Causes Of Stalin's Purges

Question 1

Who lead the moderate opposition in the Politburo?

Answer 1

Sergei Kirov

Question 2

What was Kirov’s title?

Answer 2

Head of the Communist Party in Leningrad

Question 3

When was the Ryutin Affair?

Answer 3

1932

Question 4

Who was Ryutin?

Answer 4

The leader of the Union of Marxist Leninist which circulated literature criticising Stalin.

Question 5

What did Stalin want to do to Ryutin?

Answer 5

He wanted him executed.

Question 6

What ended up happening to Ryutin? Why?

Answer 6

He ended up going to prison as Kirov and the moderate opposition persuaded Stalin not to execute him.

Question 7

What role did Kirov play in the formation of the Second Five Year Plan?

Answer 7

He campaigned for more realistic targets and for there to be a greater emphasis on the production of consumer goods.

Question 8

When was the Congress of Victors?

Answer 8

February 1934

Question 9

What happened at the Congress of Victors?

Answer 9

Kirov beat Stalin in the election for the new Central Committee. He was then urged to stand for General Secretary. He refused and the vote was nullified.

Question 10

When was Kirov murdered?

Answer 10

December 1934

Question 11

How did Kirov’s murder benefit Stalin?

Answer 11

~It removed his main rival

~It gaves him sizeable grounds to argue that there was a conspiracy against the government, leading to the Great Terror