Communist Control and Terror

Question 1

What opposition was there towards Lenin?

Answer 1

Political groups. Opponents who supported the Tsar. Ideological opposition from upper class.

Question 2

What are some examples of opposition against Lenin?

Answer 2

During the civil war - the Whites. Kronsdat soldiers. 1917 - other groups in congress. Ban on Factions 1921.

Question 3

How was Political Opposition dealt with under Lenin?

Answer 3

Mensheviks and SRs in Congress - destroyed themselves by walking out. Political prisoners if gaols. Avoided pressure for a coalition government. Sovnarkom banned opposition press. Cheka - Red Terror

Question 4

What was the Red Terror?

Answer 4

• 1918, Cheka had authority to arrest anyone of being a traitor
• Escalated as Cheka took matters into their own hands in order to prove themselves
• 500,000 to a million people shot, 1918-21, others sent to labour camps

Question 5

How was Social Opposition dealt with under Lenin?

Answer 5

Ideological opposition arrested. Attempt on Lenin’s life led to the Cheka rounding up people labelled as bourgeoisie. The Red Terror - find hidden opposition.

Question 6

How was Religious Opposition dealt with under Lenin?

Answer 6

Priests, Jews, Catholics and Muslims persecuted. 8000 priests executed in 1921.

Question 7

How was Party Opposition dealt with under Lenin?

Answer 7

1920-21 - disagreements within the Party itself about the economic and political policies. Demanded workers have more control over their own affairs. Lenin determined to restore Party unity brought in the Ban on Factions (1921). Removed possibility for debate and challenge.

Question 8

What was meant by the term Purge?

Answer 8

Dealt with party opposition.

Question 9

What was meant by Terror?

Answer 9

Aimed at controlling the people

Question 10

What methods did Stalin use to deal with opposition?

Answer 10

Ban on factions - the power struggle. Purges. Used the secret police (OGPU) to terrorise opponents. Remove anyone who was a threat.

Question 11

What class did Stalin destroy during collectivization?

Answer 11

The Kulaks

Question 12

Who did Stalin sent to labour camps?

Answer 12

Bourgeoisie managers, specialists and engineers

Question 13

When and What was the Shakhty Show Trial?

Answer 13

1928. Needed a scapegoat for his own economic problems. 53 engineers arrested, forced to confess and executed.

Question 14

How did Stalin control people in Industry?

Answer 14

Industrial terror. People accused of wrecking.

Question 15

What did Yagoda propose to do in 1929 and why?

Answer 15

New camps in Siberia known as gulags. There were too many prisoners in prisons.

Question 16

How did Stalin use prisoners in gulags?

Answer 16

As labour - contributed to economic growth.

Question 17

What was the White Sea Canal?

Answer 17

A gulag project. 25,000 died in the 1931-2 winter. Too shallow for the bigger boats.

Question 18

What was the impact of Stalin’s wife’s suicide (1932)?

Answer 18

Left a note criticising Stalin - felt he had been betrayed. Became very paranoid.

Question 19

What were the two opposition groups under Stalin?

Answer 19

The ‘old Bolsheviks’ and the ‘Ryutin Platform’

Question 20

What did the Old Bolsheviks do?

Answer 20

Planning Stalin’s removal. Arrested and expelled from the Party.

Question 21

What did the Ryutin Platform do?

Answer 21

Ryutin sent an appeal to remove Stalin. 24 were expelled. Ryutin was shot (1937). He had support.

Question 22

What happened in 1933 as a result of the Ryutin Platform?

Answer 22

Announced a purge of the Party where 18% where branded Ryunites

Question 23

What was the Kirov Affair (1934) ?

Answer 23

Kirov - had a great deal of support - was murdered in suspicious circumstances. Stalin used the murder to publish a decree - arrest and execute people guilty of terrorist plotting. Stalin blamed a Trotskyite conspiracy.

Question 24

What were the events of the Great Purges (1936-38)?

Answer 24

• 1936, Show trial with Zinoviev, Kamenev etc proved political conspiracies existed
• 1937, Show trial accused 17 of sabotage and spying
• 1937, Military commanders forced to sign false confessions
• Bukharin arrested and shot

Question 25

Why was Stalin’s Personality a cause of the Great Purges?

Answer 25

Paranoid. Wanted absolute control and power. He was violent, cruel, brutal and lashed out. Wanted to get rid of Trotskyites.

Question 26

Why were economic problems a cause of the Great Purges?

Answer 26

Arrose after the Five Year Plans - needed a scapegoat. Hunt for wreckers. Managers blocking the Stakhanovite movement. Impending war.

Question 27

Why was supplying slave labour a cause of the Great Purges?

Answer 27

Prisoners sent to Gulags were they could be exploited as workers and be productive.

Question 28

Why was the power of the NKVD a cause of the Great Purges?

Answer 28

Given the power to arrest and terrorise people.

Question 29

What was the name given to the purging of civilians?

Answer 29

The Yezhovshchina

Question 30

What happened during the period known as the Yezhovshchina?

Answer 30

• 1937, anti-Soviet elements condemned in Russian society, arrest list and quota established.
• Surveillance and citizens rooted out
• NKVD maintained strict vigilance - created fear
• Many civilians were shot or died in prison.

Question 31

What happened to Yezhov in 1938?

Answer 31

He was replaced - used as a scapegoat. He had threatened to destabilise the state and industry had suffered.

Question 32

What did Stalin declare at the 18th Party Congress?

Answer 32

Mass cleansings were no linger needed. 1.5million cases reviewed.

Question 33

How did Stalin restore faith after the Terror?

Answer 33

Released lots of prisoners. Squashed convictions.

Question 34

What was the Soviet Union like politically by 1941?

Answer 34

Centralised. One Party State. Stalin had absolute power - destroyed political enemies.

Question 35

What was the Soviet Union like economically by 1941?

Answer 35

Five Year Plans - industrialised. Russian farms collectivised. Laid foundations for WWII victory. Iron, steel, coal and oil production had all increased. Consumer goods ignored. Poor quality.

Question 36

What was the Soviet Union like socially by 1941?

Answer 36

Stronger communist control in the country. Peasants under supervision of Party Officials. New mass culture developed. Quality of life did not increase. Was not classless.