empire · 1922–1991
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union (1922–1991) was the Communist state that grew from the Russian Revolution, became a global superpower, and defined half the world's politics during the Cold War before its unexpected collapse.
Key Takeaways
- The Soviet Union was founded in 1922 from the ruins of the Russian Revolution.
- It became a nuclear superpower and the USA's rival in the Cold War.
- It industrialized rapidly under Stalin but at catastrophic human cost.
- It collapsed in 1991, ending the Cold War.
- Founded
- 1922
- Capital
- Moscow
- Collapsed
- 1991
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was the world's first communist state, spanning eleven time zones from the Baltic to the Pacific, and the United States' great rival in the Cold War that shaped the second half of the 20th century.
The Soviet Union was born from revolution and died from exhaustion. Founded in 1922 after Lenin and the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia, it grew under Stalin into an industrial and military superpower at enormous human cost. Its nuclear arsenal and global reach made it the United States’ great rival in the Cold War, dividing the world into two ideological camps for four decades. Its unexpected collapse in 1991 ended that rivalry and reshaped the world.
Notable Figures of Soviet Union
Joseph Stalin
91Joseph Stalin was the Soviet dictator who industrialized the USSR, led it to victory in World War II, and built a vast empire in Eastern Europe — but also presided over a totalitarian state that killed millions through purges, gulags, and engineered famine.
Leon Trotsky
85Leon Trotsky was the Russian revolutionary who helped lead the October Revolution alongside Lenin, organized and commanded the Red Army through the Russian Civil War, and was later expelled by Stalin, becoming the most famous critic of Stalinist communism before his assassination in Mexico.
Vladimir Lenin
92Vladimir Lenin was the Marxist revolutionary who led the Bolshevik seizure of power in Russia in 1917, founded the Soviet Union, and created the first communist state — reshaping the course of the 20th century.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Soviet Union?
The Soviet Union (1922–1991) was the Communist superstate created from the Russian Revolution, which rivaled the United States in the Cold War before collapsing in 1991.