{"title":"Martyn Whittock","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to our curated selection featuring the works of Martyn Whittock, an accomplished historian and author known for his engaging explorations of history and military themes. With a knack for unravelling complex historical narratives in an accessible and captivating manner, Whittock's books are a valuable addition to any history enthusiast's collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the highlights of this collection is \u003cem\u003eThe Secret History of Soviet Russia's Police State\u003c\/em\u003e, a compelling deep dive into the intricate web of political control and surveillance that characterised Soviet Russia. Whittock's meticulously researched insights offer a window into the inner workings of one of history's most formidable regimes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a seasoned history buff or a curious newcomer to the genre, Martyn Whittock's works promise to enlighten and provoke thought. Dive into our collection today to discover narratives that bring historical events and figures vividly to life.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-secret-history-of-soviet-russias-police-state-by-martyn-whittock-9781472142405","title":"The Secret History of Soviet Russia's Police State","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘[R]eadable and thoughtful . . . does an excellent job of exploring how the murderous political police in all its incarnations defined the Soviet Union, and left a poisonous legacy still with us today’\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eProfessor Mark Galeotti, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Vory\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eA Short History of Russia\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRepression, control, manipulation and elimination of enemies assisted in the establishment of the Soviet state, and helped maintain it in power, but could not, in the end, prevent its collapse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCitizens of the West have, for the most part, been told a very simplified story of the repressive 'totalitarian' state that was the USSR. In fact, it was sustained by more than just policing and force. No amount of revisionist history can erase the reality of millions controlled, imprisoned and killed, but there was much more to the USSR's one-party state than this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhittock tells a more complex story of the combination of cruelty, co-operation and compromise required to build and run a one-party state. Much of this \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e the story of the role played by the secret police in creating and sustaining such a form of government, but it is much more than simply a 'history of the secret police'. This is because the 'police state' which emerged (in which dissent, both real and imaginary, was undoubtedly policed, threatened and ruthlessly eliminated) was more than just the product of the arrests, interrogations, executions and imprisonments carried out by the secret police.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe USSR was also made possible by a battle for hearts and minds which led millions of people to feel that they really had benefited from the system and had a stake in the new society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46850382135532,"sku":"9781472142405","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3561573482712.jpg?v=1759086252"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/martyn-whittock.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}