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Joseph Stalin: The Last Bolshevik

Mike Walker's epic chronicle of the Russian Tsars continues with the story of Joseph Stalin and the run-up to Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union.

By Mike Walker

In June 1941, when news came through that the Nazis had taken Minsk, 300 miles into Soviet territory, Joseph Stalin retired to his dacha. And there he stayed for three days - refusing to answer the telephone or to see anyone.

What was he doing, at a time when his country needed him most? Had he suffered a mental breakdown? Was he unable to face up to his gross miscalculation that Hitler would not start a war on two fronts? Or did he fear arrest? And was this an act of cunning, to test the loyalty of his inner circle?

Mike Walker's epic chronicle of the Russian Tsars continues with the story of Joseph Stalin and the invasion of the Soviet Union.

The guitarist was Colin Guthrie.

Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko.

58 minutes

Last on

Sat 11 Nov 201721:00

Credits

RoleContributor
StalinBrian McCardie
NadyaAbbie Andrews
SvetlanaRosie Boore
ZhukovDanny Sapani
TrotskySamuel James
RibbentropKenneth Collard
MolotovPhilip Bretherton
PoskrebyshevNeil McCaul
BeriaCharlie Clements
KhruschevDavid Reakes
PolinaIsabella Inchbald
FyodorAdam Fitzgerald
DirectorSasha Yevtushenko
WriterMike Walker

Broadcasts

  • Sun 5 Nov 201715:00
  • Sat 11 Nov 201721:00