Question

Did Stalin save the Slavic people from extinction?

Answer 1

Yes he did. Stalin may not have been a great military commander himself, but he correctly foresaw the need to industrialize and build up military forces as fast as possible--and only his ruthless leadership made it possible. Stalin was also basically right to crush all hint of internal opposition and place himself firmly in the driver's seat. Some mistakes may have been made but the policy was fundamentally sound--internal power struggles and resulting disunity would've played right into the hands of nazi conquerors bent on killing them all. Survival required not only that the USSR be well armed but that it be united and monolithic.