The textbook contains a description of the formation and development of Soviet historiography of the history of the USSR from the Great October Socialist Revolution to the end of the 70s. The views of V.I. Lenin on the problems of Russian history, the struggle of Soviet historians for the mastery of Lenin's historical concept are revealed. The features of the development of historical science during the Great Patriotic War, in the post-war period are shown, the successes of Soviet scientists in the study of the problems of Russian history at the present stage are characterized.