Purges, War, Postwar Flashcards
Who got purged?
The “old guard,” problem nationalities, military leaders.
Why purges?
For Stalin to consolidate power, but this doesn’t explain why purges happened all the way down to local cadres. The system encouraged rivalries at all levels.
What happened to NKVD/OGPU leaders who carried out purges?
Executed, and then replacements executed too.
Who was Maxim Litvinov?
A Soviet diplomat who advocated for collective security (Like the League) disarmament and limited use of force in Spanish Civil War. Is disillusioned by impotence of League and Munich Pact.
How did Operation Barbarossa change the Soviet Union?
Population was rallied via a revival of the Orthodox church, deserters were ruthlessly punished, it was a criminal offense to miss work. There was a no retreat policy which led to millions of deaths, such as the siege of Leningrad.
Which minorities were considered unreliable in wartime and deported?
Tartars, Kalmyks, Chechens, etc.
How many people were under control of NKVD in 1939?
3.5 million
How many people were in camps?
3.1 million
How many executed during purges?
680k
What was Stalin’s socialism in one country policy?
That Russia needed to strengthen itself and so it was essential to avoid war, build the economy and industrialize as it waited for moment of world revolution. This opposed Trotsky’s notion of permanent revolution, which sought out revolution abroad.
What was the Katyn Massacre?
Soviets murdered 4k Polish officers and 16k soldiers during invasion of Poland, blamed on Nazis.
