Show trials and purges Flashcards
NKVD
Set up 1917.
1934 - took over the secret police & kept this responsibility until 1943.
Purges before 1930
Taken place before Stalin’s rise to power.
Non-violent.
Until 1930, majority of Gulag prisoners were ex-kulaks or workers who breached labour discipline.
Although Stalin defeated main opponents by 1929, he wasn’t totally dominant.
Late 1920’s, his calls for stricter action against opponents weren’t always supported by members of Politburo.
In addition, early problems arising from collectivisation & rapid industrialisation created doubts & political division within Politburo.
The Ryutin Affair, 1932
Important rightist in early 1930’s wrote document calling for end of forced collectivisation, rehabilitation of defeated Oppositionists & dismissal of Stalin.
Accused Stalin of destroying communist revolution & this was signed by several communists.
They were put on trial & expelled from Central Committee.
During next 2 years nearly 1 mill. members were expelled from party for being “Ryutinites”.
What was the Great Purge
1936 nes constitution “Stalin Constitution”.
New purge began in 1936 involving first show trial & signalling start of the Great Purge.
Under Yezhnov from 1936-38 NKVD did most show trials & purges against Old Bolsheviks & Red Army.
The Great Terror
No. of denunciations, expulsions, trials, imprisonments & executions multiplied.
By 1937 purges included administrators & specialists.
1937-38, many important officials were arrested & shot.
Moscow even set each region quotas to fulfil.
Many ended up in Gulag, while others executed by NKVD.
Purge also spread to Red Army.
Began to affect ordinary people, trying to prove loyalty to Stalin by making denunciations.
By end of 1938, Russians were in state of terror, reluctant to talk openly to anyone.
