Stalin’s afterlife: an inconclusive conclusion

Stalin's legacy experienced rapid obliteration within the Soviet Union following his death, with his embalmed body removed from public display in Lenin Mausoleum and buried modestly in the Kremlin cemetery. This shift marked a stark contrast to his once-dominant presence, reflecting an inconclusive conclusion to his political afterlife. The study examines this transformation through historical analysis, highlighting the hasty dismantling of personal elements associated with Stalin, such as state-sanctioned mourning rituals and public tributes, which were abruptly abandoned in favor of a collective effort to distance from his regime.

(Ed.). (2016). Stalin’s afterlife: an inconclusive conclusion. Stalin, 315–326. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315527659-9