Authorities in Moscow once exonerated people who were tortured, imprisoned, and killed during the Soviet era. The current president wants to undo that.

In a struggle for control of the capital, Stalin blocks entry to allied-occupied West Berlin. The US responds with an 11-month long airlift of supplies to people trapped in that part of the city.

Anti-elite feelings: "This is the most interesting part," said Ms Schulmann. "The Stalin meme is not the real man, but what remained in folk memory - he's seen as a symbol of iron discipline and ...