Russia Repression and Censorship Flashcards
Alex 11 censorship act
1 st January 1865
The government published its own newspaper: Ruskii.
1836 books were published in 1864. The first Russian translation of Karl Marx’s Das Kapital was published in 1872.
Alex 111 censorship - Zemstvo Press Law of 1882:
June 6, 1882
Under Alexander II1 books could be withdrawn once published. Under Alexander III books were censored before they were published.
Nicholas 11 books - Press law
June 23, 1906
10691 books were published in 1894. More than the combined total published in the UK and the USA.
Newspapers aimed at the proletariat emerged. The Kopek (the Penny) had a circulation of 25000.
Lenin censorship
Set up the Agitation and Propaganda Department (Agitprop) in 1921 to distribute propaganda.
The use of slogans, such as ‘Peace, Bread and Land’ helped them win the support of the workers in 1917.
Created an official newspaper, Pravda (Truth).
Decree on Press 1917
November 10, 1917
Shuts down opposing newspapers
Stalin censorship
All writers had to belong to the Union of Soviet Writers (USW).
In August 1952 15 writers were put on trial for treason. 13 were executed.
There is a good chance Gorky was poisoned by the NKVD in 1936.
Alex 11 secret police
The Third Section of the Imperial Chancellery (or the Third Section).
The Third Section were replaced in 1880 by the Department of State Police (the Okhrana). Alexander II’s Okhrana were ‘softer’ than the Third Section.
Alex 111 secret police
1882 -Alexander III increased the power of the Okhrana so that they could infiltrate dissident groups (i.e. use informers and have people go under cover).
The Okhrana were given the power to exile dissidents.
In 1884, the People’s Will’ was disbanded due to the success of the Okhrana.
In 1887 - the Okhrana uncovered a plot to assassinate Alexander III. 5 were executed including Lenin’s brother.
Alexander Ulyanov Plot
was executed on May 8, 1887
Nicholas 11 - Secret police
Minimal control
3000 were murdered by dissidents between 1905-1907.
The Prime Minister, Stolypin, was assassinated in 8th september 1911.
Grand Duke Sergi was assassinated in 17th febuary 1905.
The Okhrana successfully infiltrated dissident groups, however they had little control over their informers. Stolypin’s assassin, Bogrov, was an Okhrana informer.
1905 the Okhrana are given the power to execute people without trial.
Lenin - secret police
Sep 5th 1918
-Decree on red terror/ total cheka power
28000 killed a year
40000 in gulags by 1920
Victimise people - 300000 kulaks killed
Stalin - secret police NKDV
NKVD (secret police) sent around 25 million people to gulags (remote prison camps).
8 million people were deported to remote parts of the USSR
In 1938 the NKVD was purged. 20000 were executed.
1936-8 kills 143000 catholics
The Great Purge (1936-1938):
During the Great Purge, it is estimated that the NKVD arrested between 1.5 and 2 million people.
Up to 7000000 executed
Alex 11 - army
April 12th 1861 - kills 91 as bezdna revolt
Is poorly trained, 7% literate
Alex 111 army
Uses army
