18.1 The political condition of the Soviet Union

Question 1

What was the political state of the Soviet Union by 1941? (4)

Answer 1

• 1941 Stalin led a highly centralised and authoritarian one-party state
• Stalin went further than Lenin had ever gone despite there being some democratic structure in the 1936 constitution
• Stalin held Supreme power
• There was still lots of corruption especially in the Purges where power was given to local officials

Question 2

What had been the political state under Lenin?

Answer 2

• Some foundations for the one-party state had been set by Lenin like single party rule, fought versus 1917 coalition government
• Lenin depended on the support of his party

Question 3

Had there been significant political changes from Lenin to Stalin?

Answer 3

Lenin had created foundations for the one-party state e.g. fought against coalition in the 1917 government BUT stalin pushed it more than Lenin ever did and had supreme power

Question 4

What were attacks on opposition like under Stalin?

++ how many party members were executed under Stalin?

+++Where were most of the attacks directed to?

Answer 4

• Stalin extended and intensified Leninist intolerance of opposition
• Correction camps were created providing slave labour

++ 600,000 party members were executed under Stalin

+++ Mostly directed to the Kulaks and bourgeoisie as a form of class warfare

Question 5

What were attacks on opposition like under Lenin?

Answer 5

• Lenin had created the Cheka in December 1917
• Non-violent purges of 150,000 party members in 1921 and a ban on factions
• No party members were killed or put to the stand

Question 6

Had there been significant changes on the attacks on opposition from Lenin to Stalin?

Answer 6

Again Stalin expanded and intensified Leninist intolerance of opposition

Whereas Lenin had not killed any party members there were non-violent purges of 150k party members VS Stalin 600k executed