Soviet Union
RegionRussia/Eurasia
Period1922-1991
Peak Size22.4 million km2
Founded ByVladimir Lenin
About Soviet Union
The largest communist state in history. Won WWII at a cost of 27 million lives. Launched Sputnik and put the first human in space. Built 45,000 nuclear warheads. The Gulag system imprisoned millions. Collapsed on December 26, 1991, ending the Cold War. Its 15 republics became independent nations.