The Soviet Union was the largest socialist state, lasting from 1922 to 1991. It went through many changes, including territorial annexations and political control. At its peak, it included 15 republics, with Russia being the most powerful. The liberalization movements and financial control of the republics led to its dissolution in 1991, with Russia taking on its responsibilities.
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, also known as the Soviet Union or USSR, was the largest and longest-lived socialist state in the world. From 1922 to 1991, the USSR went through many changes, which included changes in border limits, territorial annexations, and political control. At the time of its creation in 1922, the USSR was a single unit that included Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, together with the Transcaucasian Republics, which included Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Further changes were made to the Soviet Union group throughout the year, until the final group was announced in 1956. By that time, 15 countries had become part of the USSR: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Russia was the most powerful of all the republics, and the one that retained control of territory and major political decisions.
Until its fall in 1991, the Soviet Union covered 8,649,500 square miles (22,402,200 square kilometers) and stretched from the Arctic Ocean to the Afghan border. The 150 ethnic groups that made up the republic represented a total population of 293 million, most of whom lived in present-day Russia. Of the republics that were once part of the Soviet Union, many were formed with the acquisition of new territory during the war, while others arose when the central government decided to divide an existing republic into two or more different zones.
The liberalization movements initiated by many republics were a major factor in the dissolution of the USSR. With the entry into force of perestroika, which allowed the different republics to gain financial control of their territories, the divisions of the republic widened more and more. When the Soviet Union finally dissolved in 1991, Russia assumed responsibility for all debts, treaties and property that originally belonged to the Union. As the main executor during the Soviet Union period, Russia also became the one in charge of making political and financial decisions, including the political moves that gave birth to the Cold War.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
