russia_20240606112451 Flashcards
1
Q
Who was the Tsar in 1917?
A
Tsar Nicholas II
2
Q
Since when had the Romanovs ruled Russia?
A
1613
3
Q
Why was Nicholas considered a bad leader personality-wise?
A
He was Stubborn, overly-cautious and shy/awkward
4
Q
When was the Duma established?
A
1906
5
Q
Why did the Royal family trust Rasputin?
A
Because he was able to prevent Aleksei’s symptoms of hemophilia
6
Q
Why was St Petersberg’s name changed - What to?
A
Changed to Petrograd - to sound less German
7
Q
What happened at the battle of Tannenberg 1914?
A
Aug - 300,000 dead or wounded russian soldiers
8
Q
How many troops did Russia have between 1914-1917?
A
12 million
9
Q
What stat shows the state of the Russian army by 1914?
A
2 rifles for every 3 soldiers - munitions crisis
10
Q
How many shells was the artillery limited to in 1915?
A
2-3 shells a day
11
Q
How many desertions happened in the army by the end of 1915?
A
1.5 million
12
Q
Who regarded the government as insensitive to the war
A
the Zemstva
13
Q
What was the ‘Progressive Bloc’ - what did they want?
A
Political parties in the duma - demanded the Tsar change ministers and establish a constitutional monarchy.
14
Q
When did Nicholas decide to be the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army?
A
September 1915
15
Q
Who was Mikhail Rodzianko?
A
The President of the 4th Duma
16
Q
When was Rasputin murdered?
A
1916
17
Q
What was the percentage rise in the cost of living?
A
300%
18
Q
How many workers were on strike in Jan 1917?
A
30,000 - Moscow, 145,000 - Petrograd
19
Q
When did Prince Lvov ask the Tsar’s uncle for the throne?
A
Jan 1917
20
Q
Why was there less of a challenge for the Tsar in Jan 1917 from the left?
A
Most Leftists in exile
21
Q
How many followers did Lenin have in Jan 1917?
A
10,000
22
Q
How many workers were on strike on 14th Feb?
A
100,000
23
Q
When was bread rationing announced?
A
14 Feb - to start March 1
24
Q
When was International Women’s day?
A
23 Feb
25
How many were on the streets on Saturday 25th?
250,000
26
Who was in charge of the Mounted police?
Shalfeev - killed on 25th February
27
When did Rodzianko, the Duma President, send the telegram warning Nicholas of the situation in Petrograd?
26th Feb
28
How did Nicholas react to the warning from Rodzianko?
ordered for the dissolving of the Duma the next day
29
How many soldiers mutinied on the 27th Feb?
66,000
30
When was the Provisional Government established?
27th Feb - same day as Petrograd Soviet
31
When did Nicholas II offer to share power?
28th Feb - too late "There is no return" - Rodzianko
32
Where was Lenin at the time of the Feb revolution?
Zurich - Switzerland
33
What was Order No. 1?
The first act from Petrograd Soviet on 1 March.
34
What did Order No. 1 Promise?
Unites to elect deputy to PS,
Military Commission of Duma obeyed if Soviet agrees
All weapons controlled by soldiers' committees
Soldiers enjoy citizens right when off duty
No honorific titles - difference in class
35
How many members did the Petrograd Soviet have on March 10?
3,000
36
When did the Tsar abdicate?
2 March
37
Who controlled the Provisional Government?
Prince Lvov
38
Why was the PG considered temporary?
In place until proper constitution would be formed
39
Where was the new PG set up?
Right wing of Tauride Palace
40
Why was the Provisional Government considered legitimate?
Had Mikhail's blessing - Tsars uncle.
41
Where was the PS headquarters?
Left wing of Tauride Palace
42
Who was involved in the PS?
Socialist intellectuals, Menshiviks and SRs (as well as Bolsheviks)
43
Who was the only member of the PS and PG?
Kerensky
44
What did the PS accept promises of?
Amnesty for political prisoners,
Civil liberties,
Abolition on legal differences in class, religion and nationality,
Freedom for trade unions,
45
What replaced the tsarist police force in 1917?
The 'people's militia'
46
How did the Dual Authority disagree on deserters and order in the countryside?
Soviet encouraged peasants and workers to defy authority and assert 'rights'.
47
Which arm of the Dual Authority wanted to end the war.
The PSW
48
Who replaced Prince Lvov as Chairman in July 1917?
Kerensky
49
Who announced in April 1917 that the government would continue fighting until a 'Just peace' was won?
Milyukov
50
Why did the PG feel bound by the war?
Alliance with Britain and France - relied on French loans.
51
When did Lenin return to Russia?
April 3 1917
52
How many members did the Bolsheviks have in Feb/March 1917?
23,000
53
What was the Bolshevik newspaper called?
Pravda (The Truth)
54
Why did the Germans agree to send Lenin back to Russia?
Took advantage of him stirring up trouble.
55
How many Bolsheviks were in the Petrograd soviet?
40
56
Who were the first to return to Petrograd?
Kamenev and Stalin
57
How did the April Thesis differ from Marxist Theory?
The middle class was too weak - workers had to do it
Soviets = ready-made government
Lenin could cause a domino effect across Europe
58
When were the April Thesis published?
7 April 1917
59
What was the Motto of the April Thesis?
'Peace, Land, Bread'
'All power to the Soviets!'
60
How did Lenin initially gain support in Bolshevik party?
Persuasion, threats of resignation
61
What started the July days?
A demonstration starting from Kronstadt naval base
62
Who was blamed for the July Days Violence?
Bolsheviks
63
What happened to the Bolsheviks after the July days?
Newspapers shut down, Lenin and Stalin fled. - Others imprisonedWho
64
Who was replaced after the July Days?
Prince Lvov replaced with Kerensky
65
Who was appointed as Commander in Chief of the army to establish discipline?
General Lavr Kornilov
66
When did Kornilov order troops to march on Petrograd?
August 1917W
67
What was Kornilovs aims?
to establish a military dictatorship.
68
Who did kerensky turn to to halt Kornilov?
Turned to the Bolsheviks.
69
Who was released from prison to aid in the Kornilov coup?
Bolsheviks in prison - also given weapons
70
How did the Bolsheviks use the victory over the Kornilov coup?
Portrayed themselves as heroes,
Able to play on fears of further right wing attacks.
71
Who established the Military Revolutionary Committee?
Trotsky
72
How many Red Gusrds did the Bolsheviks have after the Kornilov coup?
10,000
73
From when did Lenin demand the Bolsheviks to seize power?
Mid-september 1917
74
From when did Lenin demand the Bolsheviks to seize power?
Mid-september 1917
75
Who disagreed with Lenin over the 1917 revolution?
Kamenev and Zinoviev
76
Who thought a military coup could be avoided- opting for becoming the head of the Congress of Soviets.
Trotsky
77
When did Lenin hold a meeting to discuss an armed uprising?
10 October
78
Who was put in charge of the Red Guard?
Trotsky
79
How many soldiers did the Bolsheviks have in the Oct revolution?
200,000 Red Guards
60,000 baltic sailors
150,000 from garrison units in petrograd
410,000 overall
80
Why was the time right for a revolution?
Bolsheviks dominated Petrograd and Moscow Soviets,
PG was weak,
Bolsheviks had red guards
81
When was the MRC established?
16 October
82
How many petrograd garrisons declared allegiance to the MRC
15/18
83
How many petrograd garrisons declared allegiance to the MRC
15/18
84
What happened on 23 October 1917?
Kerensky attempted to limit the power of MRC by cutting Bolshevik troops off and closing newspapers
85
When did the Red Guards initially capture key positions in Petrograd?
24th October
86
What happened on the 25th October?
Red Guards enter Winter Palace
Second Congress of Soviets meeting - Mensheviks and SRs protest against seizure of power
87
When did the Congress of Soviets vote to take power?
26th October
88
What is the first thing the Congress votes on?
Lenin's decree of Peace
89
What is the Sovnarkom?
A Central Committee - members of Bolsheviks and left-wing SRs
90
When was the Sovnarkom established?
27th October
91
How many people were involved with the Revolution?
25-35,000
92
How many were present at the storming of the Winter Palace?
10-15,000
93
How many deaths were involved?
estimated around 5 - very little fighting
94
What did Soviet historians think about Lenin's involvement in the Oct Revolution?
idealised Lenin and downplayed Trotsky's role in organising Red Guard
95
What would critics of Lenin argue about 1917?
He was absent for most of it - weakness in PG rather than Lenin's strength
96
What would Western Historians claim about the October Revolutions compared to revisionists?
Tended to claim a coup d'etat, however modern historians argue it was a popular rebellion exploited by Bolsheviks
97
What did the October/November revolution transfer the power to?
the All-Russian Congress of Soviets
98
Who walked out of the executive committee after the Bolsheviks won the majority?
The Mensheviks and Right0-wing SRs
99
Who was the Chairman of the Sovnarkom?
Lenin
100
Who initially refused to work for the Bolshevik government?
Civil servants - banks took 10 days to hand over state funds under armed threat
101
Why was the Bolsheviks' military force weakened after the revolution?
Soldiers went back to homes in the countryside
102
When was the army cadet rising against the Bolsheviks?
29 October
103
When was Kerensky's opposition defeated?
2 November
104
What did Lenin announce on the 5th November?
That the Revolution has succeeded
105
Why did Kamenev, Zinoviev and Rykov leave the Bolshevik party on 3rd November?
Lenin's ultimatum to end division.
106
What was the 4 early Lenin decrees?
Decree on Peace
Decree on Workers Rights
Decree on Land
Decree to establish Cheka
Social Decrees
107
What was the Decree on Peace?
Promised to end war
108
What was the Decree to establish the Cheka?
Created the state secret police - Cheka
109
What abolished private land ownership?
Lenin's Decree on Land - as well as legalised land seizures
110
What was the Workers decree?
Workers had a maximum 8 Hour day
111
What banned the opposition press?
the Press decree
112
What was the Decree to Outlaw sex discrimination?
gave equal rights for women
113
What was the Decrees on the Church?
removed marriage and divorce from church control
114
What allowed workers to 'supervise' managers?
The Decree on Workers Control
115
Who led the Cheka in 1917?
Felix Dzerzhinsky
116
What did Lenin establish in December 1917?
the Vesenkha - Supreme Soviet of the National Economy
Gained control over economy
117
What were the Congress of Soviets expecting from the overthrowing of PG?
A coalition government, similar to PS
118
Why didn't Lenin want to share power?
Believed Bolsheviks were acting in interests of working class
119
What was the Constituent Assembly election?
organised elections by PG
120
Who won the Majority of seats in Constituent Assembly Nov 1917?
the SRs with 53%
Bolsheviks had 24%
Mensheviks and others had 23%
121
What happened after the Bolsheviks lost the election?
Lenin said 'Elections prove nothing' and closed the Constituent assembly with troops
122
How did Lenin justify closing the Constituent Assembly?
Russia now governed by a 'Dictatorship of the Proletariat'
123
How many civilians were killed after a demonstration following the Constituent Assembly closure?
12
124
Who lost the right to vote in July 1918?
the 'bourgeoisie'
125
What were the main reasons for Lenin ending Russian involvement in WW1?
Bolshevik promised peace,
Germany could invade
Everyone would rebel against capitalism anyways - German revolution
126
When was an Armistice with Germany signed?
Dec 1917
127
Who led the 'Revolutionary war group' that believed Russians should fight on?
Bukharin
128
Why did Trotsky drag the Peace Treaty proceedings out?
Thought that Germany would have own revolution
129
What was Trotsky's approach to the Armastice?
'No peace, no war.' - Germany took advantageL
130
What was signed on the 3 March 1918?
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
131
Who opposed the Brest-Litovsk treaty?
SRs - walked out in protest
Lenin threatened to resign to get the treaty through - majority of one
132
How many people had Russia lost due to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
62 million people
133
How much land had Russia lost due to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
2 million km squared - 1/3 of agriculture
3/4 iron and coal supplies
134
Brest-Litovsk summary terms?
people
land
produce
agriculure
money
135
Who became the head of the Red Army in March 1918/
Trotsky - Red Guard disbanded
136
Where was the capital moved to?
Moscow - to be more central to the country
137
When was the first Soviet constitution proclaimed?
July 1918
138
Who was at the top of the 1918 constitution power structure
the Sovnarkom - (Lenin as chairman)
appointed by congress + ran country while congress not in session
139
Who were banned from voting or holding office?
the former 'exploiting classes'
140
What was the difference between workers and peasants?
Workers' votes = 5 peasant votes
141
Was there free choice of candidates for Congress of Soviets?
Nope - all were Bolshevik
142
Why was Lenin's peace with Germany resented?
The harsh terms he agreed to
143
Why had the left had turned against Bolsheviks?
Kadets and SRs kciekd out of government
Constituent assembly closing
Bolsheviks didn't include soviets and imposed one-party dictatorship
144
Who were alienated by Bolshevik ideology?
Aristocrats and Bourgeoisie, those with land, money and businesses started to lose what they had
145
Who predominatnly wanted the old tsarist regime?
Army officers - objected peace with Germany
146
Who were the Reds?
the Bolshevik red army - led by Trotsky
147
Who were the Whites?
Various armies and groups of Bolshevik enemies - led by former tsarist officers
148
Who were the Greens?
a largely peassant army fighting for independence.
Mostly in Ukraine - swapped sides depending on who'd help
149
What started the Civil War?
The Czech Legion seizing trans-siberian railway
150
Who made rapid advances in August 1918?
General Denikin - SW and Kolchak - E
151
Who declared himself 'Supreme Ruler' of Russia in Nov 1918?
Kolchak - Whites seemed to be successful however Red Counter-attacks prevented them linking up
152
How many miles to Moskow did Denikin's army get to?
200 miles
153
Who's army advanced to outskirts of Petrograd with 15,000 men in Oct 1919
Yudenich
154
When was Kolchak captured and shot?
Feb 1920
155
Who retreated to the Crimea in March 1920
Denikin's army
156
When did the Russo-Polish War begin?
May 1920
157
Who took over after Denikin in the Crimea?
Baron Wrangel - defeated by Green army
158
When was the Treaty of Riga signed?
March 1921
159
What was the Treaty of Riga?
Granted independence to Poland, Estonia, Latvia and other states.
160
How did Trotsky travel around the war fronts?
On a special train, meeting commanders and troops
161
What was in Trotsky's special train?
Food, equipment and Propaganda - boosting morale
162
How did the Red Army have enough food?
Requisitioning grain from peasants
163
How many former tsarist officers were recruited to train troops?
50,000
164
What did Trotsky insist on in the Red Army?
Strict discipline - units retreating without orders would be have commissars shot
165
What was reintroduced into the army to make it a professional force?
Traditional ranks and practices, no longer elected officers
166
When was the Tsar Murdered?
July 1918
167
Where was the Tsar Murdered?
Yekaterinburg
168
How could Geography be seen as a reason for Red Victory?
Reds commanded cummications, armaments factories
densely populated areas in central russia
169
How were the Reds United?
united in ideological aim - whites fought for independent objectives
170
How was the Leadership of the Red Army better than the whites?
The Red army was well-disciplined under Trotsky,
Whites had few competent and were ill disciplined
171
How was peasant support a positive for the Red Army/
they generally agreed with the Red's land policies - Whites association with Tsarist regime
172
How did foreign involvement help the Reds?
Didn't help the Whites that much - propaganda platform for Reds
173
What happened to Government during wartime?
Increased centralisation of government
174
How many party members fought for the army?
500,000
175
How did the Soviet Bureaucracy grow?
more Bureaucrats than workers
176
How did the way in which orders were given change?
quicker from the centre outward
177
What was formed in 1919 that overrode the government?
The Politburo
178
What could be said about eh Bolsheviks mentality?
adopted a seige mentality - defence rather than attack
179
What was officially established at the end of 1922?
USSR - Soviet Union
180
What was state capitalism known as?
a 'halfway house' between capitalism and socialism
181
When and what was the Decree on Land?
November 1917 - abolished private land ownership
182
When and what was the Decree on workers control?
November 1917 - gave workers greater control over running factories
183
When were the banks nationalised?
December 1917
184
When was state capitalism implemented?
1917-18
185
When and what was the Decree on Land?
February 1917 - Abolished private ownership on land
186
When and what was the Decree on Workers control?
November 1917 - Gave workers greater control over factories
187
When was the Nationalisation of the banks?
Dec 1917
188
When was War communism implemented?
June 1918-21
189
When did the Red Terror intensify?
September 1918
190
When did Compulsory grain requisitioning start?
Jan 1919
191
When was the Tambov Revolt?
August 1920
192
When did Industrial production decrease to 20%
December 1920
193
When was the NEP established?
1921 onwards
194
When was the Kronstadt rising?
March 1921
195
When was the final defeat of the Tambov revolt?
June 1921
196
What were some examples of state control?
nationalisation of Russia's banks,
establishment of Vesenkha,
The establishment of GOELRO
197
What were the three main problems with state capitalism?
Many Bolsheviks didn't want a 'halfway house,'
Sharp drops in production after workers in control,
Peasants had control over grain price - state-controlled industries needed cheaper grain
198
What were the four main problems with conditions?
Falling industry production,
Fighting in countryside
Food shortages in cities
Disease and starvation
199
Why were factory supplies disrupted?
Workers left to join Red Army,
200
By how much did the urban proletariat population decline?
from 3.6 million to 1.4 million
201
Why did inflation rise?
drop in production, peasants stopped selling grain.
202
Why were important agricultural regions lost?
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
203
What was a major reason for food shortages?
Peasant hoarding
204
What was the bread ration in Petrograd in early 1918?
50 grammes per person
205
How many people died of starvation and disease?
5 million
206
When was war communism introduced?
June 1918
207
What were the 3 key features of war communism?
Nationalisation,
Grain requisitioning,
Labour discipline and rationing
208
By when had businesses and factories been nationalised?
november 1920
209
What was banned under nationalisation?
Private trade and manufacture
210
What was set up in May 1918 to organise Grain requisitioning?
the Food Supplies Dictatorship
211
What was a key feature of grain requisitioning due to opposition?
violent oppression through the Cheka
212
Who lost all rights and freedoms by the 1917 Workers Control of Factories?
The Workers - Worker Soviets abolished
213
how was strict discipline imposed on workers?
through fines for slackness, lateness and absenteeism
214
What replaced wages?
ration-card books, factory workers got most - bourgeoisie the least
215
Who were hit the worst in the countryside?
the Kulaks - had stock seized
216
What was the percentage decrease of harvest yield 1921 compared to 1913?
48%
217
What had Russia's population decreased to?
170.9 million - 1913
130.9 million - 1921
218
What was the % of industrial output compared to pre-war levels?
20%
219
By how much had the population by decreased in Petrograd and Moscow compared to 1917?
57.5% - Petrograd
44.5% - Moscow
220
Why did the party lack popular support?
Worsening conditions in cities and concern over policy
221
What triggered the launch of the Red Terror?
The assassination attempt on Lenin in August 1918
222
How did the Cheka respond to Lenin's assassination attempt?
Round up Menshiviks, SRs, and other threats
223
How many were executed after Lenin's assassination attempt?
500,000
224
Who else did the Red Terror target?
possible counter-revolutionaries - Bourgeoisie
225
What was the Tambov revolt?
a series of peasant revolts, worst of which in the Tambov province.
226
how many peasants rose up in August 1920 Tambov revolt?
70,000
227
How many Red Army soldiers were used to crush the Tambov revolt?
100,000
228
When was the Kronstadt rising?
March 1921
229
How many Kronstadt sailors rebelled?
30,000
230
How many rebels were imprisoned as a part of Kronstadt rising?
15,000
231
Who set up the Workers Opposition group?
Shlyapnikov and Kollontai
232
What did the Workers Opposition group oppose?
War Communism - thought it was becoming too authoritarian
233
When was Gosplan established?
February 1921
234
Where was the NEP introduced?
The Tenth Party Congress in March 1921
235
Why did many Bolsheviks object to the NEP
it was an ideological step backwards
236
What were the three main features of the NEP in the countryside?
Grain Requisitioning ended,
Ban on private trade ended,
Peasants could keep surplus produce,
237
What were the three main features of the NEP in the cities?
State control of key large-scale industries, small-scale industries became private
Rationing ended
Industries had to pay workers out of profits
238
How did private businesses respond to the NEP?
They reopened and grew quickly
239
how did Agricultural production respond to the NEP?
Peasants grew more in order to earn more money
240
Why did food prices drop?
So much food was grown - risked peasants hoarding grain again
241
How was the 'scissors crisis' prevented?
Peasants' quota became a money tax - peasants had to sell grain to pay tax
242
Who were hated by the Bolsheviks, but helped the economy?
Nepmen - Private Traders
243
What was the introduction of the NEP seen as by many bolsheviks?
seen as a retreat back to capitalism
244
What was banned in 1921?
Ban on factions - could discuss policy but once finally decided disagreeing would mean expulsion
245
Who were arrested on mass in 1921?
Menshiviks and SRs - been banned
246
What was the Cheka renamed to in 1922?
GPU
247
What was put under pressure by the GPU in 1922?
The Church - thousands of priests arrested
248
What system was introduced in 1923 that made those that proved loyalty be approved for promotion?
nomenklatura
249
What was nomenklatura?
a system where only those who showed complete loyalty to the Party would be considered for promotion
250
Who felt betrayed by the Brest-Litovsk - March 1918
Britain and France
251
What two groups had Russia been left out of?
Paris Peace Conference.
League of Nations
252
What did Churchill say he'd do to Bolshevism following the Revolution in 1917?
“strangle Bolshevism in its cradle”
253
What ended Russia's diplomatic isolation?
the Treaty of Rapallo
254
How did the British forces attack Russia during the Civil war?
Blockaded trade through Baltic sea,
attacked Murmansk
255
How many US troops landed at Vladivostok?
11,000
256
Why did Britain, France and USA initially want to help the whites?
to keep them in the war and stop Germany moving troops to western front
257
When did the motive for foreign intervention change?
November 1918 - after ww1, ending Bolshevism
258
What was the impact of foreign intervention?
too small-scale to have impact,
However Japanese invasion of eastern siveria - didn't threaten Bolsheviks though,What
259
What did the Bolsheviks claim about Foreign powers?
they had faced them and wonHow
260
How did the west respond to losing the Civil War.
continued isolation of Russia, except for Britain in Nov 1920
261
What was the Comintern?
an international communist organisation to spread Marxism and revolution
262
When was the founding Congress of the Comintern?
march 1919
263
What key issues were raised at the first Comintern meeting?
Lenin promoted soviet system as best way of spreading Marxism
264
What key issues were raised at the second Comintern meeting?
Lenin's 21 conditions; requirements to become a member of Comintern
265
What was the reaction to Lenin's 21 Conditions at the scond Comintern progress, July-August 1920?
Mixed - some broke away, however Bolshevik victory looked certain
266
When was the Third Comintern Progress?
June-July 1921
267
What was the key issue of the third comintern congress?
the Recovery of the bourgeoisie in Poland and Germany
268
What were the reactions to the third comintern meeting?
dissapointed - Weimar Republic was 'bourgeois-democratic' - Russia left alone
269
When were the first conflicts between Polish and Bolshevik forces?
1919
270
Who did the Poles ally with in May 1920?
Ukrainians - to take Kiev
271
When was the Treaty of Riga?
March 1921
272
What was the Rapallo treaty?
Russia and German trade
273
When was the Rapallo Treaty - what did it promote?
April 1922 - 'Mutual Goodwill' in commercial and economic relations
274
When was the Zinoviev letter published?
Oct 1924
275
What did it claim to be?
a letter from Zinoviev aimed at Labour government to raise a revolution in Britain
276
What was the impact of the Zinoviev letter?
small impact on the election, however damaged Russia and Britains relations
277
What were the positives and negatives about the October/November REvolution?
Lenin masterminded power,
However, power grab upset many
278
What were the positives and negatives about the single-party rule
Lenin could enforce his will, strong leadership,
however rapidly increasing bureaucracy, ruthless repression
279
What were the positives and negatives about the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
Breathing space to consolidate power.
However enormous territorial losses for Russia - triggered Civil war
280
What were the positives and negatives about War Communism
sacrificed everything - helped Red Army win war
However created wide famine - caused collapse in economy
281
What were the positives and negatives about the NEP
helped stabilise economy and reduce food shortages,
However seen as a backwards step
282
When did Lenin die?
January 1924
283
How was the party in theory supposed to be controlled?
through collective leadership
284
When was Stalin made General Secretary of the Party?
April 1922
285
Who was in the Triumvirate, formed in May 1922
Stalin, Kamenev and Zinoviev
286
When was Lenin's testament suppressed at the Party Congress
May 1924
287
What had Lenin introduced to dispell democracy?
the 1921 Ban on factions
288
What had replaced the 'power to the soviet' idea by 1924?
a centralised control from the party
289
What was a key issue with Leninist government by 1924?
had created a huge state bureauceracy, carrying out orderse from superiors
290
When did Lenin write his 600-word testament?
December 1922
291
What changes did he propose to the Central Committee?
double the members from 50 to 100
292
Who did Lenin's testament criticise?
everyone in the party - especially Stalin.
293
Why did Lenin treat Stalin harshly?
Because he had been rude to Lenin's wife - used brute force to supress Georgian independence
294
Who did Lenin endorse as his successor?
Nobody
295
Who wanted Lenin's testament to be read at the Twelfth party congress?
Lenin's wife - Nadezhda Krupskaya
296
Who didn't want Lenin's testament to be read out?
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Stalin - as well as Trotsky
297
Who initially seemed like the most likely person to succeed Lenin?
Trotsky - he played key roles in Bolshevik seizure of power and the Civil War
298
What was the Triumvirate's main goal?
to block Trotsky's rise to power
299
Who joined the left in 1924-25, to combat Stalin?
Zinoviev and Kamenev
300
Who joined Stalin after the Triumvirate fell apart?
Bukharin - Stalin resented him due to his popularity
301
Who opposed Bukharin?
Rykov and Tomsky
302
What are the key strengths of Stalin?
General Secretary - could appoint supporters to key roles in the Party,
underestimated by opponents,
Placed himself close to Stalin,
Didn't seem like a threat
303
What was Stalin's weaknesses?
Not prominent in Oct/Nov revolution or Civil War,
Seen as rude, crude and illeducated.
Seen as 'a grey blur'
Others knew he'd fallen from Lenin's favour
304
What was Trotsky's strengths?
Recognised as hero for Oct/Nov Rev + MRC.
War hero for Civil War
inspirational speaker and intellectual
known for formidable political skills
305
Was was Trotsky's weaknesses?
Arrogant and dismissive of less smart people,
indecisive and inconsistent,
feared by many Bolsheviks,
Didn't try to build follower base,
306
Strengths of Zinoviev?
An 'Old Bolshevik' - Lenin's closest and most trusted assistant,
Had a strong Leningrad powerbase,
one of best speechmakers
307
Weaknesses of Zinoviev?
opposed Lenin in Oct 1917 - briefly left party
vain and unpredictable
Underestimated Stalin.
308
Strengths of Kamenev?
'Old Bolshevik' - close to Lenin,
Strong power base in Moscow,
Effective team player.
309
Weaknesses of Kamenev?
Opposed Lenin in Oct 1917,
Viewed as Zinoviev side-kick
underestimated opponents
310
Bukharin strengths?
Popular in party,
regared as best theoretician,
expert on economics and agriculture
311
Bukharin weaknesses?
Cooperative - avoided in-fighting,
popularity made him target
underestimated Stalin,
312
Rykov Strength?
'Old Bolshevik'
Good administrator
supported by Sovnarkom - Deputy Chairman 1923, Chairman 1924
313
Rykov weaknesses?
taxation on vodka unpopular,
opposed Lenin over timing of revolution,
Lacked power base
314
Tomsky strengths?
respected in party as 'Old Bolshevik'
Strong support base
Natural ally of moderates
315
Tomsky weaknesses?
Hated Trotsky - couldn't see Stalin threat
power base in trade union - Stalin resentment
support for NEP used against him - 1927 grain crisis
316
When did Lenin introduce the NEP?
1921
317
What did the left think about the NEP?
wanted to abandon it - state-controlled rapid industrialisation
'squeesing' the peasants
318
What did Stalin think about the NEP
Attitude was inconsistent,
opposed the left and supported NEP
'Great turn - replacing NEP with indutrialisation and collectivisation
319
What did the Right think about the NEP?
believed it should continue, peasants becoming richer and state using taxes to fund industrialisation
320
What had all Marxism-Leninist theories assume it was impossible to do?
survive as a single communist country - capitalism would strangle it at birth
321
What did Bolsheviks think was essential for survival?
a chain reaction of other revolutions
322
Where in Europe had revolutions been crushed?
Germany and Hungary
323
Who believed in 'Permanent revolution?'
Trotsky and the left
324
What was the theory behind Permanent Revolution?
Believed the USSR couldn't survive on its own,
encouraged revolution in other countries
Lenin had made this arguement
325
Who believed in Socialism in One Country?
Stalin - developed the theory
referenced old Lenin article - show the world the positives behind socialism
326
What argument did Stalin use to expel Trotsky/
his permanent revolution argument - against Lenin and dismissing potential of USSR
327
When was Lenin's funeral?
January 1924
328
Who was absent at Lenin's funeral, who took advantage of this?
Trotsky - Stalin organised and styled himself as disciple of Lenin
329
When was Trotsky's criticisms rejected at Party Congress
May 1924 - Stalin organised congress with own supporters - Trotsky voted down
330
Who did Trotsky criticise in October 1924?
Kamenev and Zinoviev - for not backing Lenin in 1917
331
What was the Duumvirate?
Stalin and Bukharin alliance on the right
332
Who criticised Stalin at the 14th Party Congress Dec 1925?
Kamenev and Zinoviev - move to the right and supporting NEP
333
Who was the united opposition?
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky - Stalin accused of factionalism
334
Who was expelled from the party in Nov 1927?
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky
335
What had begun in late 1927?
Grain procurement crisis - Stalin split from Bukharin - Grain requisitioning again
336
How was Bukharin expelled from the party?
Nov 1929 - criticised Stalin, Stalins supporters agreed to remove him
337
Who were Expelled from the party in Nov 1929?
Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky
338
What happened to Zinoviev and Kamenev?
rejoined the party in 1928 - lost high positions in Politburo
339
What happened to Trotsky?
Exiled to Kazakhstan - murdered in Mexico in 1940
340
What happened to Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky?
initially allowed to stay in the partyWh
341
Who was executed after show trials in late 1930s?
Bukharin, kamenev, Zinoviev and Rykov
Tomsky committed suicide before being put on trial
342
What was the Great Turn?
a radical change in economic policy - rejected NEP
343
When did the turn begin>
1925 - 14th Party Congress
344
What did the Great turn mark the start of?
Stalinism
345
What were the 4 main reasons for the Great Turn?
slow industrialisation,
Grain procurement crisis 1927-28
Ideological concerns about NEP
Stalins attitude
346
How was slow industrialisation a reason for GT
NEP failing to produce grown expected
weaknesses in management needed addressing
347
What was the Grain Procurement crisis 1927-28
1927-28 % of grain down by 25%
Party officials blamed peasants - grain hoarding
348
What were the Ideological concerns about NEP
Impatient for 'true communist ideology'
lost control over countryside - had to be regained
349
What was Stalin's changing attitude towards the NEP
felt secure enough to undo the NEP and push own policies?
saw it wasn't working and looked for other options?
350
When was the 1FYP launched?
1928
351
How many years behind did Stalin say Russia was compared to the west?
50-100 years
352
What did Stalin want to prepare for?
War with capitalist countries
353
What did Stalin want to Achieve through the FYP?
Socialism in One Country - ROle model for rest of world
Assert own dominance over party
354
Central planning in the 1FYP?
Gosplan - set targets for different sectors
Command economy - centralised approach to economy
355
Rapid Industrial growth in the 1FYP?
production increase 300%?? 1928-1932
Heavy industry prioritised,
Light industry lower priority - still 100% increase
356
What was Heavy industry?
Coal, Iron, steel, oil and machinery
357
New industrial Centres - 1FYP
Thousands of new industrial centres
Magnitogorsk - the Steel city
175,000 by 1932 from nothing
358
What was the 1FYP's investment in infrastructure?
plan to increase electric supply and Railway
359
Propaganda and discipline with 1FYP?
propaganda campaigns drove the FYP,
boards erected outside every factory showing targets
Threats of harsh punishment for motivation
360
Ideology with the 1FYP?
Socialism could achieve what would seem impossible,
'There are no fortresses the Bolsheviks cannot capture' - Stalin 1931
361
How did the 1FYP use foreign experts?
Industrial experts to work on trains,
362
What is an example of Foreign experts used in 1FYP?
Magnitogorsk - Arthur McKee & Co.
American company trained Soviet engineers
363
What were many members pleased to see a commitment to through the FYP?
a radical social change - no more NEP
364
How did Propaganda have a significant impact with the FYP?
Urban workers hoped for better employment prospects and higher living standards
365
Who were led to hope they would benefit from the FYP?
Many poor and 'Middle peasants' - further land reform and more modern methods
366
How were some concerned about higher wages under the FYP?
skilled workers had more money - creating a class system?
367
What caused the Grain procurement Crisis 1927-28?
poor harvests, with the low grain price
368
What convinced Stalin that kulaks were responsible for hoarding grain?
the Urals and western Siberia - harvest generally good however grain was down
369
What did Stalin close, replaced by the 'Urals-Siberian method'
free markets
370
What were the 4 main features of Stalinist government?
Bureaurcratic centralism,
divide and rule,
Continuing Lenin Legacy,
Fear,
Loyal supporters,
371
What matched thhe central government control under Stalin
The control of the economy
372
What did Party Leadership control?
key bureaucratic positions down to local level
373
How did stalin divide and rule?
brought people into favour,
encouraged rivals to bring them down if too powerfulWh
374
What is a good example of Stalins divide-and-rule approach?
Yezhov
375
how did Stalin continue Lenin's legacy?
positioned himself as Lenin's heir and interpreter of Lenin's wishes
376
What was the GPU renamed to?
the OGPU in 1926Wh
377
What permeated Stalins imposition of policies? what is an example of this?
Fear, collectivisation forced through secret police
378
How was Stalin able to influence party officials?
could control who was where as General Secretary
379
What was the Politburo filled with?
Stalins loyal supporters
380
What did Stalin rely on to launch campaigns and enthusiasm?
Propaganda
381
What is an example of the use of Propaganda?
FYP in 1928 - happy productive workers
382
What was Stalins image developed as?
the 'Great Helmsman'
'Forward to socialism under the leadership of Great Stalin!'
383
how did stalin boost the cult of lenin?
embalmed his corpse and on display - lenin treated like god
384
What was stalins main aim in foreign affairs?
to keep the USSR safe
385
Who were the USSR's main representatives initially?
Chicherin and his deputy Litvinov
386
What did Chicherin and Litvinov present the USSR as?
moderate diplomacy - keeping safe relations with foreign powers, especially germany
387
What did Stalin believe to be diluting the appeal of communism?
Social democratic parties in Europe
388
When did the Chinese Revolution overthrow the emperor?
October 1911
389
Who supported the CCP, who wanted proleteriat revolution in China?
Trotsky
390
Who did Stalin back instead of the CCP?
the Chinese GMD - nationalist party, worried communist china would be too unstable
391
What happened after the GMD got in control of China?
Stalin urged the CCP to join, they refused and were violently suppressed.
392
Who criticised Stalin for his actions over China?
Trotsky and the 1927 Party Congress
393
When was the Rapallo treaty signed?
1922
394
What was the Treaty of Berlin 1926?`
aimed to build a 'trustful cooperation between German people and USSR
395
What was an example of the articles from the Treaty of Berlin?
in 1926 btw
if they were attacked by 3rd party, they'd remain neutral.
economic boycott woudn't be done.
396
What was Stalin's attitude to the Comintern before 1929?
low priority for Stalin - focused on internal affairs and Socialism in one country
397
How did Stalin's attitude to the Comintern change after 1929?
identified an all-out attack on anti-communist, social democratic parties
398
How did the Comintern ready themselves for the fight against 'social fascism'? (social democrats)
ensue all foreign communist parties became stricter
all communist parties followed USSR policy
399
What could be seen as the reasons for Stalin's change in approach to foreign policy?
attacking Bukharin who was opposed?
Stalin's confidence at removing Trotsky
Stalin feared other power bases?
400
When was Stalins 'war against the kulaks' speech?
1929
401
When were peasants forced into collective farms?
December 1929
402
When was the 'Urals-Siberian Method' expanded to all grain-producing regions in USSR?
May 1929
403
Who opposed the Urals-Siberian Method?
Bukharin
404
Who did Local Party officials call on to identify Kulaks?
poorer peasants - would get to use richer land
405
How many party activists were sent to help dekulakisation?
25,000 in Nov 1929
406
Who assisted the 25,000ers in dekulakisation?
local police, OGPU and Red Army
407
How were people persuaded to join collective farms?
fear that they'd be called kulaks if not
408
What % of farms were collectivised in 1929?
5%
409
What percentage of peasant households were identified as kulaks?
15% - 150,000 deported to Siberia
410
When did Stalin announce that 50% of farms had been collectivised?
March 1930
411
Who did stalin blame for the violence of collectivisation?
the Party officials for their 'overzealousness'
allowed brief return to voluntary collectivisation
412
what % of households were collectivised after it was voluntary in Oct 1930?
only 20%
413
When was collectivisation reinforced after the return to voluntary collectivisation?
after spring 1931
414
When where all farms collectivised?
1941
415
How did kolkhozes differ from sovkhozes in terms of land?
Kolkhozes - small individual farms combined
Sovkhoz - tsarist-era estates, ran by state
416
What was the difference in K and S on who worked thee?
Kolkhoz - farms already existed, up to 75 families in a village
Sovkhoz - members recruited from landless labourers.
417
how were kolkhoz members paid compared to sovkhoz?
kolkhoz - divided farm earnings by number of days contributed
Sovkhoz - classified as workers, paid a wage
418
How private were Kolkhoz farms compared to Sovkhoz?
Kolkhoz - communal fields, small private plots
Sovkhoz - large-scale production, also small plots allowed
419
What could be said about the farm quotas?
set to be low - so workers can be fed cheaply and make money off of exporting grain
420
How were Kolkhozniks and Sovkhoz workers restricted from leaving?
internal passports - 1932
421
When were Machine Tractor Stations (MTS) set up?
1931
422
How many MTS per farm was there in 1940?
1 MTS : 40 farms
423
How many tractors were around by the start of 1933?
75,000
424
Who were stationed at MTS to help efficiency of farms?
Agronomists, vets, surveyors and technicians.
425
What was a disadvantage around the efficience of MTS?
only improved efficiency in some areas due to machines only completely part of a process
426
how did peasants oppose the process of collectivisation?
through killing livestock and destroying machines
427
How did the armed forces respond to the unrest?
brutally - deporting those who resisted - maybe even burning villages
428
How many people were deported as kulaks under stalin?
10 million.
429
how were collective farms treated badly?
targets high, nothing if quotas not met.
430
how many peasants migrated to towns and cities by 1939?
around 19 million
431
How many people died of famine between 1932-1933?
6-8 million people.
432
What was collectivisation a failure in accomplishing?
increasing agricultural productivityHo
433
How far did livestock numbers fall due to peasant intervention?
25-30%
434
How was collectivisation successful in achieving social aims for farming
Dekulakisations and collectivisation - farming under state control.
capitalism eradicated
435
What % of peasant households were collectivised in 1941?
100%
436
What did the urban population of the USSR increase to between 1922 and 1940?
from 22 million to 63 million
437
how many people died due to famine?
6-8 million
438
What did the grain exports increase to from 1928 to 1931?
30,000 to 5 million
439
What provided stalins justification for the 'Great Turn'?
the USSR succeeding in grain export aims
440
What did stalin want to turn the industrail base of the Soviet Union into?
a 'command economy'
441
When was the first FYP launched?
1928
442
When was second FYP launched?
1933
443
What structure was finished by 1932?
Dnieprostroi Dam
444
When did the emphasis shift on armaments production?
1936
445
What was doubled in 1940?
Armament spending
446
What was the third FYP interrupted by?
German invasion
447
What did Gosplan organise?
the process of transformation of the industry
448
What was the main job of Gosplan?
to set output targets for every sector
449
What could be said about the Gosplan targets?
overly-ambitious - no reliable statistics
450
Who competed for regions to be given more resources?
Regional party bosses
451
What was the aim of the first FYP?
Develop heavy industry,
boost electricity,
double light industry
452
How did the first FYP succeed?
electricity production tripled,
coal and iron doubled,
steel production increased by a third
453
how did the first FYP fail?
failed extremely ambitious targets,
consumer industry neglected
454
What was the main aims of the second FYP?
Continue growth of heavy industry,
Boost light industry,
Develop communications and engineering
455
What new metals were mined for the first time - 2nd FYP
Copper and tinW
456
What happened to steel output in the 2nd FYP?
it trebled,
457
What happened to coal production in the 2nd FYP?
Coal production doubled
458
What was the USSR self-sufficient in by 1937?
metal goods and machine tools
459
What 2nd FYP failed to meet it's target?
Oil production failed to meet target
460
What happened to the quality of goods under the 2nd FYP?
quantity over quality mindset - quality decrease
461
What did the 3rd FYP introduce?
rapid rearmament and transition to communism,
462
What was developed under the 3rd FYP?
defence industries - T-34 Tank
463
What happened to rearmament spending between 1938-1940?
spending doubled
464
What happened to other areas due to the shift in 3rd FYP focus?
some areas stagnated,
oil - fuel crisis
465
What was a fundamental problem with the FYP?
any criticism seen as treasonous - no improvement
466
What was the Dnieprostroi Dam?
a hydroelectric dam over deepest Ukraine river,
one of the largest in the world at that time
467
How was Dnieprostroi Dam's output increased 5x?
second year plan - 5 extra generators
468
When was the Dnieprostroi dam constructed?
1927-2932
469
When was the Moscow Metro constructed?
1932-1937
470
What did the Moscow Metro aim to showcase?
the achievements of a socialist state - fit with chandeliers, marble walls and intricate mosaics.
471
When was the Moscow-Volga canal constructed?
1932-1937
472
How long was the Moscow-Volga canal?
128km
473
how many people died building the Moscow-Volga Canal?
22,000 - out of 200,000 prisoners
474
How many people lived in Magnitogorsk?
150,000
475
Who build the Komsomolsk shipyard?
Komsomol - Communist Youth Organisation
476
Who helped design the Moscow Metro?
British specialists from the London underground
477
Who advised the USSR on its car industry, training soviet engineers?
Henry Ford - designed car-plant at Gorky
478
How many American engineers were given the 'Order of the Red Banner of Labour', what for?
6 American engineers - for their work on Dnieprostroi dame
479
Who were Stakkhanovites?
workers who exceeded their targets
480
Who were Stakhanovites named after??
Aleksei Stakhanov - a coal miner who exceeded mining target by loooads,
481
What did Stakhanovites gain from working harder?
material benefits - mostly propander
482
When was Stakhanov heroic effort reported to be fake?
1988
483
What could happen to Managers if they failed their targets?
put on trial, arrested or even executed
484
What was prevalent in the economic system?
bribery and corruption
485
When were labor books introduced/
1938 - recorded employment, skills and discipline
486
What could result in dismissal, eviction or loos of benefits?
Abenteeism or lateness - became a crime in 1940
487
What acts were illegal for a worker?
striking, damaging machinery, or leaving work without permission
488
What was introduced in 1931 that benefitted those who worked harder?
wage differentials.
489
What % of the workforcec was female by 1940?
43% - state provided school, nursuries and clinics allowed women to work
490
However, what % of wages did women earn compared to men in 1940?
40%
491
When did the Stalin cult grow noticably?
After his 50th bitrhday in Dec 1929W
492
When was the Stalin cult established?
1933 - height after ww2
493
What was stallin described as?
an 'all-knowing' and ;universal genius'
494
What was he known as leader?
the Great helmsman - knew how to lead the USSR
495
Who was stalin percieved to be the successor to?
Marx and Lenin - bringing socialist enlightenment
496
What title was Stalin given to symbolise him?
the 'shining sun of humanity'
497
How was Stalins portrayal as a true bolshevik?
Lived with no extravagance
498
What was played upon by Stalin 'cultists'?
his relation as being the heir of Lenin
499
what forms of Propaganda was used ?
Paintings, art, sculptures, slogans - glorified Stalin
All books dedicated to him, acknowledged his genius
500
Who else was associated with the cult?
Stalins inner circle- had cities and factories named after them
