Post-war Rivalry Flashcards
What triggered the growing rivalry in the politburo during Stalin’s last years?
His declining health- he’ll be gone soon- power 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😈😈😈😈😈😈
The growing rivalry in the politburo in Stalin’s last few years led Beria to launch?
A fresh new wave of purges to gain Stalin’s favour targeting the Leningrad party branch.
By 1949, over 2,000 members were imprisoned or exiled
Stalin’s last few years
How much of the Leningrad party branch (victim of a purge launched for Beria to gain Stalin’s favour) was imprisoned or exiled?
2,000
POST WAR Beria has gained considerable influence by undertaking Stalin’s wishes, but
Stalin still had the real power
POSSIBLE WARNING TO BERIA
When was the Mingrelian Affair?
Who did it target?
Why is this suspicious?
1951
Purge of party in Georgia
Seemingly targeted at Beria’s ethnicity…
EVIDENCE STALIN PLANNING ANOTHER PURGE
When were a group of doctors accused of trying to assassinate Stalin and then arrested?
Jan 1953
What nationality were the majority of those accused in the 1953 “Doctor’s Plot”?
Jewish
What were the two possible explanations to the “Doctors Plot”, which could have been a purge Stalin was planning?
Which is more likely?
1) prelude to terror campaign against Jews
2) first step towards elimination of Beria and other leaders: statements accusing the secret police of a lack of vigilance must have concerned Beria?
(2 more likely)
At the time of Stalin’s death, Beria’s power and influence was SUBSTANTIAL— what did he control?
- secret police
- international network of Soviet spies
- gulag system AND it’s links to industry
What did Beria’s enormous power make his colleagues move to quickly do?
Remove him — June 1953
Khrushchev took the lead over Beria.
Beria underestimated Khrushchev: what did he call him?
A “moon-faced idiot”
