in 1917 Lenin came to power. Under his "rule" the Soviet Union .
underwent radical changes in it's economic doctrines adopting a mixed .
economy which was termed the New Economic Policy also referred to as .
NEP, this economy called for some private ownership of the means of .
production, but the majority of industry was made property of the.
people, which meant the majority of the means of production was .
controlled by the government. Lenin's government made many .
achievements. It ended a long civil war against the remnants of the .
old Czarist military system and established institutions in .
government. During this period, and in fact throughout the majority of .
the Communist rule, censorship and the subordination of interest .
groups such as trade unions was imposed to stop dissension and .
increase conformity to the new governments policies.
Lenin died in 1924, and was quickly followed by Joseph Stalin as .
head of the Soviet Communist Party, the oppressive reforms started by .
Lenin were continued and at length became completely totalitarian. .
Stalin became the most powerful man in Russia. He controlled to bulk .
of all the political power and with that he started a ruthless .
campaign of removing all opposition to the Communist rule. During this .
period called the "Great Purge" Stalin systemically executed anyone .
who stood in his path. Millions of people were arrested and either .
harassed or killed. The economic status of the Soviet Union was yet .
again changed and the entire system became controlled by the .
government. All private ownership ended. A mass program of .
industrialization was commenced, and the strength of the Soviet .
Military was substantially increased. The citizens during this period .
endured great hardship. Agricultural production output diminished .
resulting in food shortages, these shortages were enha! nce by the .
mass exportation of food, this was done to pay for industrial imports. .
Stalin also put the production of what he called production goods such .