A level exam: Chapter 17-Communist control and terror Flashcards
What opposition did the Bolsheviks face?
Opposition from political groups, opponents throughout the empire such as tsarist officers and peasants, and ideological opposition from the bourgeoisie and upper classes of society.
In 1917 how was opposition dealt with?
In October opposition press was banned and opposition leaders were arrested. The Cheka was established under Dzerzhinsky and it was used to destroy all enemies. The consolidation of Bolshevik power was accompanied by class warfare where the middle and upper classes were intimidated. Bourgeoisie property was confiscated and bigger taxes were placed on the burzhui.
What was the Red Terror?
The Civil war from 1918-1921 brought a new wave of coercion against real and ‘assumed’ enemies, creating the red terror. In August 1918 an attempt on Lenin’s life allowed the attack of the bourgeoisie and the use of the Cheka to round up thousands. The Cheka was able to find question and arrest anyone and remaining SRs and Mensheviks were branded traitors. The Red Terror escalated and the Cheka sought to find hidden opposition, resulting in everyone from the Tsar and his family to peasants being killed. Religious groups were also targeted and many were sent to Labour camps.
How did Lenin use Factions and control?
By 1921, Lenin’s attention had turned to opposition within his party and after serious disagreements over political and economic policy, Lenin was determined to restore party unity. His ban on factions meant that anyone that opposed his ideas were threatened with expulsion from the party and the opportunity for debate and challenge was removed.
How did Stalin deal with opposition before 1932?
The Shakhty show trial of 1928 was a clear indication of Stalin’s determination to find a scapegoat after his own economic failures. 53 engineers were accused of counter revolutionary activity and they were given a show trial where they were forced to confess. 5 were executed and 44 received long prison sentences. Yagoda was commissioned to investigate ways of building labour camps and so a series of new camps were built that could offer correction for prisoners whilst contributing to economic growth. These were called gulags and housed a million people by 1934.
What was the crisis of 1932?
In November 1932 Stalin’s wife committed suicide and left a not criticising Stalin’s policies and showing sympathy for political enemies. This threatened his position in power. Furthermore, he faced opposition from Kirov and Ryutin and so Stalin expelled 24 Bolsheviks from the party. In 1933 he announced a general purge of the party, showing how threatened he felt.
What was the Kirov affair?
At the 17th Party Congress, Stalin announced that anti-Leninist opposition had been defeated. However, in the elections to the Central Committee Stalin received 150 negative votes and a split opened up. Kirov wanted to stop grain seizures and to increase rations, which opposed Stalin’s view, and they also abolished Stalin’s title of General Secretary. Kirov was murdered in 1934 in suspicious circumstances and Stalin quickly claimed that it was a conspiracy to overthrow the party. This resulted in a decree being published that gave powers to arrest anyone found guilty of terrorist plotting.
What were the Great Purges?
While Stalin was creating a more liberal constitution, he was also preparing for a new purge. In August 1936 a show trial took place involving Kamenev, Zinoviev and 14 others and all 16 were executed. Another show trial in January took place with 17 Communists. 13 were sentenced to death. In May 1937 8 military commanders were arrested and of the 767 of the High Command, 512 were executed and 29 died in prison. The third and largest political show trial took place in March 1938 and 21 Bolsheviks were interrogated, including Bukharin. He was shot.
What was the Yezhovshchina?
Between 1937 and 1938 the Great Purges spread from the party to all towns and villages and thousands from all sections of society were terrorised, executed and sent to labour camps. A quota system was established and each region was expected to find a proportion of oppositionists. Surveillance was everywhere and ordinary citizens were encouraged to root out hidden enemies.
Who were the victims of the Great terror and Yezhovshchina?
70% of the Central Committee were arrested and shot and 1108 members of the congress were arrested. Leaders of national republics were charged with treason and 350000 people from minority ethnic groups were put on trial, including 140000 poles. A high proportion of managers lost their positions and kulaks represented around 50% of those arrested.
When did the purges end?
The purges of opponents slowed down after 1938 and the 18th Party Congress declared that mass cleansings were no longer needed. This left Stalin in a position of supreme power and meant his political rivals had gone.
