Joseph Stalin Had Photo Editors Remove People from Photos Killed by His Order

Joseph Stalin, one of the most feared men of the 20th century, possessed a trick very few people heard of. He covered up his crimes like a true pro.

The Soviet leader was known not only for destroying his enemies in real life but also for making them vanish from pictures. When Stalin came to power in 1929, he started the “Great Purge” campaign to wipe out his political opponents.

Thousands died, and millions of others were banished. To ensure no records were left, the brutal dictator asked his photo retouchers to erase all victims from the old pictures. The long editing list included party officials and trusted people standing next to the ruler with smiling faces.

It was believed that Stalin’s obsession with censoring made up an entire mini-industry in the USSR.