soviet Union was by area (22,402,200 sq. km).
The Soviet Union was the first country to base its economy on communist principles, where the state owned all the means of production and farming was collectivized.
The Soviet Union was one of the world's most ethnically diverse countries, with more than 100 distinct national ethnicities living within its borders. The total population was estimated at 293 million in 1991. The Soviet Union was so large, in fact, that even after all associated republics gained independence Russia, remains the largest country by area (with Canada second), and remained quite ethnically diverse, including, e.g., minorities of Tatars, Udmurts[?], and many other non-Russian ethnicities.
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | ||
| January 7 | Eastern Orthodox Christmas | ||
| February 23 | Heroes Day[?] | February Revolution, 1917, Formation of the Red Army, 1918 | |
| March 8 | International Women's Day[?] | ||
| May 1 | International Labor Day | ||
| November 7-November 8 | Great October Socialist Revolution | October Revolution 1917 |
See also: Communism, Socialism, Kishka, World War I, Russian Civil War, World War II, Genocide, Red Army
likely behind the curtains.
Taking a key out of his pocket, he opened one of the cupboards, and,
We both laughed heartily.
"Here are," said the pacha. "my library and my harem. I am/am.html">am old,
at least, make it more agreeable.
"I imagine your excellency has obtained a dispensation from the
enjoying as great a power as the Christian Pope. He cannot in any
liberty to work out his own damnation if he likes. The Turkish
is no inquisition in Turkey. Those who do not know the precepts of
there is no need to make them suffer in this life. The only
circumcision, although it can hardly be called so, because, at my
performed, but it is not compulsory."
During the two hours that we spent together, the pacha enquired after
Dieto. I told him that his friends were still faithful to their
answered that he was a Mahometan as he had been a Christian, and that
Gospel. "I am certain," he added, "that I shall die-calmer and much
that Mahomet is the prophet. I have said it, and the Turks care very
wears the uniform. I was nothing but a military man; I could not
become lieutenant-general of the Grand Turk only when I found myself
pitcher had gone too often to the well, it was broken at last, and if
I would have gone and besieged Jerusalem.
Bonneval was handsome, but too stout. He had received a sabre-cut in
a bandage supported by a silver plate. He had been exiled to Asia,
tenacious in Turkey as they are in Europe, and particularly at the
say that, since his arrival in Turkey, he had never passed two hours
compliment the bailo about me.
.
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