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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 '''[[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==