Leninist/Stalinist Society, 1917-1941

Question 1

What was meant by Burzhui?

Answer 1

Term used against aristocrats, priests, landowners and the well dressed. Enemies of the revolution.

Question 2

Define Tovarishch

Answer 2

Party members

Question 3

Define Grazhdarin

Answer 3

Ordinary citizens - no titles

Question 4

What was the Kommunalka?

Answer 4

Communal dwelling for workers.

Question 5

What was the Komosomol?

Answer 5

All Leninist Union Young League. 10 - 28years old. Not until the Stalinist era there was organisation.

Question 6

What was society like for men under Lenin?

Answer 6

Harsh working and living conditions in NEP times. By 1921 - could be imprisoned if didn’t meet targets. Missing work could result in dismissal.

Question 7

What was society like for men under Stalin?

Answer 7

1931 - introduction of wage differentials and bonuses. Disciplinary rules eased. Stakhonivite movement - increased production. Purges created vacancies at the top. Lived in cramp conditions - inadequate sanitation.

Question 8

What was society like for women under Lenin?

Answer 8

1917 - decree against sex discrimination. Recognized only civil marriage. Divorce made easier. 1920 - abortion legalized. Expected to work and look after a household

Question 9

What was society like for women under Stalin?

Answer 9

1930s - reversed policies as there was a fall in population growth. Importance of marriage and family. Large divorce fees to deter (1936). Adultery criminalised (1936). Contraception banned (1936). Financial incentives for larger families. Encouraged not to work.

Question 10

What was society like for young people under Lenin?

Answer 10

Set up the commissar of the Enlightenment - provided free education at school. New secondary schools combined learning with vocational training. 1920s abolished exams. Physical punishment banned.

Question 11

What was society like for young people under Stalin?

Answer 11

Made teaching more formal. Schools the responsibility of collective schools. 1935 - selection reappeared for all. More rigid curriculum. Military training introduced. Smoking, drinking and religion discouraged.

Question 12

What was Stalins impact on culture?

Answer 12

Removed National groups by force, Hate and resentment. Internal passports. Permission to live incertain places. Secret police. Cut off Western influences. The arts eg films had to be ideologically sound and entertaining. Abortion no longer available. Homosexuality illegal.

Question 13

What was Lenin’s attitude towards Religion?

Answer 13

He didn’t agree with religion but didn’t see the Church as a threat.

Question 14

What did policies did Lenin introduce surrounding religion?

Answer 14

• 1917, Church land seized taken over by the State
• 1918, Official separation of Church and State
• 1921, Teaching of religion baned
• Priests only allowed small rations, The Patriach of the Orthodox Church arrested
• 1923, newspaper ‘The Godless’, propaganda

Question 15

What was Stalin’s attitude towards religion?

Answer 15

Didn’t agree with it and wanted to get rid of religion

Question 16

What policies did Stalin introduced surrounding religion?

Answer 16

• 1929, Worship restricted to registered congregations
• 1929, Christmas and Easter replaced with New years and May day
• 1932, 6 day work week prevented Church attendance
• 1936, religious propaganda criminalised
• 1935, pilgrimages to mecca forbidden
• Lots of Bishops arrested, Muslim priests imprisoned and executed, Churches and Mosques turned into grain stores

Question 17

How did Lenin and Stalin’s policies impact religion?

Answer 17

Didn’t stop people believing. In 1937 57% defined themselves as believers.

Question 18

Why did the Bolsheviks have the support of the National Minorities?

Answer 18

Because they had promised them self determination

Question 19

What was Lenin’s attitude to National Minorities?

Answer 19

Liberal. Didn’t like them but still negotiated. But couldn’t afford to lose Ukraine or Georgia.

Question 20

What policies did Lenin bring in surrounding National Minorities?

Answer 20

• 1917, abolished all anti-Semitic laws

Question 21

What policies did Stalin bring in surrounding National Minorities?

Answer 21

• 1926, Jews given separate representation
• 1930s, veered towards less toleration of ethnic groups
• Nationalism meant leaders of republics were purged
• 1938, learning Russian was compulsory
• Russian used in the Red Army, Stalin began deportations of non-Russians, anti-Semitic attitudes revived.

Question 22

What was Lenin’s attitude towards the Arts and how did he use the Arts?

Answer 22

Understood the value of propaganda. Posters, film and the arts all used to convert to Socialism. Encouraged freedom of expression. 1920s the ‘Silver Age’.

Question 23

What was Stalin’s attitude towards the Arts and how did he use them?

Answer 23

Relied on propaganda. Used pictures of happy wokrers. Images of himself with Lenin and Marx. The arts had to support Soviet ideology and fit with the regime. Cult of Personality. 1932 - writers had to belong to ‘Union of Soviet Writers’