Russia: Purges and Show Trials Flashcards
The First Purges
1930-33
Stalin eliminated anyone who opposed his political policies
The Great Purges
1934-1939
Stalin got rid of all his perceived political opponents.
Kirov
Head of the Leningrad Soviet
A political opponent that was rumoured to be a favourite to take over from Stalin.
Kirov’s Murder
1934
During the 17th Party Congress
Why was Kirov Murdered?
He received the same amount of applause as Stalin at the congress and he worried that he was going to be overthrown.
When were the show trials?
1936-38
Trial of Zinoviev and Kamenev
August 1936
Accused of being trotskyists and Rightists
Trial of Bukharin, Rhykov and Yagoda
March 1938
Why did Stalin need them to confess at the show trials?
To emphasise his complete control.
Nikholai Yezhov
Head of the NKVD 1936-38
Executed 1939 as an enemy of the people.
When were the armed forces purged?
1937
Who in the armed forces were purged?
90% of all the Soviet Generals
Why were the armed forces purged?
Because in the past the army leaders had been involved in disagreements with Stalin, especially during the Civil War.
How many were killed in the purges?
1/5 of the communist party members (1 million)
20 million were sent to gulags
How did the purges affect the arts
Only art sending the right message was allowed.
Artists and musicians were often persecuted.
