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The '''[[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]]''' was established in December 1922 by the leaders of the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik) on territory generally corresponding to that of the old Russian Empire, which had collapsed in 1917.  A communist empire would be created by [[Vladimir Ilyich Lenin]] in its place, and during the next seven decades would spawn failed harvests, famine, political and social repression, religious persecution, and mass murder within; place neighboring nations under its heel; and on at least two occasions bring the world to the brink of nuclear war.

The '''[[Soviet Union|Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]]''' was established in December 1922 by the leaders of the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik) on territory generally corresponding to that of the old Russian Empire, which had collapsed in 1917.  A communist empire would be created by [[Vladimir Ilyich Lenin]] in its place, and during the next seven decades would spawn failed harvests, famine, political and social repression, religious persecution, and mass murder within; place neighboring nations under its heel; and on at least two occasions bring the world to the brink of nuclear war.

==Revolutions and civil war==

==Revolutions and civil war==