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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Soviet Union}}
{{Infobox country
{{Infobox country
|micronation =        no
|micronation =        no
|conventional_long_name = Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
|conventional_long_name = Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
|native_name =       {{Nowrap|{{small|{{lang|ru|Союз Советских Социалистических Республик}}}}}}
|native_name = {{Collapsible list
|titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:center;line-height:normal;font-size:85%;
|title      = Name in languages of<br>the [[Republics of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Union Republics]]<sub>{{tooltip|a.|Based on the order in which they are presented in the constitution}}</sub>
|{{Infobox
| subbox = yes
| bodystyle = font-size:78%;font-weight:normal;
| rowclass1 = mergedrow
| label1    = {{wp|Russian language|Russian}}:
| data1    = {{nowrap|{{lang|ru|Союз Советских Социалистических Республик}}}}<br />{{lang|ru-Latn|Soyuz Sovyetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik}}
| rowclass2 = mergedrow
| label2    = {{wp|Ukrainian language|Ukrainian}}:
| data2    = {{nowrap|{{lang|uk|Союз Радянських Соціалістичних Республік}}}}<br  />{{lang|uk-Latn|Soyuz Radyans'kykh Sotsialistychnykh Respublik}}
| rowclass3 = mergedrow
| label3    = {{wp|Belarusian language|Byelorussian}}:
| data3    = {{nowrap|{{lang|be|Саюз Савецкіх Сацыялістычных Рэспублік}}}}<br  />{{lang|be-Latn|Sayuz Savyetskikh Satsyyalistychnykh Respublik}}
| rowclass4 = mergedrow
| label4    = {{wp|Uzbek language|Uzbek}}:
| data4    = {{nowrap|{{lang|uz|Совет Социалистик Республикалари Иттифоқи}}}}<br />{{lang|uz-Latn|Sovet Sotsialistik Respublikalari Ittifoqi}}
| rowclass5 = mergedrow
| label5    = {{wp|Kazakh language|Kazakh}}:
| data5    = {{nowrap|{{lang|kk|Советтік Социалистік Республикалар Одағы}}}}<br  />{{lang|kk-Latn|Sovettik Sotsialistik Respublikalar Odaghy}}
| rowclass6 = mergedrow
| label6    = {{wp|Georgian language|Kartvelian}}:
| data6      = {{nowrap|{{lang|ka|საბჭოთა სოციალისტური რესპუბლიკების კავშირი}}}}<br  />{{lang|ka-Latn|sabch’ota sotsialist’uri resp’ublik’ebis k’avshiri}}
| rowclass7 = mergedrow
| label7    = {{wp|Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani}}:
| data7    = {{nowrap|{{lang|az|Совет Сосиалист Республикалары Иттифагы}}}}<br  />{{lang|az-Latn|Sovet Sosialist Respublikaları Ittifagı}}
| rowclass8 = mergedrow
| label8    = {{wp|Lithuanian language|Lithuanian}}:
| data8 = {{nowrap|{{lang|lt|Tarybų Socialistinių Respublikų Sąjunga}}}}
| rowclass9 = mergedrow
| label9  = {{wp|Moldovan language|Moldavian}}<sub>{{tooltip|b.|The official term used in Moldavia for the Romanian language}}</sub>:
| data9 = {{nowrap|{{lang|ro|Униуня Републичилор Советиче Сочиалисте}}}}<br  />{{lang|ro|Uniunea Republicilor Sovetice Socialiste}}
| rowclass10 = mergedrow
| label10 = {{wp|Latvian language|Latvian}}:
| data10  = {{nowrap|{{lang|lv|Padomju Sociālistisko Republiku Savienība}}}}
| rowclass11 = mergedrow
| label11    = {{wp|Kyrgyz language|Kirghiz}}:
| data11    = {{nowrap|{{lang|ky|Советтик Социалисттик Республикалар Союзу}}}}<br  />{{lang|ky-Latn|Sovettik Sotsialisttik Respublikalar Soyuzu}}
| rowclass12 = mergedrow
| label12    = {{wp|Tajik language|Tadzhik}}:
| data12    = {{nowrap|{{lang|tg|Иттиҳоди Ҷумҳуриҳои Шӯравии Сосиалистӣ}}}}<br  />{{lang|tg-Latn|Ittihodi Jumhurihoi Shŭravii Sosialistí}}
| rowclass13 = mergedrow
| label13    = {{wp|Armenian language|Armenian}}:
| data13    = {{nowrap|{{lang|hy|Խորհրդային Սոցիալիստական Հանրապետությունների Միություն}}}}<br  />{{lang|hy-Latn|Khorhrdayin Sots’ialistakan Hanrapyetvowt’yvownnyeri Miowt’yvown}}
| rowclass14 = mergedrow
| label14    = {{wp|Turkmen language|Turkmen}}:
| data14    = {{nowrap|{{lang|tk|Совет Социалистик Республикалары Союзы}}}}<br  />{{lang|tk-Latn|Sovet Sosialistik Respublikalary Soýuzy}}
| rowclass15 = mergedrow
| label15    = {{wp|Estonian language|Estonian}}:
| data15    = {{nowrap|{{lang|et|Nõukogude Sotsialistlike Vabariikide Liit}}}}
}}
}}
|common_name =        Soviet Union
|common_name =        Soviet Union
|image_flag =        Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg
|image_flag =        Flag of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (2022).png
|flag_type_article={{wp|Flag of the Soviet Union}}
|flag_type_article={{wp|Flag of the Soviet Union}}
|flag_type={{wp|Flag of the Soviet Union|Flag}}
|flag_type={{wp|Flag of the Soviet Union|Flag}}
Line 21: Line 72:
|largest_city =      capital
|largest_city =      capital
|official_languages = None ({{wp|De-jure}})<br>{{wp|Russian language|Russian}} <small>(As a {{wp|Lingua franca}}; {{wp|De-facto}})</small>
|official_languages = None ({{wp|De-jure}})<br>{{wp|Russian language|Russian}} <small>(As a {{wp|Lingua franca}}; {{wp|De-facto}})</small>
|regional_languages = {{hlist|{{wp|Ukrainian language|Ukrainian}}|{{wp|Belarusian language|Belarusian}}|{{wp|Uzbek language|Uzbek}}|{{wp|Kazakh language|Kazakh}}|{{wp|Georgian language|Georgian}}|{{wp|Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani}}|{{wp|Lithuanian language|Lithuanian}}|{{wp|Moldovan language|Moldavian}}|{{wp|Latvian language|Latvian}}|{{wp|Kyrgyz language|Kyrgyz}}|{{wp|Tajik language|Tajik}}|{{wp|Armenian language|Armenian}}|{{wp|Turkmen language|Turkmen}}|{{wp|Estonian language|Estonian}}}}
|national_languages = {{hlist|{{wp|Ukrainian language|Ukrainian}}|{{wp|Belarusian language|Byelorussian}}|{{wp|Uzbek language|Uzbek}}|{{wp|Kazakh language|Kazakh}}|{{wp|Georgian language|Kartvelian}}|{{wp|Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani}}|{{wp|Lithuanian language|Lithuanian}}|{{wp|Moldovan language|Moldavian}}|{{wp|Latvian language|Latvian}}|{{wp|Kyrgyz language|Kirghiz}}|{{wp|Tajik language|Tadzhik}}|{{wp|Armenian language|Armenian}}|{{wp|Turkmen language|Turkmen}}|{{wp|Estonian language|Estonian}}}}
|ethnic_groups =      WIP
|ethnic_groups =       
|ethnic_groups_year = 2022
* {{wp|East Slavs}}: 58%
* {{wp|Turkic peoples|Turks}}: 27%
* Other: 15%
|ethnic_groups_year = 2022 est.
|religion =          {{wp|Secularism}} ({{wp|de-jure}})<br> {{wp|State atheism}} ({{wp|de-facto}})
|religion =          {{wp|Secularism}} ({{wp|de-jure}})<br> {{wp|State atheism}} ({{wp|de-facto}})
|demonym =            {{wp|Soviet people|Soviet}}
|demonym =            {{wp|Soviet people|Soviet}}
|government_type =    {{wp|Federal system|Federal}} {{wp|Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist}} {{wp|One-party state|one-party}} {{wp|Directorial system|Directorial}} {{wp|Parliamentary system|parliamentary}} {{wp|Socialist state|socialist republic}}
|government_type =    {{wp|Federal system|Federal}} {{wp|Marxist-Leninist}} {{wp|One-party state|one-party}} {{wp|Directorial system|directorial}} {{wp|Parliamentary system|parliamentary}} {{wp|Socialist state|socialist republic}}
|leader_title1 =      [[Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Chairwoman of the Presidium]]
|leader_title1 =      [[President of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Chairwoman of the Presidium]]
|leader_name1 = [[Yelena Mikhailova]]
|leader_name1 = [[Yelena Mikhailova]]
|leader_title2 =      [[Premier of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Premier]]
|leader_title2 =      [[Premier of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Chairman of the Council of Ministers]]
|leader_name2 = [[Aleksander Keskula]]
|leader_name2 = [[Aleksander Keskula]]
|leader_title3 = [[General Secretary of the CPSU (TheodoresTomfooleries)|General Secretary]]
|leader_title3 = [[General Secretary of the CPSU (TheodoresTomfooleries)|General Secretary]]
Line 48: Line 102:
|established_event6=[[Constitution of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Latest constitution]]
|established_event6=[[Constitution of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Latest constitution]]
|established_date6 = 10 August 2002
|established_date6 = 10 August 2002
|area=22402200
|area_rank = 1st
|area_rank = 1st
|area_km2 =          22402200
|area_km2 =          22402200
Line 55: Line 108:
|percent_water = 12.3
|percent_water = 12.3
|area_label =        Total
|area_label =        Total
|population_census = 403,465,566
|population_census = 385,387,725
|population_census_year = 2022
|population_census_year = 2019<ref>[[2019 Soviet Union census (TheodoresTomfooleries)]]</ref>
|population_density_km2 = 18.01
|population_density_km2 = 17.2
|population_density_sq_mi = 46.64
|population_density_sq_mi = 44.55
|population_density_rank = 213
|population_density_rank = 214
|GDP_nominal = $12.035 trillion
|GDP_nominal = $10.48 trillion
|GDP_nominal_rank = 2nd
|GDP_nominal_rank = 2nd
|GDP_nominal_year = 2022
|GDP_nominal_year = 2019
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $29,829
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $27,193
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 47th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 36th
|Gini = 0.233
|Gini = 0.233
|Gini_year = 2022
|Gini_year = 2019
|HDI_year =          2022
|HDI_year =          2019
|HDI =                0.948
|HDI =                0.948
|HDI_change =        increase
|HDI_change =        increase
Line 81: Line 134:
|calling_code =      +7
|calling_code =      +7
}}
}}
The '''Soviet Union''', officially the '''Union of Soviet Socialist Republics''', is a {{wp|Transcontinental countries|transcontinental country}} situated in {{wp|Eurasia}}. It is the largest country in the world by area, covering 22.4 million square kilometres (8.64 million sq mi) and encompassing 15% of the {{wp|Earth}}'s land area. The Soviet Union extends across eleven time zones and borders eleven countries. It is the 3rd most populous country in the world and the most populous country in {{wp|Europe}}, with a population of 403.46 million. The country's largest city and capital is Moscow, which co-serves as the capital of the country's largest {{wp|Republics of the Soviet Union|republic}}, [[Russian SFSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Russia]]. Other major cities include [[Leningrad (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Leningrad]], [[Kyiv (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Kyiv]], [[Tashkent (TheodoresTomfooleries|Tashkent]], and [[Baku (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Baku]]  
The '''Soviet Union''', officially the '''Union of Soviet Socialist Republics''' ('''USSR'''), is a {{wp|List of transcontinental countries|transcontinental country}} spanning across {{wp|Eurasia}}. It is the largest country in the world by area at 22.4 million km<sup>2</sup> (8.64 million mi<sup>2</sup>); it stretches over 15% of the {{wp|Earth#Surface|Earth's surface area}}, extends across eleven {{wp|time zones}} and borders eleven countries. It is the 3rd most populous country in the world and the most populous in {{wp|Europe}}, with a population of 385.38 million in 2019. The country's largest city and capital is [[Moscow (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Moscow]] with a metropolitan population of 21.272 million, other major cities include [[Leningrad (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Leningrad]], [[Kiev (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Kiev]], [[Tashkent (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Tashkent]] and [[Baku (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Baku]].
 
As a {{wp|federation}} of 15 co-equal [[Republics of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|soviet socialist republics]], the Soviet Union is a multi-ethnic and diverse nation, with over 128 registered ethnicities. The {{wp|East Slavs}}, consisting of the {{wp|Russians}}, {{wp|Byelorussians}} and {{wp|Ukrainians}}, make up the majority of the population at 66% of the population, while {{wp|Turkic peoples|Turks}} make up an additional 24%.


A multi-ethnic and diverse nation, the Soviet Union is home to a diverse number of peoples- the largest of which are {{wp|Russians}}. East Slavs make up the largest share of the population followed by Turks. Consisting of 15 Union Republics, the Soviet Union is a federal union of socialist republics, with its administration centered in Moscow. As a directorial state, there is no one-recognized one leader in the Soviet Union- but the General Secretary of the Communist Party is often recognised as the de-facto leader. Other prominent positions include the Chairman of the Presidium and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (more commonly known as Premier in non-Soviet sources).
The origins of the Soviet Union can ultimately be traced back to the {{wp|Kievan Rus'|Rus'}}, a confederation of {{wp|Old East Slavic|Old Russian}}-speaking {{wp|principality|principalities}} in {{wp|Eastern Europe|Eastern}} and {{wp|Northern Europe|Northern Europe}} that was a predecessor of the {{wp|Tsardom of Russia|Tsardom}} and {{wp|Russian Empire|Empire}} of [[Russian SFSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Russia]]. The Kievan Rus' would rule over a multi-ethnic confederation for nearly 4 centuries until the {{wp|Mongol invasion of Rus'|Mongol invasions}} destroyed the capital of Kiev and forced most of the Rus' into {{wp|Vassal|vassalisation}}.


The Soviet Union originates from the {{wp|Russian Revolution}} which resulted in a 5 year long civil war and the establishment of the first socialist state in history. {{wp|Vladimir Lenin}} formally led the Russian SFSR and subsequently the newly created Soviet Union in 1922 until his death in early 1924. {{wp|Joseph Stalin}} took reign of power after Lenin's death using his position as General Secretary and established an authoritarian regime which lasted 25 years until his death. The Soviet Union was a significant player in the {{wp|World War II|Second World War}}, fighting against the {{wp|Axis powers}} in the {{wp|Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front}}, with Stalin heading the country throughout the war. Following his passing in 1953, {{wp|Nikita Kruschchev}} enacted a policy of de-stalinization which saw the dismantling of the {{wp|cult of personality}} of Stalin. The Soviet Union saw a brief stagnation under {{wp|Leonid Brezhnev}} before the economy experienced a general economic boom throughout the later 1980s and 90s. In the present day, the Soviet Union is recognised as one of the two {{wp|Superpower|superpowers}} of the world, competing with the {{wp|United States}} in economy, politics, and technology. It is recognized as both a military and economic power with the world's largest standing military and its second largest economy, behind the United States.
The Rus' would eventually be re-unified under the {{wp|Grand Duchy of Moscow}} led by {{wp|Ivan III of Moscow|Ivan the Great}}, who was the first Russian sovereign to style himself {{wp|tsar}}. His grandson, {{wp|Ivan the Terrible}} would be crowned Tsar of the Rus' in 1547. Russia would grow continuously over a period of 150 years at 35,000 km<sup>2</sup> per year. Ivan's successor, {{wp|Feodor I of Russia|Feodor}} would die childless in 1598 resulting in a succession crisis that would end with the fall of the {{wp|Rurikid dynasty}} and the rise of the {{wp|Romanovs}} with the election of {{wp|Michael of Russia|Mikhail Romanov}} to the throne.
Russia would expand into {{wp|Siberia}} under his reign, becoming the largest country in the world. {{wp|Peter the Great|Peter}}, reigning from 1682, would embark on a series of ambitious reforms that would {{wp|westernise}} the Russian state, transforming it into a {{wp|great power}}. Under his reign, he usurped control of the {{wp|Baltic Sea}} from the {{wp|Swedish Empire}}, moved the capital north to [[Leningrad (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Saint Petersburg]] and was crowned {{wp|Emperor of All Rus'|Emperor of the Rus'}} in 1721. His second-youngest child, the Empress {{wp|Elizabeth, Empress of Russia|Elizabeth}} would die childless in 1762, leading to throne passing to his hated grandson {{wp|Peter III of Russia|Peter III}}. He was overthrown in a palace coup led by his wife, the {{wp|Prussian}} Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, who would take the name {{wp|Catherine the Great|Catherine}}. Under her reign, Russia would establish itself as a great power, carving up the {{wp|Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth}} with {{wp|Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia}} and the {{wp|Habsburg Monarchy|Habsburg}} while conquering the remainder of Siberia and establishing naval supremacy over the {{wp|Black Sea|Black Sea}}. Her grandson, {{wp|Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I}} would fight in the {{wp|Napoleonic Wars}}, conquering {{wp|Swedish Finland|Finland}} from the Swedish in 1809 and later most of the {{wp|Caucasus}} and {{wp|Congress Poland|Poland}}. His brother, {{wp|Nicholas I of Russia|Nicholas}}, succeeded him in 1825 and expanded the Russian Empire's borders into {{wp|Central Asia}}, conquering the {{wp|Kazakh Khanate}} in the process.  


Outside observers note the breach of human rights in the Soviet Union, including a lack of political rights (such as freedom of movement and speech) as well as what is commonly described as its "authoritarian system"- though the Soviet government denies this.
{{wp|Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II}} would embark on a series of reforms similar to his great-great-great grandfather, most notably the {{wp|Emancipation reform of 1861|Edict of Emancipation of Russia}}. Following his assassination in 1881, his son {{wp|Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III}} would undo much of his policies and turned the Russian Empire away from reform, leaving it weak by the time the unprepared {{wp|Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas}} ascended to the throne in 1894. Nicholas led a disastrous war against {{wp|Empire of Japan|Japan}} in 1905, resulting in a {{wp|1905 Russian Revolution|revolution}} which saw the de-jure end of absolute monarchism in Russia and the establishment of a {{wp|parliamentary system|parliamentary}} {{wp|constitutional monarchy}}. In practice however, Nicholas II still retained near absolute power, which allowed for the blame to be placed upon him when Russia resulted disastrous defeats in {{wp|World War I|World War I}}. Nicholas would be forced to abdicate the throne in 1917, resulting in the end of the monarchy and a period of political instability. {{wp|Vladimir Lenin|Vladimir Lenin}}'s {{wp|Bolsheviks}} would coup the government in Saint Petersburg, declaring the establishment of a {{wp|socialist state|socialist state}} that would later turn into the [[Russian SFSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic]]. The bloody {{wp|Russian Civil War}} would end with the unification of the RSFSR's fellow Soviet republics and satellite states into the '''Union of Soviet Socialist Republics'''. After Lenin's death in 1924, {{wp|Joseph Stalin}} would succeed him, building on {{wp|Leninism}} to create {{wp|Marxism-Leninism}}, which continues to be the governing ideology of both the Soviet Union and several other countries across the globe. Under Stalin, the country would rapidly modernize and industrialize, leading to excess mortalities in the 1930s. 1939 saw a brief {{wp|Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact|non-aggression pact}} between the Soviet Union and {{wp|Nazi Germany}}, which would be broke after only 2 years following the {{wp|Operation Barbarossa|German invasion}} in June 1941. The Soviet Union would lose 27 million people throughout their war with the Germans, which would end with the Soviet Union and its {{wp|Allies of World War II|allies}} emerging victorious. Stalin would establish a series of satellite states in Eastern Europe- his successor, {{wp|Nikita Khrushchev}} implemented a series of economic reforms while condemning Stalin's brutality and his cult of personality, resulting in a period of {{wp|de-Stalinisation}} and the escalation of the [[Cold War (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Cold War]] with the establishment of the {{wp|Warsaw Pact}} in 1956. The Soviet Union's economy and development would gradually stagnate under {{wp|Leonid Brezhnev}}, leading to a short period of short-lived governments before the unofficial [[Soviet Civil War (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Soviet Civil War]] ended with {{wp|Mikhail Gorbachev}}'s reformist faction falling to [[Grigory Romanov (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Grigory Romanov]], who passed minor reforms but for the most part continued the policies of his predecessors.  


The Soviet Union today stands as one of the world's two {{wp|superpower|superpowers}} along with the {{wp|United States}}. It is a permanent member of the {{wp|United Nations Security Council}} and is also a member of the [[ECC (TheodoresTomfooleries)|European Cooperative Community]], {{wp|Shanghai Cooperation Organisation|SCO}}, {{wp|Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe|CSCE}} along with other organisations. The Soviet Union ranks high in {{wp|literacy}}, {{wp|HDI|human development}}, possesses the world's [[Armed Forces of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|second-largest military]], and is the world's largest producer of {{wp|petroleum}} and {{wp|natural gas}}. Globally, the Soviet Union ranks low for human rights, owing to its suppression of {{wp|Free speech|free speech}} and {{wp|news media|press}}. The [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] (CPSU) holds an absolute monopoly on political and state power, with opposition candidates and groups banned.
== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
The word ''{{wp|soviet (council)|soviet}}'' is derived from the Russian term {{lang|ru-Latn|sovet}} ({{lang-ru|link=no|совет}}), meaning 'council', 'assembly', 'advice', related to English ''wise''.
The word ''{{wp|soviet (council)|soviet}}'' is derived from the Russian term {{lang|ru-Latn|sovet}} ({{lang-ru|link=no|совет}}), meaning 'council', 'assembly', 'advice', related to English ''wise''.


The Soviet Union was originally to be titled "Union of Soviet Republics of Europe and Asia" ({{lang-ru|Союз Советских Республик Европы и Азии}}; {{lang|ru-Latn|Soyuz Sovetskikh Respublik Evropy i Azii}}) however it was later changed the name to the ''Union of Soviet Socialist Republics'' after an agreement by {{wp|Joseph Stalin|Stalin}} and {{wp|Vladimir Lenin|Lenin}}.
The Soviet Union was originally to be titled "Union of Soviet Republics of Europe and Asia" ({{lang-ru|Союз Советских Республик Европы и Азии}}; {{lang|ru-Latn|Soyuz Sovetskikh Respublik Evropy i Azii}}), however after an agreement by {{wp|Joseph Stalin|Stalin}} and {{wp|Vladimir Lenin|Lenin}} it was later changed to the ''Union of Soviet Socialist Republics''.


"СССР" (Or SSSR in Latin Alphabets) is the official Russian abbreviation of "USSR". Other common cognates include "Союз ССР" (''Soyuz SSR'') which roughly translates to "Union of SSRs" in English, as well as "Советский Союз" (''Sovetskiy Soyuz'') which literally translates to "Soviet Union". This term is never used unabbreviated as it is seen as offensive, since following the {{wp|Great Patriotic War}} "СС" or "SS" has become affiliated with the {{wp|Schutzstaffel}}.
"СССР" (Or SSSR in Latin Alphabets) is the official Russian abbreviation of "USSR". Other common cognates include "Союз ССР" (''Soyuz SSR'') which roughly translates to "Union of SSRs" in English, as well as "Советский Союз" (''Sovetskiy Soyuz'') which literally translates to "Soviet Union". This term is never used unabbreviated as it is seen as offensive, since following the {{wp|Great Patriotic War}} "СС" or "SS" has become affiliated with the {{wp|Schutzstaffel}}.
Line 103: Line 160:
The Soviet Union possesses the world's largest border at over 60,000 kilometres (37,000 mi), 2/3rds of which is coastline. The Soviet Union borders Norway and Finland to the Northwest, the Baltic Sea, {{wp|Polish People's Republic|Poland}}, {{wp|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic|Czechoslovakia}}, {{wp|Hungarian People's Republic|Hungary}}, and {{wp|Romanian People's Republic|Romania}} in the west, the {{wp|Black Sea}}, {{wp|Turkiye}} and {{wp|Iran}} in the south, (as well as the {{wp|Caspian Sea}} and {{wp|Afghanistan}}), and {{wp|Mongolian People's Republic|Mongolia}}, {{wp|China}}, and {{wp|North Korea}} to the east. It is seperated from the {{wp|United States}} by the {{wp|Beiring Strait}}, while the {{wp|La Pérouse Strait}} separates it from the {{wp|Japan|Japanese}} island of {{wp|Hokkaido}}.
The Soviet Union possesses the world's largest border at over 60,000 kilometres (37,000 mi), 2/3rds of which is coastline. The Soviet Union borders Norway and Finland to the Northwest, the Baltic Sea, {{wp|Polish People's Republic|Poland}}, {{wp|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic|Czechoslovakia}}, {{wp|Hungarian People's Republic|Hungary}}, and {{wp|Romanian People's Republic|Romania}} in the west, the {{wp|Black Sea}}, {{wp|Turkiye}} and {{wp|Iran}} in the south, (as well as the {{wp|Caspian Sea}} and {{wp|Afghanistan}}), and {{wp|Mongolian People's Republic|Mongolia}}, {{wp|China}}, and {{wp|North Korea}} to the east. It is seperated from the {{wp|United States}} by the {{wp|Beiring Strait}}, while the {{wp|La Pérouse Strait}} separates it from the {{wp|Japan|Japanese}} island of {{wp|Hokkaido}}.


The country's highest mountain is {{wp|Ismoil Somoni Peak|Communism Peak}} in the [[Tajik SSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Tajik SSR]] at 7,495 metres (24,590 ft) high. It also contains most of the world's largest lakes, including the Caspian Sea (shared with Iran) and {{wp|Lake Baikal}}, the world's largest and deepest freshwater lake.
The country's highest mountain is {{wp|Ismoil Somoni Peak|Communism Peak}} in[[Tadzhik SSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Tadzhikistan]] at 7,495 metres (24,590 ft) high. It also contains most of the world's largest lakes, including the Caspian Sea (shared with Iran) and {{wp|Lake Baikal}}, the world's largest and deepest freshwater lake.


== History ==
== History ==
=== Revolution and Foundation ===
=== Revolution and Foundation ===
Most of the territory of the Soviet Union before the 1917 revolutions was led by the {{wp|Emperor of All Russia}} and the {{wp|Russian Empire}}: an autocratic and authoritarian state with the Emperor (often called the Tsar) as its absolute monarch. The monarchy had largely failed to constitutionalize and reform due to the actions of {{wp|Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III}} and {{wp|Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II}}. A {{wp|State Duma (Russian Empire)|State Duma}}, equivalent to a parliament- was established after the {{wp|Revolution of 1905|1905 Russian Revolution}} but its powers were largely nonexistent as Nicholas continued to rule in all but name as an autocrat. The monarchy itself was particularly embarassed after its disastrous defeat in the {{wp|Russo-Japanese War}} which saw the near-annihilation of the Russian Baltic Fleet. Further controversies with the Tsar and rising unpopularity after the events of {{wp|Bloody Sunday (1905)|Bloody Sunday}} in [[Leningrad (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Saint Petersburg]] only further exacerbated the likelihood of revolution.
In 1914 Russia entered into World War I, largely to failure: it is estimated that over 2.25 million men died with an additional 3.749 and 3.343 million wounded or captured. The war not only devastated the population of Russia with famine but also crashed the economy as the Germans managed to capture the industry-rich {{wp|Congress Poland|Kingdom of Poland}} and pushed into modern day [[Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Lithuania]]. In March, 1917 a {{wp|February Revolution|revolution}} broke out in Saint Petersburg which resulted in the {{wp|Abdication of Nicholas II|Abdication}} of Tsar Nicholas II and the end of the Russian Empire. In its place came the {{wp|Russian Provisional Government}} and subsequently the {{wp|Russian Republic}}. The country was largely unstable and the government unpopular, it mainly shared power with the {{wp|Petrograd Soviets}} which de-facto acted as its own rival government to {{wp|Alexander Kerensky}}'s government. Further tensions between the Provisional government and the Petrograd Soviet led to a largely bloodless revolution in Petrograd where the Petrograd Soviet declared itself the ruling government of Russia. A resulting {{wp|Russian Civil War|civil war}} broke out which saw millions of casualties. On 25 January 1918, the third {{wp|All-Russian Congress of Soviets}} officially named the state the Russian Soviet Republic, which later signed the {{wp|Treaty of Brest-Litovsk}} which ceded a significant portion of Russia's most valuable industrial and agricultural land to the {{wp|Central Powers}}. The name was changed later in the year to the "Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic". {{wp|Vladimir Lenin}} was the political leader of the {{wp|Bolsheviks}} for the war. {{wp|Leon Trotsky}} largely led the war effort as Minister of Defence (then called "People's Commissar of Military and Naval Affairs"). Other notable commanders include {{wp|Yakov Sverdlov}}; the namesake of [[Sverdlovsk (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Sverdlovsk]], and {{wp|Joseph Stalin}}. During most of the period of the civil war, the Bolsheviks enacted the policy of {{wp|war communism}} from 1918-1921.
=== Treaty on the Creation of the USSR ===
=== Treaty on the Creation of the USSR ===
=== Stalin Era (1927-1953) ===
=== Stalin Era (1927-1953) ===
==== World War II ====
==== World War II ====
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== Politics ==
== Politics ==
The Soviet Union is a {{wp|one-party state}} dominated by the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Communist Party of the Soviet Union]], which is constitutionally guaranteed a monopoly over politics. {{wp|Independent politician|Non-partisan politicians}} are allowed to hold or run for office, however they must accept the CPSU's platform. Political opposition of any kind is forbidden, and political freedoms in the Soviet Union are hence considered to be heavily limited. The [[Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Supreme Soviet]] is the supreme authoritative legislative body of the central government, however the [[Central Committee of the CPSU (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Central Committee of the CPSU]] is regarded as the ultimate decision-making body, owing to it being the director of all party and government activities.
=== Communist Party ===
=== Communist Party ===
=== Government ===
=== Government ===
=== Judicial System ===
=== Judicial System ===
=== Administrative Divisions ===
=== Administrative Divisions ===
The Soviet Union is a federation of [[Republics of the Soviet Union (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Union Republics]], based on {{wp|National delimitation in the Soviet Union|national delimination}}. Constitutionally, the Union Republics are considered equal to one-another, although de-facto the [[Russian SFSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Russian SFSR]] dominates, owing to its large size, population and economy. {{wp|Autonomous okrugs}}, {{wp|autonomous oblasts}}, and {{wp|Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics|ASSRs}} are often common when there is a significant ethnic minority in a particular region of a Union Republic, such as in the case of the {{wp|Komi ASSR}} in the Russian SFSR. ASSRs are subordinate to their respective Union Republics and cannot secede from the Union, unlike Union Republics who are constitutionally guaranteed the right to secede.


== Military ==
== Military ==
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=== Education ===
=== Education ===
=== Nationalities and ethnic groups ===
=== Nationalities and ethnic groups ===
The Soviet Union's geographic size has led it to become one of the world's most ethnically diverse countries. [[Russian SFSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Russia]] alone is home to 193 different ethnic groups. {{wp|East Slavs}} make up the largest percent of the Soviet population, with 58% of the population claiming ethnicity/nationality from an East Slavic nation. {{wp|Turkic peoples|Turks}} are the second largest group of people with 27% of the population. The {{wp|Soviet Central Asia|Central Asian}} republics, notably [[Uzbek SSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Uzbekistan]], [[Kirghiz SSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Kirghizia]] and [[Tadzhik SSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Tadzhikistan]], are the fastest growing republics by population.
{{wp|Russians}} are the largest group by population and have a significant diaspora across the nation, with a combined population of over 25 million. {{wp|Central Asia}} is home to a significant Russian population of 10.2 million, 7 million of who live in [[Kazakh SSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)|Kazakhstan]].
=== Health ===
=== Health ===
=== Languages ===
=== Languages ===
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== Sports ==
== Sports ==
{{Navbox Sov}}
<!-- CATEGORIES ---------->
[[Category:Countries]]
[[Category:Alternative History]]
[[Category:Socialist states]]
[[Category:Federal states]]
[[Category:Directorial states]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Federal republics]]
[[Category:Democracies]]

Revision as of 03:09, 26 March 2023

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Name in languages of
the Union Republicsa.
  • Russian:Союз Советских Социалистических Республик
    Soyuz Sovyetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik
    Ukrainian:Союз Радянських Соціалістичних Республік
    Soyuz Radyans'kykh Sotsialistychnykh Respublik
    Byelorussian:Саюз Савецкіх Сацыялістычных Рэспублік
    Sayuz Savyetskikh Satsyyalistychnykh Respublik
    Uzbek:Совет Социалистик Республикалари Иттифоқи
    Sovet Sotsialistik Respublikalari Ittifoqi
    Kazakh:Советтік Социалистік Республикалар Одағы
    Sovettik Sotsialistik Respublikalar Odaghy
    Kartvelian:საბჭოთა სოციალისტური რესპუბლიკების კავშირი
    sabch’ota sotsialist’uri resp’ublik’ebis k’avshiri
    Azerbaijani:Совет Сосиалист Республикалары Иттифагы
    Sovet Sosialist Respublikaları Ittifagı
    Lithuanian:Tarybų Socialistinių Respublikų Sąjunga
    Moldavianb.:Униуня Републичилор Советиче Сочиалисте
    Uniunea Republicilor Sovetice Socialiste
    Latvian:Padomju Sociālistisko Republiku Savienība
    Kirghiz:Советтик Социалисттик Республикалар Союзу
    Sovettik Sotsialisttik Respublikalar Soyuzu
    Tadzhik:Иттиҳоди Ҷумҳуриҳои Шӯравии Сосиалистӣ
    Ittihodi Jumhurihoi Shŭravii Sosialistí
    Armenian:Խորհրդային Սոցիալիստական Հանրապետությունների Միություն
    Khorhrdayin Sots’ialistakan Hanrapyetvowt’yvownnyeri Miowt’yvown
    Turkmen:Совет Социалистик Республикалары Союзы
    Sovet Sosialistik Respublikalary Soýuzy
    Estonian:Nõukogude Sotsialistlike Vabariikide Liit
Motto: "Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь!"
Location of Soviet Union
Capital
and largest city
Moscow
Official languagesNone (De-jure)
Russian (As a Lingua franca; De-facto)
Recognised national languages
Ethnic groups
(2022 est.)
Religion
Secularism (de-jure)
State atheism (de-facto)
Demonym(s)Soviet
GovernmentFederal Marxist-Leninist one-party directorial parliamentary socialist republic
Yelena Mikhailova
Aleksander Keskula
Sabrican Garayev
LegislatureSupreme Soviet
Soviet of Nationalities
Soviet of the Union
Establishment
7 November 1917
30 December 1922
• End of the Russian Civil War
16 June 1923
1941-1945
25 February 1956
10 August 2002
Area
• Total
22,402,200 km2 (8,649,500 sq mi) (1st)
• Water (%)
12.3
Population
• 2019[1] census
385,387,725
• Density
17.2/km2 (44.5/sq mi) (214)
GDP (nominal)2019 estimate
• Total
$10.48 trillion (2nd)
• Per capita
$27,193 (36th)
Gini (2019)0.233
low
HDI (2019)Increase 0.948
very high · 6th
CurrencySoviet Ruble (SUR)
Time zoneUTC+2-12
Date formatCE, mm/dd/yyyy
Driving sideright
Calling code+7
Internet TLD.su

The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), is a transcontinental country spanning across Eurasia. It is the largest country in the world by area at 22.4 million km2 (8.64 million mi2); it stretches over 15% of the Earth's surface area, extends across eleven time zones and borders eleven countries. It is the 3rd most populous country in the world and the most populous in Europe, with a population of 385.38 million in 2019. The country's largest city and capital is Moscow with a metropolitan population of 21.272 million, other major cities include Leningrad, Kiev, Tashkent and Baku.

As a federation of 15 co-equal soviet socialist republics, the Soviet Union is a multi-ethnic and diverse nation, with over 128 registered ethnicities. The East Slavs, consisting of the Russians, Byelorussians and Ukrainians, make up the majority of the population at 66% of the population, while Turks make up an additional 24%.

The origins of the Soviet Union can ultimately be traced back to the Rus', a confederation of Old Russian-speaking principalities in Eastern and Northern Europe that was a predecessor of the Tsardom and Empire of Russia. The Kievan Rus' would rule over a multi-ethnic confederation for nearly 4 centuries until the Mongol invasions destroyed the capital of Kiev and forced most of the Rus' into vassalisation.

The Rus' would eventually be re-unified under the Grand Duchy of Moscow led by Ivan the Great, who was the first Russian sovereign to style himself tsar. His grandson, Ivan the Terrible would be crowned Tsar of the Rus' in 1547. Russia would grow continuously over a period of 150 years at 35,000 km2 per year. Ivan's successor, Feodor would die childless in 1598 resulting in a succession crisis that would end with the fall of the Rurikid dynasty and the rise of the Romanovs with the election of Mikhail Romanov to the throne. Russia would expand into Siberia under his reign, becoming the largest country in the world. Peter, reigning from 1682, would embark on a series of ambitious reforms that would westernise the Russian state, transforming it into a great power. Under his reign, he usurped control of the Baltic Sea from the Swedish Empire, moved the capital north to Saint Petersburg and was crowned Emperor of the Rus' in 1721. His second-youngest child, the Empress Elizabeth would die childless in 1762, leading to throne passing to his hated grandson Peter III. He was overthrown in a palace coup led by his wife, the Prussian Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, who would take the name Catherine. Under her reign, Russia would establish itself as a great power, carving up the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with Prussia and the Habsburg while conquering the remainder of Siberia and establishing naval supremacy over the Black Sea. Her grandson, Alexander I would fight in the Napoleonic Wars, conquering Finland from the Swedish in 1809 and later most of the Caucasus and Poland. His brother, Nicholas, succeeded him in 1825 and expanded the Russian Empire's borders into Central Asia, conquering the Kazakh Khanate in the process.

Alexander II would embark on a series of reforms similar to his great-great-great grandfather, most notably the Edict of Emancipation of Russia. Following his assassination in 1881, his son Alexander III would undo much of his policies and turned the Russian Empire away from reform, leaving it weak by the time the unprepared Nicholas ascended to the throne in 1894. Nicholas led a disastrous war against Japan in 1905, resulting in a revolution which saw the de-jure end of absolute monarchism in Russia and the establishment of a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. In practice however, Nicholas II still retained near absolute power, which allowed for the blame to be placed upon him when Russia resulted disastrous defeats in World War I. Nicholas would be forced to abdicate the throne in 1917, resulting in the end of the monarchy and a period of political instability. Vladimir Lenin's Bolsheviks would coup the government in Saint Petersburg, declaring the establishment of a socialist state that would later turn into the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic. The bloody Russian Civil War would end with the unification of the RSFSR's fellow Soviet republics and satellite states into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. After Lenin's death in 1924, Joseph Stalin would succeed him, building on Leninism to create Marxism-Leninism, which continues to be the governing ideology of both the Soviet Union and several other countries across the globe. Under Stalin, the country would rapidly modernize and industrialize, leading to excess mortalities in the 1930s. 1939 saw a brief non-aggression pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, which would be broke after only 2 years following the German invasion in June 1941. The Soviet Union would lose 27 million people throughout their war with the Germans, which would end with the Soviet Union and its allies emerging victorious. Stalin would establish a series of satellite states in Eastern Europe- his successor, Nikita Khrushchev implemented a series of economic reforms while condemning Stalin's brutality and his cult of personality, resulting in a period of de-Stalinisation and the escalation of the Cold War with the establishment of the Warsaw Pact in 1956. The Soviet Union's economy and development would gradually stagnate under Leonid Brezhnev, leading to a short period of short-lived governments before the unofficial Soviet Civil War ended with Mikhail Gorbachev's reformist faction falling to Grigory Romanov, who passed minor reforms but for the most part continued the policies of his predecessors.

The Soviet Union today stands as one of the world's two superpowers along with the United States. It is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and is also a member of the European Cooperative Community, SCO, CSCE along with other organisations. The Soviet Union ranks high in literacy, human development, possesses the world's second-largest military, and is the world's largest producer of petroleum and natural gas. Globally, the Soviet Union ranks low for human rights, owing to its suppression of free speech and press. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) holds an absolute monopoly on political and state power, with opposition candidates and groups banned.

Etymology

The word soviet is derived from the Russian term sovet (Russian: совет), meaning 'council', 'assembly', 'advice', related to English wise.

The Soviet Union was originally to be titled "Union of Soviet Republics of Europe and Asia" (Russian: Союз Советских Республик Европы и Азии; Soyuz Sovetskikh Respublik Evropy i Azii), however after an agreement by Stalin and Lenin it was later changed to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

"СССР" (Or SSSR in Latin Alphabets) is the official Russian abbreviation of "USSR". Other common cognates include "Союз ССР" (Soyuz SSR) which roughly translates to "Union of SSRs" in English, as well as "Советский Союз" (Sovetskiy Soyuz) which literally translates to "Soviet Union". This term is never used unabbreviated as it is seen as offensive, since following the Great Patriotic War "СС" or "SS" has become affiliated with the Schutzstaffel.

The Soviet Union is frequently (and incorrectly) referred to as "Russia"; which is incorrect since Russia is only one of the Republics. Efforts to correct this have largely been fruitless, however the Soviet Union officially insists on "Soviet Union" rather than Russia to stress its multi-ethnic nature.

Geography

The Soviet Union is the world's largest country with an area of 22,402,200 square kilometres (8,649,500 sq mi). It covers 1/6th of Earth's land surface and is larger than the continents of Australia, Europe, and South America, with a size comparable to North America. The country spans 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) east to west across eleven time zones, and over 7,200 kilometres (4,500 mi) north to south. The country is also widely diverse climate wise- with five climate zones (Tundra, Taiga, Steppes, Desert and mountains)

The Soviet Union possesses the world's largest border at over 60,000 kilometres (37,000 mi), 2/3rds of which is coastline. The Soviet Union borders Norway and Finland to the Northwest, the Baltic Sea, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romania in the west, the Black Sea, Turkiye and Iran in the south, (as well as the Caspian Sea and Afghanistan), and Mongolia, China, and North Korea to the east. It is seperated from the United States by the Beiring Strait, while the La Pérouse Strait separates it from the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

The country's highest mountain is Communism Peak inTadzhikistan at 7,495 metres (24,590 ft) high. It also contains most of the world's largest lakes, including the Caspian Sea (shared with Iran) and Lake Baikal, the world's largest and deepest freshwater lake.

History

Revolution and Foundation

Most of the territory of the Soviet Union before the 1917 revolutions was led by the Emperor of All Russia and the Russian Empire: an autocratic and authoritarian state with the Emperor (often called the Tsar) as its absolute monarch. The monarchy had largely failed to constitutionalize and reform due to the actions of Alexander III and Nicholas II. A State Duma, equivalent to a parliament- was established after the 1905 Russian Revolution but its powers were largely nonexistent as Nicholas continued to rule in all but name as an autocrat. The monarchy itself was particularly embarassed after its disastrous defeat in the Russo-Japanese War which saw the near-annihilation of the Russian Baltic Fleet. Further controversies with the Tsar and rising unpopularity after the events of Bloody Sunday in Saint Petersburg only further exacerbated the likelihood of revolution.

In 1914 Russia entered into World War I, largely to failure: it is estimated that over 2.25 million men died with an additional 3.749 and 3.343 million wounded or captured. The war not only devastated the population of Russia with famine but also crashed the economy as the Germans managed to capture the industry-rich Kingdom of Poland and pushed into modern day Lithuania. In March, 1917 a revolution broke out in Saint Petersburg which resulted in the Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the end of the Russian Empire. In its place came the Russian Provisional Government and subsequently the Russian Republic. The country was largely unstable and the government unpopular, it mainly shared power with the Petrograd Soviets which de-facto acted as its own rival government to Alexander Kerensky's government. Further tensions between the Provisional government and the Petrograd Soviet led to a largely bloodless revolution in Petrograd where the Petrograd Soviet declared itself the ruling government of Russia. A resulting civil war broke out which saw millions of casualties. On 25 January 1918, the third All-Russian Congress of Soviets officially named the state the Russian Soviet Republic, which later signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk which ceded a significant portion of Russia's most valuable industrial and agricultural land to the Central Powers. The name was changed later in the year to the "Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic". Vladimir Lenin was the political leader of the Bolsheviks for the war. Leon Trotsky largely led the war effort as Minister of Defence (then called "People's Commissar of Military and Naval Affairs"). Other notable commanders include Yakov Sverdlov; the namesake of Sverdlovsk, and Joseph Stalin. During most of the period of the civil war, the Bolsheviks enacted the policy of war communism from 1918-1921.

Treaty on the Creation of the USSR

Stalin Era (1927-1953)

World War II

Cold War

De-Stalinization and Khrushchev Thaw (1953–1964)

Brezhnev Era (1964 - 1985)

Ligachev Era (1985 - 1994)

Gurenko Era (1994 - 2004)

Present Day

Foreign Policy

Politics

The Soviet Union is a one-party state dominated by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which is constitutionally guaranteed a monopoly over politics. Non-partisan politicians are allowed to hold or run for office, however they must accept the CPSU's platform. Political opposition of any kind is forbidden, and political freedoms in the Soviet Union are hence considered to be heavily limited. The Supreme Soviet is the supreme authoritative legislative body of the central government, however the Central Committee of the CPSU is regarded as the ultimate decision-making body, owing to it being the director of all party and government activities.

Communist Party

Government

Judicial System

Administrative Divisions

The Soviet Union is a federation of Union Republics, based on national delimination. Constitutionally, the Union Republics are considered equal to one-another, although de-facto the Russian SFSR dominates, owing to its large size, population and economy. Autonomous okrugs, autonomous oblasts, and ASSRs are often common when there is a significant ethnic minority in a particular region of a Union Republic, such as in the case of the Komi ASSR in the Russian SFSR. ASSRs are subordinate to their respective Union Republics and cannot secede from the Union, unlike Union Republics who are constitutionally guaranteed the right to secede.

Military

Space Program

The Soviet space program was the world's first space program, founded in 1955. Its notable accomplishments include the first satellite, the first animal in orbit, the first Spacecraft to escape Earth's gravity, the first man in space, the first woman in space, the first soft-landing on the moon, the first exchange of crews in space, the first space rover, the first space station, the first permanently crewed space station and the first fully automated flight of a spaceplane.

Originally, the Soviet space program was de-centralized and was split among numerous competing design bureaus. After 1996, however, the NSKA became the Soviet Union's centralized space agency, under the jurisdiction of the Soviet Space Forces. The country competes with the United States' NASA and the United States Space Force.

Economy

The Soviet Union organizes its economy using a system of command economy, being directed by central planning by Gosplan, itself organized into 5 year plans. The Soviet economy has noticeably avoided the economic liberalization of other communist countries whilst remaining relatively economically strong. The Soviet economy is noted for its high economic security as well as its high employment rate and moderate GDP per capita but is also strained by its lack of quality in its consumer products.

Energy

Science and technology

Transport

Demographics

Fertility

Education

Nationalities and ethnic groups

The Soviet Union's geographic size has led it to become one of the world's most ethnically diverse countries. Russia alone is home to 193 different ethnic groups. East Slavs make up the largest percent of the Soviet population, with 58% of the population claiming ethnicity/nationality from an East Slavic nation. Turks are the second largest group of people with 27% of the population. The Central Asian republics, notably Uzbekistan, Kirghizia and Tadzhikistan, are the fastest growing republics by population. Russians are the largest group by population and have a significant diaspora across the nation, with a combined population of over 25 million. Central Asia is home to a significant Russian population of 10.2 million, 7 million of who live in Kazakhstan.

Health

Languages

Religion

Culture

Sports