Chapter 4: Purges Flashcards
What happened to the CPSU between 1933-34?
One million out of the three million members were removed
Between what years were one million out of the three million CPSU members removed?
1933-34
Why were one million out of the three million CPSU members removed between 1933-34?
Because they were accused of being ‘ryutinites’
Why did Stalin purge the army?
If anyone could organise a revolution or a coup, then it would be military leaders
What happened in May 1937?
‘Gigantic conspiracy’ had been discovered in the Red Army
When was there a ‘Gigantic conspiracy’ discovered in the Red Army?
May 1937
What was the result of the ‘Gigantic conspiracy’ had been discovered in the Red Army in May 1937?
8 generals who were considered ‘Hero’s of the Civil war’ were arrested.
How many war commissars were removed from office?
All 11
What happened to all 11 war commissars?
Removed from office
What happened to three of the five Marshals of the Soviet Union?
Dismissed
What happened to 91 out of 101 members on the Supreme military council?
Dismissed
How members of the Supreme military council were dismissed?
91 out of 101
What happened in June 1937?
8 Generals tried, brutally tortured and confessed to treason
When had 8 Generals tried, brutally tortured and confessed to treason?
June 1937
What had happened between June 1937 to December 1938?
34,000 soldiers purged from the army
During what period were 34,000 soldiers purged from the army?
June 1937-December 1938
How many people were murdered as a result of the NKVD order 00447?
250,000 people
What led to the death of 250,000 people?
NKVD order 00447
How did the Russian people collaborate with the purges?
Denounced friends, family, neighbours and some workers did that to bosses for promotional chances in an attempt to prove their loyalty
What a did regional officers do?
Badgered central offices for higher targets to allow for more people to be arrested
What was the impact with the approaching WW2?
Defies logic as it crippled Russia’s fighting forces and shows that Stalin lost touch with reality
What happened on the 12th of November 1938?
Stalin and Molotov allowed the execution of 3,100 people
When had Stalin and Molotov allowed the execution of 3,100 people?
12th of November 1939
What proportion of the population was arrested during the purges?
One in eight
What happened to every family in the USSR?
Suffered the loss of at leat one member as a victim of the terror
How many were arrested?
29 million
What happened to 29 million people?
Arrested, most were sent to labour camps
How many people died?
15 million
How did people react to the purges?
Many welcomed them, as this was just a way to force them to obey which was something that has always happened. They saw it as a way of building a communist paradise on earth
What were the Novenklatura?
The new Stalinist ruling class of elite that had replaced the old Bolsheviks
What was the name given to the new Stalinist ruling class of elite that had replaced the old Bolsheviks?
Novenklatura
What were the living conditions of the Novenklatura?
Enjoyed more food, luxury homes, motor cars and they were totally loyal to Stalin
How did local party bosses see the purges?
Opportunity to advance their career because if there boss was purged then they could take their spot.
Between 1937-39, how many army officers were executed?
39,000
When were 39,000 army officers executed?
1937-39
Between 1937-39, how many naval officers were executed?
3,000
When were 3,000 army officers executed?
1937-39
What happened in 1941?
Military intelligence were blames for not alerting him to Germany’s invasion plan
When was military intelligence were blames for not alerting him to Germany’s invasion plan?
1941
What happened to generals who performed badly?
Shot but then released when needed generals for the upcoming war
What percentage of members of the party in 1939 had only been members since 1930?
80%
What was Yezhov known as?
The ‘poisoned dwarf’ because of his small height and violent nature
Who was the ‘poisoned dwarf’?
Yezhov
What did Yagoda help construct?
White Sea Canal using slave labour
What happened to the 139 Central Committee members?
102 were shot
How many delegates survived to attend the 18th Party congress in 1939?
1/3
Of the 1.5 million arrested, who many were executed?
1.3 million and more than half of these were firing squads
How many people were shot between August 1937 to November 1938?
1,500 people per day
During what period were 1,500 people murdered per day?
August 1937 to November 1938
During August 1937 to November 1938, what was the increase in the population of the Gulag?
1.2 million to 1.9 million
What did Stalin say about the purges?
‘if only 5% of those arrested turned out to be enemies of the state ‘that would be a good result’’
Who said ‘if only 5% of those arrested turned out to be enemies of the state ‘that would be a good result’’?
Stalin
What happened to the 767 members of the high command?
512 shot
29 dies in prison
3 committed suicide
59 remained in jail
