MPL Talks: The Life of Josef Stalin

By |2017-08-29T06:00:26-04:00August 29, 2017|

Our Major Leaders of World War II series continued with a program about Josef Stalin, our ally during the war and greatest threat afterward.

Our speaker, John Foster—who, in addition to being a librarian, also has a doctorate degree in history—discussed:

  • Stalin’s rise through the ranks of his party
  • his misdeeds, from armed robbery to mass murder
  • the difference between Stalinism, Leninism, and Marxism
  • how Stalin would “erase” his opponents from history

For those who want a deeper dive into Stalin’s life, Foster recommends Stephen Kotkin’s, Stalin Vol. I: Paradoxes of Power.

If you enjoy history, the next talk in our WWII series will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, at our Main Branch. The subject will be Winston Churchill.

Other historical talks by Foster can be watched on our YouTube page, including: