Moscow Show Trials

Question 1

What were Show Trials?

Answer 1

Trials designed as propaganda - do not establish innocence or guilt of defendants, aim to publically humiliate enemies of government

Question 2

What was the trial of the Sixteen 1936?

Answer 2

• show trial of Z & K
• Z & K confessed after guarantees Stalin would not have them executed
• executed within 24hrs of being found guilty

Question 3

What was the trial of the seventeen 1937?

Answer 3

• Trotsky & supporters charged with same charges as Z&K
• following torture - all confessed
• Trotsky in Mexico - could not be executed
• NKVD made mistakes - 1 defendant admitted killing Kirov - in jail during the time

Question 4

What was the trial of the Twenty-One 1938?

Answer 4

• Bukharin, Yagoda - charged with same as Z&K

- executed as per

Question 5

What was the secret trial of 1937?

Answer 5

• trial of 8 generals kept secret
• Stalin did not want to alarm public by stating that he did not trust Red Army leadership
• 34,000 soldiers purged

Question 6

What was the significance of the show trials?

Answer 6

• finally removed Stalins rivals from 1920’s
• Silenced poeple who knew truth about Lenin’s Testament, Lenin’s critical judgement of Stalin
• removed from power people who had been appointed by Lenin and therefore had authority independent of Stalin
• Acted as a form of propaganda - proving to Russian people that Stalin alone could be trusted with future of Russia