Emily Carter
There is an anecdote that Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin ripped the feathers off a live chicken to demonstrate how he governed the people. In the story, Stalin calls his comrades and orders a chicken to be brought in. He then plucks the chicken down to the last feather, releases it, and throws it crumbs of grain, which the chicken follows. Stalin then says: This is how easy it is to govern stupid people. They will follow you no matter how much pain you cause them, as long as you throw a little worthless treat once in a while. While the story is illustrative of Stalin's rule, it is unlikely to be a factual account. The earliest known mention of the story is in a book by journalist Jeffrey B. Lilley, who attributes it to Kyrgyz author Chingiz Torekulovich Aitmatov, who was known for his use of allegory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description of the event | Stalin ripped the feathers off a live chicken in front of his closest comrades-in-arms to demonstrate how easy it is to govern stupid people |
| Source of the story | Anti-Stalinist Soviet/Kyrgyz author Chingiz Aitmatov |
| First appearance of the story | 1980s, around 30 years after Stalin's death |
| Authenticity of the story | False, likely an illustrative sketch invented by Aitmatov |
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What You'll Learn
Stalin's alleged act symbolised his rule
The story of Stalin ripping the feathers off a chicken is believed to be an anecdote or an allegory, with no sources found to be contemporaneous with Stalin's life or the decades following his death in 1953. It is believed to have originated from the writings of Kyrgyz author Chingiz Aitmatov, who was known for his anti-Stalinist stance and use of allegory. The story is as follows:
Stalin called together his closest comrades and told them that he would teach them the secret to governing the people, who viewed him as a living god. He ordered a chicken to be brought in and plucked it live, down to its red flesh, until only the comb was left on its head. He then set the chicken free, and it ran around, unable to find shelter from the sun or shade. Stalin then threw it a crumb of grain, and the chicken followed him. Stalin is then believed to have said, "This is how easy it is to govern stupid people. They will follow you no matter how much pain you cause them, as long as you throw a little worthless treat once in a while."
In conclusion, while the story of Stalin ripping the feathers off a chicken may not be a factual account, it symbolises and reflects key aspects of his rule. It highlights his governing tactics, his view of the people, his reliance on fear and control, and his belief in the power of a strong individual leader.
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The story's origin is attributed to writer Chingiz Aitmatov
The gruesome story of Stalin ripping the feathers off a live chicken to demonstrate "how easy it is to govern stupid people" has been attributed to the Soviet leader, but its origins are linked to the writer Chingiz Aitmatov.
The earliest recounting of the story seems to date from the late 1980s, around 30 years after Stalin's death in 1953. It is believed that Aitmatov, a Kyrgyz writer with a distinguished history as an anti-Stalinist, first included the anecdote in his novel "The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years", which was published in 1988.
In the novel, Stalin calls together his closest comrades-in-arms and proceeds to pluck a chicken in front of them, down to the last feather, until only the comb is left on its head. He then sets the chicken free, and when it cannot bear the heat of the sun or the cold in the shade, the bird follows him when he tosses it crumbs of grain.
Aitmatov's works are known for their allegorical nature, and it is likely that the tale of Stalin and the chicken is not a factual account, but rather an illustrative sketch that he either invented or heard elsewhere and attributed to Stalin. The writer himself is believed to have first heard the story from one of the elders in his home village of Sheker, shortly after Stalin's death.
The timing of the novel's publication is significant, as it coincided with a period of de-Stalinization and an outpouring of anti-Stalinist works. It also aligned with the Gorbachev administration's "glasnost and perestroika" campaign, which aimed to steer the Soviet Union towards greater openness and reform. Aitmatov, whose family and culture suffered under Stalin's rule, may have been motivated by a desire to rid the Russian people of Stalin's lingering influence and the nostalgia for his strongman rule that persisted among some citizens.
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Historians have debunked the anecdote as false
The story of Stalin ripping the feathers off a chicken to demonstrate how easy it is to govern stupid people has been debunked by historians as false. The earliest recounting of the anecdote seems to date from the early 1990s or late 1980s, which is consistent with the following excerpt from a 1988 New Yorker article that attributes it to the mid-1980s writings of anti-Stalinist Soviet/Kyrgyz author Chingiz Aitmatov. Aitmatov is known for his use of allegory, and historians believe that the tale is not a literal account of something Stalin did, but rather an illustrative sketch that Aitmatov either invented himself or heard elsewhere and subsequently attributed to Stalin.
Oleg Khlevniuk, a historian based in Moscow and the author of a biography of Stalin, told PolitiFact that the anecdote is false. He said that the story comes from an author who is inspired by legends and myths and uses allegories and fantasy in his work. Another Stalin biographer told PolitiFact that they also believe the anecdote is not true.
The story goes that Stalin called together his closest comrades-in-arms and ordered a chicken brought in. He then plucked it live, in front of them all, down to the last feather, down to the red flesh, until only the comb was left on its head. He then let the chicken go and, though it could have gone anywhere, it was too hot in the sun and too cold in the shade. The chicken pressed itself against Stalin's boots, and when Stalin threw it a crumb of grain, the bird followed him wherever he went. Stalin then turned to his comrades and said, "This is how easy it is to govern stupid people. They will follow you no matter how much pain you cause them, as long as you throw a little worthless treat once in a while."
While the story may be false, it is certainly plausible given Stalin's other actions and quotes. For example, when questioned about the Holodomor, a state-sanctioned famine that led to the deaths of nearly four million Ukrainians, Stalin is believed to have said, "One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic."
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The story was likely invented to criticise Stalin
The story of Stalin ripping the feathers off a chicken likely emerged in the late 1980s, around thirty years after his death. It is attributed to the Kyrgyz author Chingiz Aitmatov, a known anti-Stalinist with a history of critical works about the Soviet leader. The story first appeared in Aitmatov's writings during a period when editors in the country were publishing an abundance of anti-Stalinist material. Given the author's use of allegory and the timing of the story's release, it is likely that the tale was invented to criticise Stalin and his governance.
The anecdote involves Stalin calling together his closest comrades-in-arms and ordering a chicken to be brought in. He then proceeds to pluck the chicken live, in front of his followers, until it is naked and bleeding. He then sets the chicken free, and it runs around, unable to escape the room. Stalin then throws the chicken a crumb of grain, and the bird follows him wherever he goes. He turns to his followers and says: "This is how easy it is to govern stupid people. They will follow you no matter how much pain you cause them, as long as you throw a little worthless treat once in a while."
The story is gruesome and paints Stalin as a cruel and ruthless leader. It is consistent with other anecdotes about Stalin, such as his response to the Holodomor, a state-sanctioned famine that led to the deaths of nearly four million Ukrainians. When questioned about this tragedy, Stalin is believed to have said: "One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic." While the chicken story may be allegorical, it is plausible, given Stalin's other documented actions and statements.
The tale of Stalin and the chicken has been shared widely on social media and has been adapted to criticise various events and ideologies, including anti-COVID-19 measures. Despite its popularity, there is no evidence to support the anecdote's truth, and historians have since debunked it as a myth.
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Stalin's alleged act is comparable to his other acts of cruelty
Stalin's alleged act of ripping the feathers off a chicken to demonstrate his power and control over his people is comparable to his other acts of cruelty. For instance, he is believed to have said, "One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic," when questioned about the Holodomor, a state-sanctioned famine that resulted in the deaths of nearly four million Ukrainians.
Stalin's cruel nature was also evident in his treatment of his own family. His daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, and his son, Yakov, both attempted suicide, with the latter's attempt being in response to being denied permission to marry the daughter of an Orthodox priest. Furthermore, it is said that Stalin's second wife, Nadezhda Alliluyeva, committed suicide after being berated by him during a dinner party. Stalin reportedly continued partying after hearing the gunshot, unbothered by the incident.
In addition to these acts of cruelty, Stalin's rule was marked by the execution of approximately 700,000 high-ranking military officials, further showcasing his ruthless nature.
The chicken anecdote, attributed to the anti-Stalinist author Chingiz Aitmatov, serves as a metaphor for Stalin's governance and treatment of the Soviet people. While the story's origins are questionable, appearing decades after Stalin's death, it reflects a broader narrative of his dictatorial leadership and the suffering endured under his regime.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Stalin did rip the feathers off a chicken.
Stalin ripped the feathers off a chicken to demonstrate how he governed his people.
After the incident, Stalin said, "This is how easy it is to govern stupid people. They will follow you no matter how much pain you cause them, as long as you throw a little worthless treat once in a while."
No contemporaneous sources provide evidence of this incident during Stalin's life or the next few decades. The earliest recounting of the story dates back to the late 1980s or early 1990s, attributed to anti-Stalinist author Chingiz Aitmatov. Historians have dismissed this anecdote as likely allegorical rather than a factual account.
