5.1 Stalin's Dictatorship Flashcards
Why was Stalin’s position weakened by the end of the First Five Year plan in 1932?
There were renewed signs of opposition towards Stalin from within the party, mainly since the forced collectivisation had directly led to the 1932-33 famine.
What was the “Ryutin Platform”?
Ryutin had been expelled from the party in 1930.
In March 1932, Ryutin circulated a 200 page document; “Stalin and The Crisis of the Proletarian Dictatorship”, which criticized Stalin and called for a replacement.
How did Stalin react to the “Ryutin Platform”?
Stalin called for the execution of Ryutin but was overrule by Kirov and Ryutin was imprisoned for 10 years instead.
Zinoviev and Kamenev were expelled for failing to report on the existence of the document.
When did the NKVD succeed the OGPU and what new powers did it grant?
1934.
The NKVD gained control over the USSR’s internal security and the ordinary police.
At this time, labour camps were reorganised into GULAGs.
What did Kirov do at the 17th Party Congress in 1934?
Kirov verbally opposed Stalin and received a standing ovation from the Party.
Stalin, Molotov and Kaganovich wanted to maintain the pace of rapid industrialisation whilst Kirov and other members argued to stop forcible grain seizures and increase workers rations.
Furthermore, Stalin’s title of General Secretary was abolished and he and Kirov were given the title Secretary of Equal Rank.
What was Kirov’s murder?
Kirov was murdered in Dec 1934.
Stalin was quick to blame his murder as a Trotskyite Plot and gave Yagoda, head of NKVD, power to execute anyone found guilty of ‘terrorist plotting’.
It’s likely that Stalin had hired Nikolayev to kill Kirov as he was jealous of Kirov’s power.
What was the Trial of the 16 in 1936?
Kamenev, Zinoviev and 14 others were accused of being in an alliance with Trotsky in show trails and executed.
Yezhov replaced Yagoda as head of the NKVD. This was because Yagoda had failed to secure confession from Rykov and Bukharin.
What was the Stalin Constitution in 1936?
This was a new constitution, drafted by Bukharin, which intended to celebrate the triumphs of previous years and declared Socialism had been fully achieved.
It promised:
- four-yearly elections with the right to vote for all over the ages of 18
- freedom of the press, religion and the right of free speech
- The right for any Union-republic to leave the Union
Were the policies of the 1936 Stalin Constitution upheld?
No, its policies were largely ignored and the Union laws it granted gave little independence to regions.
Stalin would not let any Union-republics leave the Union either.
The whole constitution was just crafted to look democratic and impress foreigners.
