I'd like to see polling from 1933-1949, net approval ratings for Stalin among Americans. I imagine it was pretty much rock bottom, around 10% positive, until 1940. Then, in 1941, with the outbreak of Barbarossa, it probably shot up dramatically, as communism came to be viewed as part of "the free world," reaching a high point in 1945. I would not be surprised if in 1945 a majority of Americans had a positive view of Stalin. Then after 1946, it would have crashed again. Just speculation on my part.
But yes the red scare was not just conspiracies about "secret communists" -- it was a reaction to the reality of open communists who dominated the entertainment industry.
In a similar way some people theorise that a big part of the reason Labour did so well in the 1945 British election is that people having a positive view of Stalin and the USSR meant that they had a more positive view of socialism in general
It’s pretty insane that Paul Robeson who was one of the most famous singers and actors of the 1940s was a very open Stalin supporter
I'd like to see polling from 1933-1949, net approval ratings for Stalin among Americans. I imagine it was pretty much rock bottom, around 10% positive, until 1940. Then, in 1941, with the outbreak of Barbarossa, it probably shot up dramatically, as communism came to be viewed as part of "the free world," reaching a high point in 1945. I would not be surprised if in 1945 a majority of Americans had a positive view of Stalin. Then after 1946, it would have crashed again. Just speculation on my part.
But yes the red scare was not just conspiracies about "secret communists" -- it was a reaction to the reality of open communists who dominated the entertainment industry.
Lol
Hitler was Princeton University person of the year 1939 AD
In a similar way some people theorise that a big part of the reason Labour did so well in the 1945 British election is that people having a positive view of Stalin and the USSR meant that they had a more positive view of socialism in general