Russia - Terror, Purges and Cult of Personality Flashcards
What was Sergei Kirov in charge of before he was murdered in 1934?
His job in the communist party was that he was in charge of the Leningrad district. The city was also known as St. Petersburg and Petrograd.
Many people in Leningrad were falsely accused of being involved in his murder although it is thought that it was actually Stalin who gave the order.
What year were Zinoviev and Kamenev put on show trial?
1936
What was the “Second Great Show Trial”?
In 1937
The trial of the Generals
21 high ranking officers of the army were put on trial because Stalin believed that they were still loyal to the former military leader Leon Trotsky from the Russian Civil war.
What was the 3rd great Show Trial?
Nikolas Bukharin was put on trial in 1938
He was found guilty of treason against the USSR
Who was the Chief Prosecutor of the bigger show trials?
Andrey Vyshinsky
He prefered a confession that was signed by a defendant, rather than on by NKVD.
What was special about the Army General Mikhail Tukachevsky’s confession?
It was covered in blood.
He had been tortured and forced into signing the confession. He was one of the victims in the Second Great Show Trial in 1937.
What does the word “infalliable” mean?
Always right
Stalin wanted to portray himself as an intelligent, all-powerful leader, adored by the people of the USSR.
What was the name of the Official Communist newspaper?
Pravda
Meaning “Truth”
This is ironic as they often shrouded the truth.
What was the youth organisation for the communist party?
Pioneers.
It was an attempt to control the education and activities of children.
What was the art form from the Stalinist era called?
Socialist Realism
It had to show how successful the USSR was, to paint Stalin as a hero of the people.
What was Yezhovchina?
It was a period of time between 1936 - 1938
The years were the worst aspects of the terror and purges. Named after the NKVD leader Nikolai Yezhov.
How was Trotsky killed?
In Mexico city in 1940
He continued to criticise Stalin after he was kicked out of the country.
The murderer was a Spanish communist Ramon Mercader. After he was sent to prison, Stalin awarded him the Order of Lenin, the highest award in the USSR for his service.
