The picture below “Girl and her Red Army Trooper” was painted in 1920 by Samuel Adlivankin. It shows a Communist soldier spending quality time with a working lady over a Marxist study book.
The book cover says: “Politics 101”. The man is wearing the distinctive uniform of the Red Army. Red troopers inherited it from the Imperial army in WW1. The nationalist designers made a pointy hat to mimic the medieval helms of Rus warriors. The red razgovóry across the chest also mimicked the ethnic decoration from the pre-Imperial era of Muscovy.
The man’s boots are most probably taken from the military supplies sent by the Allied powers to the Czar and the Provisional Government, and taken by local Soviet troops from busted warehouses around the country. The wall is adorned by a portrait of Karl Marx. The phonograph and the sofa were most probably confiscated from counter-revolutionary elements for the benefit of exploited masses.
Real Socialism requires abolition of free markets, except in some niches. Bureaucrats take over as the ultimate force of economic decision-making
Once the Communists destroyed private ownership on the means of production—just like Karl Marx envisioned it—the market disappeared, along with independent economic players. The dynamics of demand and supply ceased to exist. Something had to take their place.
Bureaucrats substitute markets
State bureaucrats took their place. They decided what, when, where and by whom things should be produced, based on the “scientific Marxist principles of economic planning”.
Bureaucrats decided what, when, where and by who things should be produced, based on “scientific Marxist principles of economic planning”. Other bureaucrats decided who and where should get these things, based on “guidelines and principles of directing the Soviet society”, formulated by the Communist party.
Lines substitute dynamic pricing
Most of the time, there was not enough of these things for everyone— much like in today’s Venezuela or Cuba. The explanations given for this were “particular errors in management”, or “deficiencies of people’s conscientiousness” (i.e. people consuming more than the system could deliver), or actions of “hostile class elements” (hoarding, stealing, speculating).
The universal solution to the deficit of nearly everything were lines. The lines were ubiquitous: if you weren’t willing to wait for things long enough, you didn’t need it as much as the others who were. The typical waiting time for a new Lada car was 5–10 years, for a larger apartment to your larger family 10–20 years.
Economy of perks
The scientific Marxist management of society required selective distribution channels for the most valuable members of society. For example, members of “nomenklatura”, or the positions that required personnel vetting by the Communist Central Committee, could purchase goods at so-called “section #200” where they had access to consumer imports and other things in limited supply.
Soviet totalitarianism is similar to Nazism but nicer. The Socialist concept of Statism and an individual serving the the collective will of “people.” But Communism is inclusive, while Nazism is exclusive, insisting on the “right” ethnicity and cultural roots.
Communism and Nazism share not only the same slot in the history of the 20th century. They have much common ideological ground. Many notice their striking similarity, while others insist that Communism — and its most successful form Stalinism — is the opposite of Nazism.
Similarity
As a matter of fact, both claim that the collective takes precedence over the individual. Communism and Nazism insist on an unlimited right of inspired and enlightened leadership to exert their power. Both state their faith in a higher purpose that justifies any violence against their enemies.
And still, Communism is much more palatable to most people because it’s basically very inclusive. Truth to say, it makes a virtue of eradicating its opponents. But it talks about the sacred right of “98-percenters” that takes precedence over the blood-sucking, spoiled, parasitic minority.
Everyone’s welcome
Even if you come from the hated elite, you are still very welcome to join the ranks of the oppressed as a Communist. Atone for your misdeeds through sweat, blood, and tears. If your effort is honest, your sacrifice is noticed, and luck is on your side, the victorious proletariat will give you some slack when they prevail.
As a matter of fact, an absolute majority of Communist leaders in history come from affluent classes.
Blood and soil
Nazism, on the other hand, is very exclusive. It’s “us against the world”, through and through. Society for them is an extension of Nature. It’s about the survival of the fittest, no matter what liberals and Jews are telling the gullible world. The fittest, the best, the brightest must fight the myriads of losers who embark on our shores, take up our space and deplete our resources. Those who have the wrong ancestry, skin color, or deviate from the Nazi ideals of human perfection, are out — no matter how much sympathy they may have for the Nazi cause.
In comparison to Nazism, even the Islamic State and Al Qaeda come forward as a tolerant and life-affirming crowd.
Photo: Communism and Nazism both claimed the title as the only genuine movement of working people. This medallion was minted in memory of the May 1st celebration in 1934 by the Nazis, who even made their Reichsadler hold the proletarian sickle and hammer.
The USSR substituted market economy with a centrally planned distribution of resources.
Essential elements
Bureaucrats decided what, when, where and by who things should be produced, based on “scientific Marxist principles of economic planning”.
Other bureaucrats decided who and where should get these things, based on “guidelines and principles of directing the Soviet society”, formulated by the Communist party.
Most of the time, there was not enough of these things for everyone— much like in today’s Venezuela or North Korea. The reason for this was “particular errors in management”, or “deficiencies of people’s conscientiousness” (i.e. people consuming more than the system could deliver), or actions of “hostile class elements” (hoarding, stealing, speculating).
The universal solution to the deficit of nearly everything was ubiquitous lines: if you weren’t willing to wait for things long enough, you didn’t need it as much as others. The typical waiting time for a new Lada car was 5–10 years, for a larger apartment to your larger family 10–20 years.
Selective distribution channels
The scientific Marxist management of society required selective distribution channels for the most valuable members of society. For example, members of “nomenklatura”, or the positions that required personnel vetting by the Communist Central Committee, could purchase goods at so-called “section #200” where they had access to consumer imports and other things in limited supply.
Closer to power, better access
The closer to power, the better access to goods, also in terms of geography. Military-industrial centers like Sevastopol and Murmansk had a better selection of goods than smaller cities, we in Moscow had the best — or the least worst— supply of all.
Photo: People standing in line before a grocery store in the Soviet province in 1950s. This is a restocking day, when many goods in short supply are available to those who show up early. Kids are a useful addition to the line, as many goods are limited for a certain number of items per customer.
