A level exam: Chapter 19-Stalinism in wartime Flashcards
What was operation Barbarossa?
Germany launched a 3 pronged attack on Russia where they attacked Leningrad, Stalingrad and Kiev. It was initially successful but the Red Army launched a successful counter offensive. Stalin had not expected the attack, partiially due to the Nazi-Soviet pact.
What was wartime leadership like?
Stalin immediately met with the Politburo and his first wartime order was to demand that the German air force should be destroyed. He left public announcements to Molotov. He created the Stavka, a supreme military command to be responsible for all military planning, he set up the GKO to organise civilians and Stalin took overall military command in July. This meant he had total authority and he performed speeches to appeal to peoples love of the country. The running of the war was increasingly left to the General Staff.
What opposition was faced in wartime?
Large numbers of those in national minority areas such as Estonia and Lithuania welcomed German soldiers as liberators and some acted as Hilfswillige and would serve in a number of roles. The Russian liberation movement under Vlasov was formed in Ukraine and over a million joined Hitlers side.
What terror tactics continued to be used?
Stalin issues order 227, not one step backwards and any soldier who fell behind or tried to retreat was to be shot on sight. and more than 150000 were sentenced to death under this order. Penal battalions were created from those who bro9ke discipline and they were therefore labelled as cowards. Blocking units were equipped with machine guns and placed at the rear of action to prevent retreat.
What was the political impact of war?
Stalin dissolved the Volga German autonomous republic and sent its people east. He deported suspect ethnic groups and around 1.5 million in total were forced to move. The war changed the composition of the Communist party as increasing numbers of military chose to join the Party. During the war 3.6 million new members joined the party and many of these were members of the army and navy.
What was the economic impact of WW2?
Hitler had intended to seize Russian farmland and industry and by the end of 1941 they had 63% of coal, 68% of iron and 41% of arable land. A scorched earth policy meat that much of the farmland was made useless and factories were being transported to eastern areas. Managing a wartime economy was easier as they had an existing centralised economy and then comissars were created to supervise different sections. By 1943, they were producing more than Germany and the quality of weapons was better. However, there were still problems with food and so there was strict rationing. They were given aid by Western countried such as war material and the Lend-Lease scheme with Russia.
What was the impact of war on soldiers and workers?
A new law was introduced which drafted all men aged 16-55 and women 16-45 to war work. Overtime was obligatory and holidays were suspended. Working days were increased to 12 hours and the average week was 70-77 hours. Unauthorised absences were classed as desertion and could be punishable by death. Discipline in the army was tightened and it was made an offence to be taken captive. 8.6 million soldiers were killed between 1941-45 and this had a disastrous effect on families to be able to survive.
What was the impact of war on living conditions?
The soviet people suffered a chronic food shortage and over a 1/4 of the 25 million deaths suffered during the war were caused by starvation. A comprehensive rationing system was maintained but rations were low. Some people found themselves as refugees fleeing the German advance due to the pause in housebuilding. To maintain supplies gulag labour was used and these increased production of war materials. However, the death rate in these camps was 25%.
What impact did the war have on propoganda and culture?
Stalin played on connotations of the Great Patriotic war to harness society for the war effort. Patriotic letters were published to encourage heroism and the socialist anthem was changed to be more nationalistic. Artists enjoyed more freedom and musicians gave concerts and performers were given extra rations.
What impact did WW2 have on churches?
There was respite in the persecution of churches and clergy were released from camps. Stalin wanted to use the Church to life morale and so attendance was encouraged. Priests blessed troops and tanks and reinforced feelings of devotion to the motherland. However, churches were not allowed any real autonomy and all Christian denominations were placed under the control of the Orthodox church.
What impact did WW2 have on women and the family?
The war brought reaffirmation of the importance of family and new measures were introduced to combat the falling birth rate and deaths. Taxes were increased for those with less than 2 children and restrictions on divorce were tightened. Womens burdens increased as they became essential members of the workforce and were expected to raise large families. By 1945, over half of all soviet workers were women. Women also fought in the Soviet armed forces as pilots, snipers and tank commanders.
What impact did WW2 have on partisans?
Some soviet citizens and Red Army soldiers found themselves left behind the German lines and therefore were forced to live in occupied territory. Some formed partisan groups and used guerilla tactics to harass the enemy. Innocent villagers were massacred as a result of the partisan activity.
What was the effect of war on Stalin?
Stalin’s reputation soared in wartime and he turned into a national superhero and was held in greater awe than ever before. Paintings portrayed him as the greatest leader, however Stalin emerged more paranoid at the end of war than he was before. He was averse to returning prisoners of war and the Cossacks were virtually wiped out. Servicemen returning to the USSR from abroad were interrogated by the NKVD in filtration camps before being given jobs.
What was the effect of war on the government?
Politically, the war was seen as a triumph and it helped to make the Soviet government a popular nationalist government as well as giving it a reputation as a great military power. Stalin continued to lead his government in the same way as before the war, remaining as head of government and party secretary with the same men in his Politburo.
What was the effect of war on the people?
The Russian people endured terrible suffering in wartime and by the end, 25 million in the western provinces had nothing but wooden huts to live in. There were 19 million civilian deaths and 9 million soldiers killed. However, the war offered individual initiative and collective endeavour for the country. Soviet society had been exposed to western influences and links with western allies helped to show western reality. Western books, music and goods found their way into the USSR.
