My comrade there is making no claim that an anecdote proves something other than the claim that Stalin sadistically enjoyed starving people is false. The hope is that these specific events will trigger a thought in your head like “wow, this is totally out of character for this figure which I thought I understood,” and then possibly read further in books based on the Soviet archives instead of books utilizing only info from the cold war or nazi propaganda
Dictators like Stalin use violence and charity as elements for policy. Starve some people you don’t like, or force them to relocate? Cool. Quickly send food aid to a potential strategic partner? Cool.
My comrade there is making no claim that an anecdote proves something other than the claim that Stalin sadistically enjoyed starving people is false. The hope is that these specific events will trigger a thought in your head like “wow, this is totally out of character for this figure which I thought I understood,” and then possibly read further in books based on the Soviet archives instead of books utilizing only info from the cold war or nazi propaganda
Dictators like Stalin use violence and charity as elements for policy. Starve some people you don’t like, or force them to relocate? Cool. Quickly send food aid to a potential strategic partner? Cool.