1. Valentina Istomina survived as Stalin’s lover by staying quietly in the background.
Joesph Stalin was renowned for his cruelty to the Soviet people and his wives and children. However, there was one woman who was close to him who he spared his cruelty. For eighteen years, Valentina Istomina was Stalin’s housekeeper and his lover. The pleasant and agreeable “Valechka” navigated her life with Stalin by staying in the background. She cared for him in a quiet, unassuming way, never seeking to appear more than his employee — and keeping well out of politics. All of this could have been a simple survival technique. However, it seems Valechka did genuinely care for Stalin. When the dictator was on his deathbed, Valechka came to say goodbye. She placed her head on Stalin’s chest and remained there, wailing at the top of her voice.
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