In the afternoon, people swam, sunbathed, played various games, went hiking, sightseeing, and water-skiing.In the evening they could go to discos or concerts, organise amateur performances or even compete in a chess tournament.Culture under the Soviet regime was heavily censored, yet it also flourished in unique ways. The state promoted art that supported socialist ideals — this became known as Socialist Realism. Literature, theater, and film portrayed hardworking peasants, loyal soldiers, and the glory of the Soviet people.
However, many artists, writers, and musicians faced censorship or persecution if their work was seen as “anti-Soviet.” Some, like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, were imprisoned or exiled for speaking out. Summer vacations at sanatoriums or dachas (country houses), where families spent time gardening and relaxing. Life in the USSR was defined by political control. The Communist Party dominated every aspect of society. There was no freedom of speech, press, or assembly. Dissent was dangerous, especially under Joseph Stalin’s rule (1920s–1953), when millions were executed or sent to labor camps (Gulags) for opposing the regime.
