Political Impact of War

Question 1

What role did the GKO have during the war?

Answer 1

Power overall existing bodies-State committee for defence+Stavka=land,sea and air operations.S Became chairman August 1941,=USSR devoted 50% of GDP to war effort compared to 20% of other countries.

Question 2

Propganda effect on the war…

Answer 2

Maintain morale=effort from the people-highly effective, S central in P from 1941 Moscow crisis, staying in the city to rally the people. “Generalissimo”/father image.

Question 3

What effect did repression and nationalites have?

Answer 3

TERROR used against the 5th column. 1.5m displaced ‘sympathising’.April 1940 20,000 officers shot. 2m minorites were deported(inc Crimean Tartars),1941= 600,000 Volga Germans deported.

Question 4

The role of the NKVD.

Answer 4

NKVD enlarged, Orders 270&227=execute deserting soldiers+punishment companies(suicude missions)=430,000. ‘Blocking detachments’ behind unsteady units to shoot deserters,abolished Oct 1942.

Question 5

Returning those stranded in German occupied Europe.

Answer 5

5m soviet citzens were stranded,S enforced Order 270=POWs on all deserters 1/2 sent to Gulags.32,000 Cossacks were drived back into the USSR. Only 20% of returning citzens were allowed home ‘socially dangerous’.