logo

57 pages 1 hour read

Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

Making Bombs for Hitler

Marsha Forchuk SkrypuchFiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2012

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Background

Historical Context: War in Ukraine

German policemen at the work camp, the cook, and even Juli tell Lida that there is “no such place” as Ukraine, which confuses Lida because Ukraine is her home. She knows that Ukraine and Russia are different and have unique cultures and languages—but people of other nationalities do not share her opinion. Lida and Natalia note that life in Ukraine under the Russian leader, Joseph Stalin, was terrible even before the Nazis invaded. A little background on the history of Ukraine prior to and during World War II will clarify Lida’s past and some of the choices that she and other characters make.

Ukraine’s history is complex and fraught with tragedy. Following World War I and during the Russian Civil War (1917-1922), Ukraine enjoyed a brief period of partial independence. In 1922, Ukraine became a republic in the Soviet Union, and from 1925-1928, developed its own language and expanded culturally. In 1928, however, a few years after Lenin’s death, Joseph Stalin assumed total control of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Communist Party.

Stalin, wanting to create a communist economy, imposed “collectivism” on Ukraine, taking away individuals’ farms and making them part of a state-run collective.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 57 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools