On a winter night in 1935, the ballroom in Moscow was lit up with delegates from all over the world. However, in this joyful and peaceful atmosphere, an unprecedented event was about to erupt that would shock the entire Soviet Union, and indeed the whole world. On this night, Mongolian Prime Minister Genden, a highly respected figure in the political arena, made an incredible decision in full view of everyone.
At the climax of the banquet, the effect of alcohol made Genden, who was usually calm, become emotional. In such a state, he went so far as to publicly commit a shocking act in front of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, a figure known as an iron-fisted ruler - a slap in the face of Stalin. At this moment, the entire banquet hall fell into a shocking silence.
Why did Genden make such a move? What's the story behind this? Was his act impulsive, or was it a long-pent-up emotional outburst?
In 1921, Outer Mongolia declared independence under the covert control of the Soviet Union, an event that not only marked the independence of Outer Mongolia from Qing rule, but also heralded the beginning of Soviet influence in this vast land.
As early as the end of the Qing Dynasty, Tsarist Russia was eyeing Mongolia and waiting for an opportunity. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Tsarist Russia took advantage of the chaos within China to secretly agitate and plot the Outer Mongolia region at this time, although it was still nominally under the jurisdiction of China, but in fact it was already in a semi-independent state.
In October 1919, the Chinese Anhui warlord Xu Shuzheng led his army into Outer Mongolia in an attempt to bring it back under the control of ***. However, due to the turbulence of the domestic situation at the time, it was difficult to maintain effective rule in the region for a long time.
At the same time, the Soviet Union was too busy consolidating its domestic power to intervene too much in the situation in Outer Mongolia. But by 1921, the Soviet Union had gradually stabilized and began to turn its attention to Outer Mongolia and support its formal declaration of independence. Soviet support for Outer Mongolia was motivated not only by geopolitical considerations, but also by the creation of a pro-Soviet buffer zone in East Asia.
After independence, Outer Mongolia, although not widely recognized internationally, gradually established an independent political system with the support of the Soviet Union. However, this political system was almost completely controlled by the Soviet Union. Over the next few decades, Outer Mongolia's political elite was almost exclusively pro-Soviet figures, and their résumés generally had "Soviet study or training experience."
The Soviet Union's influence on Outer Mongolia was not limited to the political level, but also included the military and economic spheres. The Soviet Union had a large number of troops stationed on the territory of Mongolia and provided military assistance to ensure its influence in the region.
Economically, the Soviet Union further deepened the dependence of the two countries through ** and investment. Although this relationship helped the development of Outer Mongolia to some extent, it also made it heavily dependent on the Soviet Union, and almost became a vassal state of the Soviet Union.
Against this background, the main figures in the Mongolian political arena were inevitably inextricably linked to the Soviet Union.
In July 1932, Genden became prime minister of Mongolia with Stalin's strong support, and his political peak began. Genden's rise was not only due to his political prowess, but more importantly to his close relationship with Stalin. Stalin publicly praised Genden on several occasions as a "good friend of the Soviet Union", which was crucial to Genden's power base within Mongolia. Genden's political career was largely due to his deep ties to the Soviet Union, especially his personal ties to Stalin.
After Gen came to power, his political tactics were largely influenced by the Soviet model. In terms of economic and social policy, Genden actively promoted a Soviet-style planned economy, collectivization, and restrictions on private property rights. Under Stalin's guidance, Genden also took a series of measures to suppress religious activity, especially Buddhism, which caused widespread resentment in Mongolia, where traditional beliefs were strong.
Politically, Genden was seen as Stalin's ** man in Mongolia, and his political actions and decisions were mostly in line with the interests of the Soviet Union. For example, he actively cooperated with the Soviet purge of opposition figures in Mongolia and intensified the suppression of anti-Soviet and nationalist forces. While these measures strengthened his regime, they also deepened resentment within Mongolia against Soviet control.
However, as time went on, Genden began to realize that the Soviet Union's control and intervention in Mongolia was deepening, and this dependence gradually became heavy. He began to have doubts about the absolute control of the Soviet Union, and inner contradictions and dissatisfaction began to accumulate. Especially in the Soviet Union's ** policy towards the Mongol religious leaders, Genden felt a great moral conflict. He was the leader of the Mongol state, but under pressure from Stalin, he had to implement a number of policies that were contrary to his personal convictions.
This contradiction eventually led to a rift in the relationship between Genden and Stalin. Genden began to try to gain more autonomy for Mongolia while maintaining relations with the Soviet Union.
As Genden's relations with Stalin deteriorated, an important point of friction was religious policy, especially attitudes towards Buddhism. Buddhism has a profound influence in Mongolia and is an important part of the national culture. However, Stalin insisted that Genden pursue a strict religious ** policy aimed at eliminating the influence of Buddhism on Mongolian society in order to consolidate Soviet control over Mongolia.
This policy of Stalin aroused widespread opposition and dissatisfaction in Mongolia. As the leader of Mongolia, Genden was well aware of the place of Buddhism in the hearts of the Mongolian people. He began to try to find a balance between carrying out Stalin's orders and preserving traditional Mongolian culture. At Stalin's insistence, Genden ostensibly took steps to restrict Buddhist activities, such as closing monasteries and expelling monks, but he also secretly tried to protect some Buddhist leaders and cultural heritage.
This put Genden in a dilemma. On the one hand, he had to obey Stalin's orders and maintain relations with the Soviet Union; On the other hand, he was unwilling to harm his own national culture and beliefs. This ambivalence accumulated in Genden's mind and gradually translated into dissatisfaction and rebellion against Stalin's policies.
Stalin's dissatisfaction with Genden escalated. He began to have doubts about Genden's loyalty, especially after receiving reports that Genden had been in conflict with his religious policies. Stalin put pressure on Genden through harsh telegrams and personal letters, demanding that he carry out Soviet instructions more resolutely. This pressure put Genden's political position in jeopardy, and at the same time exacerbated his inner struggle and pain.
Against this backdrop, Genden came to realize that he had to act more decisively if he wanted to protect Mongolia's cultural and national interests.
On a winter night in 1935, at a banquet in Moscow, an unprecedented confrontation took place between Mongolian Prime Minister Genden and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. On this night, the atmosphere of the reception was originally relaxed and pleasant, and representatives from various countries gathered together. However, when Stalin went to Genden and began to express dissatisfaction with his implementation of the Mongolian religious policy, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Stalin's voice was gloomy, and he accused Genden of not resolutely carrying out Soviet directives in the field of religion in Mongolia, especially with regard to the elimination of Buddhist influence. Stalin's words were sharp and direct, he questioned Genden's loyalty and determination, and his words were full of threats.
Genden had drunk too much by this time, and the alcohol made his emotions even more agitated. In the face of Stalin's doubts and threats, Genden's years of depression and contradictions finally broke out. He suddenly stood up, walked up to Stalin, and slapped Stalin in the face in full view of everyone. The slap resounded throughout the banquet hall, and everyone was stunned.
Genden had an angry and unyielding expression on his face, and he loudly denounced Stalin as a **** and accused Stalin's policies of hurting the interests and feelings of the Mongolian people. He even declared that he was considering an alliance with Japan as a sign of strong opposition to Soviet policy. At this moment, Genden is not only speaking out for Mongolia's religion and culture, but also finding an outlet for his own feelings and national self-esteem that have been suppressed for many years.
The scene became extremely awkward and tense at one point, and everyone didn't know how to react. Stalin, although shocked, did not attack on the spot. This incident quickly caused an uproar in the upper echelons of the Soviet Union and was seen as a serious challenge to Soviet authority.
Genden's public slap of Stalin in Moscow, although briefly made him a symbol of Mongolian national pride, the consequences of this act were catastrophic. Stalin was not an easy person to forgive, especially in the case of such public insults. When Genden returned to Mongolia, his fate was sealed.
Soon after the incident, Stalin began plotting revenge against Genden. He began a series of political maneuvers through pro-Soviet forces in Mongolia, especially Choibalshan, Genden's political enemy. Choibalsan and several other powerful Mongolian political figures joined forces to convene an emergency meeting and put forward a motion to dismiss Genden from all his posts on the grounds that he was "suspected of being a major Japanese espionage." The accusations at the meeting included Genden's sabotage of the friendship between Mongolia and the Soviet Union and his anti-Soviet activities, which, although lacking conclusive evidence, were quickly ousted under Stalin's influence.
Genden's political career ended there, but his tragedy did not. Choibalsan sent Genden to the Soviet Union for "** recuperation" on the grounds that Genden was mentally ill. In the Soviet Union, Genden was treated even harsherly. On November 26, 1937, a special Soviet tribunal sentenced Genden to death on charges of subverting the Mongol regime and Japanese espionage, and executed him immediately.
Genden's death was not only the end of his personal tragedy, but also marked a turning point in the fate of Mongolia under Soviet influence. In the history books of Outer Mongolia, the image of Genden is grossly distorted and portrayed as a negative character. However, in the hearts of some Mongolian people, Genden remained a heroic warrior and a leader who did his best to protect the interests of Mongolia and the Mongolian nation. Despite the controversy surrounding his decisions and actions, Genden's slap in the face, for many Mongols, was a fierce revolt against Soviet oppression and a preservation of national self-esteem and autonomy.
Genden's fate reflects the dilemma and challenges of the leaders of small countries in the political game of great powers. His life is not only a microcosm of the complex relationship between Mongolia and the Soviet Union, but also a witness to the political changes of that era.