Stalinovy poslední dny – Rubenstein Joshua (2023)

The gripping book by Joshua Rubenstein takes us into the reality of the second half of 1952, into the final months of the dictatorial rule of Soviet leader Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin. We find ourselves in a time of rising tension between East and West and heightened repression within the USSR. Political trials and anti-Semitic campaigns are an integral part of Stalin's murderous policies during this period. No one suspects that after decades of Stalinist terror, a turning point is approaching. Stalin's sudden collapse and subsequent death in March 1953 were not only dramatic and mysterious like his entire life, but also became a catalyst for social and political changes. In his book, Rubenstein describes the last months of Stalin's life, uncovers previously unknown circumstances surrounding his collapse, and follows the development of Soviet and international events after his death. He sheds new light on the political rivalry among Beria, Malenkov, Khrushchev, and other comrades, who were very much aware of what Stalin's end meant for them. With the perspective of seventy years, it can be said without exaggeration that Stalin's death and the events surrounding it are among the key milestones in the history of the 20th century.