Death of Stalin, man of steel: 5 March 1953

Translated from the French

NARRATOR: (MUSIC) Their love for Stalin resounded like a thunder clap. His star had risen with that of the Revolution, in which he had been one of the principal agitators. Here he is seen in company with Maxim Gorky, at the time when he was beginning to forge a formidable military force and disseminate his principles of government.

The turning point in his foreign policy would, shortly after the signing of the accord with Pierre Laval [leader of the Vichy French collaboration government], lead him to make the Nazi-Soviet pact that would trouble the consciences even of his party faithful. It took not only the heroic resistance of the Russian people for whom this 'Man of Steel' was their soul, but also Yalta, and the euphoria of the victory felt in Moscow as elsewhere, for such an entente with the Germans to be possible, between two such antagonistic worlds.

Back

Top