For this book a distinguished team of economists and historians-R. W. Davies, Paul R. Gregory, Andrei Markevich, Mikhail Mukhin, Andrei Sokolov, and Mark Harrison-scoured formerly closed Soviet archives to discover how Stalin used rubles to make guns. Focusing on various aspects of the defense industry, a top-secret branch of the Soviet economy, the volume€s contributors uncover new information on the inner workings of Stalin€s dictatorship, military and economic planning, and the industrial organization of the Soviet economy.

 

Previously unknown details about Stalin€s command system come to light, as do fascinating insights into the relations between Soviet public and private interests. The authors show that defense was at the core of Stalin€s system of rule; single-minded management of the defense sector helped him keep his grip on power.