Purges Snd Show Trials Flashcards
When was the murder of Kirov
1st December 1934
How did Kirov die
There was a lack of NVKD guards and Nikolaev shot Kirov in the back of the head with a revolver
What did Stalin claim the assassination was
Plot led by Trotsky, zinoviev and Kamenev to overthrow the government
In summer 1932 Martemyan Ryutin
Executed
What do some people believe was the reason why Kirov died
The assassination was under stalins order
Kirov was extremely popular and voted against Stalin
By killing Kirov his position as leader is more secure
Total control
Stalin wanted total control
He believed groups needed to be disciplined
Purges allowed him to do this
Stalin believed terror was the best way of achieving loyalty
Stalins personality
He was deeply paranoid
Couldn’t trust anyone
Held grudges for long time
Saw threats everywhere
Terror economics
Gulags became vital for stalins industrial drive by providing slave labour
Gulags population 8 million
Stalin encouraged workers to report managers to NKVD
Roles of yezhov , the NKVD
They carried out the purges
Destroy all threats to communists
Spied on people
Intimidated people
Arrested people
Gulags run by NKVD
Reasons for and features of Moscow show-trials 1936-1939
Stalin wanted to remove all his old rivals Kamenev , bukharin ,zinoviev
Stalin wanted to frighten the rest of the community if they were not loyal
Wanted to grow support as he was killing dangerous enemies
The trial of 16 1936
1st trial when zinoviev and Kamenev were found guilty of organising the assassination of Kirov
They were both executed
The trial of 17 1937
13 of Trotskys allies were executed
The trial of 21 1938
Final show bukharin tried to prove innocence but pleaded guilty
Purge of the wider communist party
70% of the 1934 central committee were executed or imprisoned
1 million party members became victims of the purges
Purge of the armed forces
Stalin believed the army would try to overthrow him
They had access to weapons and man power
In may 1937 8 generals were arrested
Most army senior officers were shot 14/16
35,000 men imprisoned or shot
All admirals from the navy shot
Control of the people
Stalin widened the purges to ordinary people in 1937
He wanted to remove all “anti-soviet elements”
250,000 people named enemies of the state
NKVD would turn up at night and collect the people
28% shot and the rest were sent to gulags
Conditions in the gulags
Exhausting and physical labour camps
Overcrowded
Badly heated
Violence
How much food they get is from the work they do
The impact of the purges
Ended in 1938
Removed yezhov as leader of NKVD
Human cost of purges
7-8 million arrested
1-1.5. Million executed
7-8 million sent to gulags
2 million died in gulags
Human trust broke
Weakening of the Soviet Union
Experienced members were purged
Lack of skill damaged the economy
Weakened the 3rd 5 year plan
Weren’t as strong in the military shown against Germany in 1941
Political impact
He was now the unchallenged leader of the USSR
Key features of soviet propaganda
Cult of personality to glorify Stalin
Form of art called socialist realism
Brainwashing young children
Pro-Stalin history
1936 new soviet constitution
Cult of personality
God-like figure
Big-hero
His image was everywhere
Schools taught children to love Stalin
Portrayed as Lenin’s right hand man
Great economic planner
Man of the people
Pictured with children
Great War leader
Socialist realism
Stalin ended the creative freedom of the past
Cultural life was under strict control
Jazz was banned
Pro-communist books made
Films to represent epic events in USSR
New soviet constitution 1936 rights promised
Freedom of religion
Housing
Job
Leisure
Health care
Paid holidays
Right to vote
Education
Why did Stalin create this constitution
Wanted to appeal to ordinary people
Wanted to improve Russias global image
Censorship
Info controlled
No anti-Stalin
Removed all info that government didn’t like
Creativity decreased
Control of education
Children taught incorrect tales of Stalin. And how he was a hero and God like
Inaccurate stories excluding Trotsky
Photos were changed
Children advised to join youth groups
Komsomol 10 million members
