The beginning of the 20th century, the economic and social problems of the Russian Empire led them into a totally unnecessary war against Germany, and the effects were shattering the country. No wonder that the ideas of the socially fair society got the encouragement of the poorest people during this hard period.

1917 is the year of the coup d’etat under the leadership of Vladimir Ulyanov (Lenin) which is going to be called the “Great October Revolution” a little later. The emperor’s family was arrested (and later executed), the nobles were defecting, and their property is nationalized. Civil war was at its full swing in Russia. Nevertheless, 15 major districts of the former Russian Empire unite to form the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The Communist party lead by Joseph Stalin headed for industrialization. In 15 years it turned an agrarian country destroyed by wars into one of the most economically and technologically developed world’s powers.

“Communism is the Soviet Power plus the electrification of the whole country,” and similar slogans pushed the people to unprecedented construction: they used to work 7 days a week, slept outdoors, and raised the country’s industry barehanded (with picks and shovels only). People worked with gusto believing that they were building the road into the bright future for them and their children. That’s how they erected giant industrial plants and power stations (including the famous Dnieper hydroelectric power station – the world’s most powerful hydroelectric station at that time!) 100% literacy of the nation was reached pretty shortly. Even elderly women would sit side by side and share school desks with children!

Soviet pilots accomplished the record nonstop flights across the USSR territory, then to the USA via the North Pole. The Russians were exploring the Arctic Ocean.

In World War II, the Soviet Union played a major role in fighting fascism. Ukraine, Belorussia, Baltic countries, and part of Russia were turned into shambles. Tens of millions of people were killed and others were sent into German work and concentration camps. However, it was the Russian Army that entered Berlin, occupied the Reichstag, and forced the fascists to sign the capitulation pact.

Again came the post-war destruction, poverty, and famine. However, the economy was restored in less than 10 years. The first nuclear-powered submarines and ice-breakers were built in the USSR and the Soviet achievements in space exploration were astounding! The first artificial satellite was launched in the USSR. The first astronaut was an ordinary Russian man, Yuri Gagarin. The first woman astronaut, the first person in open space – all these were the achievements of Russian astronauts. Besides, the record time spent in orbit set by a Russian astronaut is still unbroken.

When World War II was over, the Cold War between the USSR and the USA began. These two super states possessed nuclear weapons. From time to time, these two countries were on the verge of a nuclear war. This race of economic attrition continued for more than 40 years. The Soviet Union practically lost the war because of its inflexible economy. Mikhail Gorbachev, the general secretary of Central Committee of the CPSU, made the first step to the West being aware of total lack of prospects in further confrontation. He renounced most of the former privileges one-sidedly. The disappearance of the iron curtain that was separating the Soviet Union from foreign reality caused information shock. People felt themselves cheated by the communist ideology. Playing on this state of public opinion, the leaders of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine have announced the collapse of the Soviet Union and the establishment of independent states on its territory.