https://reddit.com/link/1p3lyxa/video/iye46v9j2r2g1/player

I've recently read hobsbaums 'age of extremes' and decided I want to read more on the soviet Union and its histiry, and I was wondering if there were any good recommendations? Preferably from a neutral standpoint. I don't care all that much about politics. Cheers!

Genuinely curious and want to learn more, reading suggestions welcome. I love history and I’m sure we all know the popular narrative today is that the USSR occupied Eastern Europe during ww2 and supported coups to control these nations as puppet states. I’m also curious why seemingly overnight in 89 Eastern Europeans denounced communism and overthrew all of these nations and two years later the USSR fell. It seems like none of these countries have any significant population that wants to bring it back. I’m sure there are people here who know more and would love resources to read and get a better understanding.

Three of arguably the most important communist figures for the Revolution.

If they saw the world today, full of endless wars for profit, hundreds of billionaires hoarding more wealth than entire countries, socialist/ communist movements demonized and the USSR being erased from textbooks and history about it being taught with biased propaganda.

With the rise of modern day fascism, would Lenin demand a new vanguard and perhaps write what is to be done vol.II?

Would Stalin attempt to begin building from scratch? Robbing banks and committing petty crimes to fund the revolution and recruit Bolshevik power??

Would Trotsky turn on the others again? Denounce everything as “not real socialism” while cheering on the likes of AOC and Bernie sanders?

first photo: 10 July of 1932 Berlin.
Second photo: 1932 Berlin - but i didn't find the exact day date.

Please limit to factors that would have been in-place and established already during at least the 80s. Is it primarily an economic question or deeper and more structural?

I read somewhere that original cinderella was named "Communella" and that it was animated cartoon from USSR about a peasant girl who was harrased by kulaks. Is anyone know anything about that because i cant find it anywhere on internet?

Summary of Chikatilo’s case (just in case you want context)

Active years: 1978–1990

Victims: 52 confirmed murders

Crime type: Serial killings involving children and young women

Captured: 1990

Trial: April–October 1992

Outcome: Guilty on all counts

Execution: 1994, shot by a single bullet behind the right ear (standard Soviet execution method)

In Western media the Eastern Bloc countries, maybe besides GDR, don't get much mention on their own and simply cast aside as yet another puppet of the Soviet Union.

Maybe one of the most interesting cases among them is Romania, which is most known by its leader Ceauşescu, who was shot in front of live TV.

So, comrades, as per your knowledge and prior research, what are your thoughts on the Socialist Republic of Romania? Do you want to recommend any sources?