Communist government in the USSR, 1917-85 Flashcards
What were the key events of the October Revolution of 1917?
The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, overthrew the Provisional Government.
The revolution was largely bloodless in Petrograd, with the Winter Palace captured.
Lenin issued the Decree on Land (redistributing land to peasants) and the Decree on Peace (Calling for an end to WWI)
Soviets were declared the new form of government.
What was Lenin’s vision for a Bolshevik state?
Lenin aimed for a “dictatorship of the proletariat” to transition toward socialism.
He advocated for centralisation of power through a one- party state.
Believed in using the Soviet model (workers’ councils) as a foundation for governance.
How did Lenin consolidate power between 1917 and 1924?
Decree and Policies: Land redistribution, nationalisation of industry! and worker control.
Civil War (1918-21): Red Army, led by Trotsky defeated the whites.
War Communism: Harsh policies to support the war effort, including grain requisitioning.
NEP (1921): A temporary retreat to capitalism to rebuild the economy.
Suppression of Opposition: Banning other parties and using the Cheka (secret police).
What role did the Cheka Play in Lenin’s government?
The Cheka was the Bolshevik secret police established in 1917 to eliminate political opposition.
Played a key role in the Red Terror (1918-21], targeting counter-revolutionaries and dissenters.
Expanded into the GPU and OGPU under later leaders, becoming a foundation of Soviet repression.
What was the Red Terror (1918-21)?
A campaign of political repression during the Civil War.
Bolsheviks targeted White sympathisers, political opponents, and “class enemies”.
Thousands were executed or sent to forced labour camps.
How was the USSR formally established?
In 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed.
It united Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Transcaucasian republics.
A federal structure was created, but real power remained centralised in Moscow.
What changes did Stalin make to the Communist Party and government structure?
Centralisation of Power: Stalin consolidated power through the Politburo and reduced the autonomy if regional governments.
Purges: Eliminated rivals, including Trotsky, Zinoviev, and Bukharin, in the Great Terror 1936-38).
Cult of Personality: Stalin promoted himself as the infallible leader.
The NKVD: Secret police became a key instrument of repression.
What was the significance of Stalin’s Great Terror (1936-38)?
A period of intense political purges targeting party officials, the military, and ordinary citizens
Show trials led to the execution of senior Bolsheviks like Zinoviev and Kamnev.
The military was purged, weakening the Soviet defences before WWII.
Estimated 1 million people were executed, and millions sent to Gulags.
What was the structure of government under Stalin by the late 1930s?
The Politburo controlled all major decisions.
The Supreme Soviet and other bodies were largely rubber-stamp institutions.
Stalin wielded absolute power! supported by the NKVD and his personal network.
What changes did Khrushchev make to Soviet government after 1953?
De-Stalinisation: Krushchev denounced Stalin’s crimes in the 1956 Secret speech.
Decentralisation: Shifted some poeer to regional councils (Sovnarkhozy).
Party Reforms: Limited terms for officials to prevent long-term dominance.
What was the Secret Speech (1956), and why was it significant?
Delivered by Krushchev at the 20th Party Congress, denouncing Stalin’s purges and the cult of personality.
Sparked de-destalinisation and led to policy reforms.
Caused unrest in the Eastern Europe (e.g, Hungarian Uprising in 1956).
How did Krushchev manage opposition within the Communist Party?
Anti-Party Group (1957): Krushchev survived an attempt by senior party members to oust him.
Used his position as General Secretary to promote allies and marginalise opponents.
How did Brezhnev reverse Khrushchev’s reforms after 1964?
Recentralisation: Power was returned to central party structures.
End of Term Limits: Allowed officials to serve indefinitely, creating stagnation.
Stability of Cadres: Prevented the dismissal of experienced officials, but encouraged corruption.
Reinforced the cult of personality, though less extreme than Stalin’s.
What was the ‘Stability of Cadres’ policy under Brezhnev?
A policy preventing the frequent removal of officials.
Ensured long-term stability but fostered inefficiency and corruption.
What role did the KGB play under Brezhnev?
Headed by Yuri Andropov, the KGB suppressed dissent and monitored ideological conformity.
Targeted dissidents like Andrei Sakharov and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
Used surveillance, intimidation, and imprisonment to maintain control.
What were some examples of dissidence under Brezhnev?
Intellectuals: Writers like Solzhenitsyn criticised the regime.
Religious Groups: Christians and Jews faced restrictions on worship and emigration.
Nationalists: Movement in Ukraine and the Baltic states sought greater autonomy.
What was the significance of the 1977 Brezhnev Constitution?
Codified the USSR as a “developed socialist society”.
Guaranteed rights like free speech, but these were not uphold in practice.
Cemented the Communist Party’s monopoly on power.
How did political stagnation affect the USSR in the 1970’s and 1980’s?
Long-serving officials resisted reform, creating inefficiency and corruption.
Economic growth slowed, undermining public confidence in the government.
Political dissent increased, despite repression.
What role did Andropov and Chernenko play in the decline of Soviet government?
Andropov (1982-84): Attempted to reform corruption and inefficiency but died prematurely.
Chernenko (1984-85): Lacked vision or energy for reform, deepening stagnation.
How did Gorbachev inherit the Soviet government in 1985?
The system was deeply centralised, stagnant, and corrupt.
Calls for reform were growing among intellectuals and the public.
The economy was in decline, creating pressure for change.
What was the Sovnarkom, and why was it significant in 1917?
The Sovnarkom (Council of People’s Commissars) was established as the first Bolshevik government body in October 1917.
Chaired by Lenin, it initially included key figures like Trotsky ( Foreign Affairs) and Stalin (Nationalities).
The Sovnarkom issued early decrees such as:
Decree on Land: Redistributed land to peasants.
Decree on Peace : Called for an armistice in WWI.
Workers’ Control Decree: Allowed workers to take over factories.
It sidelined the All-Russian Congress of Soviets and increasingly centralised power under the Bolsheviks.
How did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) shape Bolshevik governance?
Signed between Soviet Russia and Germany, ending Russia’s involvement in WWI.
Russia ceded vast territories, including Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic states, losing .
62 million people (1/6 of the population)
27% of arable land.
74% of iron and coal reserves.
It consolidated Bolshevik control by fulfilling Lenin’s promise of peace but alienated many, sparking civil war opposition.
What role did War Communism play during the Civil war (1918-21)?
War communism was introduced to support the Red Army, involving:
Nationalisation of industry.
Grain requisitioning from peasants to feed urban areas and the army.
Banning of private trade and centralising food distribution.
Consequences:
Widespread famine (e.g, 5 million deaths in the Volga region).
Alienation of peasants and workers, leading to uprisings like the Tambov Rebellion (1920-21) and the Kronstadt Mutiny (1921).
Significance: Ensured Bolshevik survival but highlighted the need for economic compromise, leading to the NEP.
What was the Tambov Rebellion (1920-21), and how did the Bolsheviks respond?
A large-scale peasants uprising in the Tambov region grain requisitioning and the Bolshevik policies.
Led by Alexander Antonov, involving over 50,000 fighters.
The Red Army suppressed the rebellion brutally, using poison has against villages and mass executions.
What was the significance of the Kronstadt Mutiny (1921)?
A revolt by sailors at the Kronstadt naval base, previously loyal to the Bolsheviks.
Demands included free speech, end of grain requisitioning, and fair elections to Soviets.
Lenin viewed it as a serious threat, calling the mutineers “the pride and the glory of the revolution turned against it”.
The Red Army, led by Trotsky, crushed the rebellion with heavy losses.
How did NEP change the economy and governance?
Introduced in 1921 to restore stability after War Communism and revolts.
Allowed small-scale private trade ownership.
Ended grain requisitioning, replacing it with a tax in kind.
Large industries remained under state control, but peasants could sell surplus crops.
Impact: Boosted agricultural and industrial output (“Kulaks” emerged as wealthier peasants).
Criticised by hardline Bolsheviks as a betrayal of socialism.
What were the key differences between Lenin’s and Stalin’s use of terror?
Cheka targeted counter-revolutionaries during the Civil War (Red Terror).
Terror was used selectively and temporarily.
Under Stalin:
NKVD oversaw mass purges, including the Great Terror (1936-38).
Millions were executed or sent to Gulags, targeting both real and perceived enemies.
Terror became institutionalised and indiscriminate.
What were Stalin’s show trials, and why were they significant?
Public trial during the Great Terror to eliminate opposition and intimidate the population.
1936: Trial of Zinoviev and Kamenev (accused of plotting against Stalin)
1937: Trial of military leaders (e.g, Marshal Tukhachevsky).
1938: Trial of Bukharin and Rykov.
Defendants were often forced to confess to fabricated crimes.
Showed Stalin’s ability to rewrite history and consolidate power.
What were the causes and consequences of Stalin’s purges in the Red Army?
Causes: Stalin feared military leaders, especially after allegations of conspiracies.
Purged approximately:
50% of all army officers.
90% of generals and admirals.
Consequences:
Severely weakened the USSR’s military, contributing to poor early performance in WWII.
How did Stalin justify his Cult of Personality?
Portrayed as the “Father of Nations” and “Genius of Humanity”.
Media, art and education glorified Stalin’s role in the revolution and economic successes (e.g, the Five-Year Plans).
Critics argue the cult was used to mask failures and demand loyalty.
How did Krushcehv’s reforms address Stalin’s legacy?
Released millions of prisoners from the Gulag.
Renamed cities (e.g, Stalingrad became Volgograd).
Allowed greater freedom for writers like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich)
Criticised Stalin’s “cult of personality” and use of terror.
What were Khrushchev’s political reforms, and how were they received?
Introduced Sovnarkhozy (regional economic councils) to decentralise decision-making.
Introduced limits on party tenure to reduce bureaucratic stagnation.
Received poorly by party elites, contributing to Khrushchev’s removal in 1964.
How did Brezhnev’s policies lead to stagnation?
Ended Khrushchev’s term limits, allowing entrenched leadership.
Emphasised stability over reform, resulting in inefficiency and corruption.
Refused significant economic or political innovation, relying on repression to maintain control.
What was the significance of dissident movements under Brezhnev?
Dissidents challenged Soviet repression, focusing on:
Human rights (e.g, Helsinki Accords activists)
Nationalist causes (e.g, Crimean Tatars and Baltic independence).
Religious freedoms (e.g, Russian Orthodox Church).
The KGB monitored and suppressed these movements, but they symbolised growing discontent.
How did Soviet leaders maintain control over the republics?
Used Russian dominance in the Communist Party to limit national autonomy.
Promoted Russification, privileging Russian language and culture.
Suppressed nationalists movements through surveillance, imprisonment, or forced deportations.
How did the Soviets Union’s centralised system contribute to its political weaknesses by 1985
Over-reliance on Moscow stifled innovation.
Corruption and inefficiency were rampant among entrenched elites.
Growing public cynicism about government’s legitimacy.
