Joseph Stalin voted Third Best Russian

by Karenke4 | December 29, 2008 at 10:44 am

654 views | 36 Recommendations | 13 comments

Joseph Stalin, notorious dictator credited by many historians with the deaths of millions of Russians, was voted third best Russian by over 50 millions citizens.

In a recent poll sponsored by Russiya, a major television station, 500 people were nominated and whittled down to the top 12. Russians voted via phone, internet and text message over a period of six months.

He was beaten out by medieval prince Alexander Nevsky and reformist Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin.

Stalin sent millions of people to their deaths in the work camps of the Gulag. Millions more perished in political purges or during the forced collectivisation of farms during his rule from the 1920s to his death in 1953.

Many in Russia do still revere Stalin for his role during World War II when the Soviet Union defeated the forces of Nazi Germany.

The results baffled many but also provide an interesting glimpse in to the psyche of many Russians, who credit Stalin not for the deaths of so many at work camps and via famine, but for the defeat of Nazi Germany.

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Jennings David L

at 10:49 on December 29th, 2008

While traveling in Russia I came across the same mindset. When I discussed Stalin with a Russian college student he said that what Russia needed was another Stalin, a strong leader. When I asked him how he could look up to someone like Stalin who killed millions he told me "that's what your histroy tells you." He said that when Stalin ran Russia the country was a superpower and was respected throughout the world. An interesting perspective that is proven by the poll in your story.

Paschen

at 10:54 on December 29th, 2008

This is not some think I would be Proud off as Russian, Lenin I can see that. Stalin would be like saying Hitler, Musolini and Franco where all great Guys.

dunkelberg

at 11:00 on December 29th, 2008

So, Stalin finished in third place in "Russian Idol" style voting. Perhaps, one may take solace in that this was not a scientific sampling.

Yet, when super patriotism is involved, the first requirement is a blind eye to faults and inconvenient truths.

Yuliya Talmazan

at 11:02 on December 29th, 2008

Interesting finding. Even to this day, the victory over Germans in WW2 is a huge deal for Russians because of the enormous losses and devastating effects. So selecting Stalin to be in the top 3 Russians of all times is not surprising in that regard.

Jon Azpiri

at 12:32 on December 29th, 2008

Why couldn't they have voted for someone cool like Vladislav Tretiak?

rpshen

at 15:15 on December 29th, 2008

Every poll has some sort of bias. This one seems to be of no exception.

Emilio Lizardo

at 16:21 on December 29th, 2008

Could it be that almost everyone who disagreed with Stalin ( and usually most of their immediate family ) mysteriously were never heard from again, and so the only ones left to vote are those who think well of him ?

Just a guess ...

drrexdexter

at 16:28 on December 29th, 2008

Ask anyone from Ukraine..he was certainly efficient. Hitler killed his millions, Stalin, his tens of millions. How institutionalized were the poll takers, anyway?

dunkelberg

at 06:00 on December 30th, 2008

Had Stalin not made it to the top, the show would not have gotten the headlines.

The only "reality" in "reality shows" is what the producers create.

kortney_thoma

at 05:38 on December 30th, 2008

I was in Gori, Georgia in October, following the brief but horrible war with Russia. I went out there to see the Stalin Museum (he was born in Gori) as well as the damage left from the fighting. Though Stalin was a terrible dictator who made not only all of Russia but even those from his home country suffer, he still seems to comandeer a certain amount of respect in his hometown--even in death. This photo was taken in Stalin Square, Gori. As you can see, his statue seems to loom over the Italian Red Cross aid trucks in front of a government building. Kind of ironic given the circumstances.

kortney_thoma has contributed a photo to this story.

MarkInVirginia (not verified)

at 08:22 on December 30th, 2008

Stalin was not "voted third best Russian." He came in third in a vote for the best Russian. Clear language, please.

Jessica Bell

at 15:12 on January 1st, 2009

This was taken in a park outside Prague. It is the place where communist statues go to to die. They all very beautiful and neglected as they are on the wrong side of politics. Only the boots remained when the statue of stalin was pulled down in a public uprising.

Jessica Bell has contributed a photo to this story.