Stalin exercise power over the communist party and soviet state Flashcards
what position did Stalin originally have?
General secretary of the Party
how did Stalin’s initial position in the party give him power
due to being general secretary he was responsible for the day to day running of the party.
this meant he had personal files on all party members which he used the secret police to watch
he decided the agenda for party meetings so he could restrict topics
Lenin enrolment meant more people joined the party and Stalin took advantage as they had no political experience so they would allege loyalty if Stalin helped them
Stalin appointed supporters in key positions and he removed those who opposed him e.g Molotov
as he had no personality he could do all this unnoticed
who were Stalin’s opponents
Trotsky as he was considered the successor
Zinoviev had a large power base in party
Bukharim young and intelligent but lacked experience
Tomsky trade union figure, but restricted once trade unions were restricted by Lenin
Rykov, drinking problem but chair of sovnarkom
how did Stalin remove opponents
Stalin used the differences of his opponents to manipulate them e.g Trotsky left wing ( permanent revolution), Bukharim right wing (stick to Lenin policies)
left were expelled in 1926 accused of forming faction, trotsky expelled from soviet union
Stalin push for 5 year plan saw right oppose, Stalin outmanoeuvred right by undermining Bukharin of Trotskyism, Stalin removed right supporters in Moscow branch, central committee voted for Stalin due to his previous work, Bukharin was removed for posts due to error of political judgment
by early 1929 Stalin in dominant position
who did stalin use to commit terror
Secret police (NKVD) watched, arrested and executed and ran labour camps
Party secretariat used to collect information on members and condemn threats as enemies
Stalin made use of purging of party to root out undesirable elements, Lenin did the same after the civil war but Lenin’s was non violent whereas Stalin’s was.
What was the Chistka and how did Stalin use to purge opponents
1932, speed of policy implementation was slow due to local party officials not liking them and ignoring them, Chistka removed these officials non violently
by 1935, around 20% of party removed
What did Stalin launch in 1930s
the great purge, enemies of state were accused of random crimes and either shot or sent to labour camp
why did Stalin launch great purge
paranoia, he once told Khrushchev he didn’t even trust himself.
but Stalin did receive criticism, party officials critical of unrealistic targets, 7th party congress saw Kirov see support when he criticised the fast pace of growth and outlined its failures.
what started great purge
murder of Kirov in 1934, was killed by fellow party member but murder strange as Kirov had o security and party member was trained to use gun by NKVD.
murder explained as led by Zinoviev and Kamenev who were arrested and sent to prion in 1935
what did Stalin launch in 1935-38 to remove political opponents
show trials, to remove left by accusing former leaders of anti-Soviet activities, they were filmed and shown as propaganda
show trials used to ensure other party members intimidated, trials shown on radio and film
confessions produced under torture
what where the 3 show trials
trial of 16, Zinoviev and Kamenev they confessed their crimes they didn’t commit
trial of 17, Karl Radek and Georgy Pyatakov, accused of working for Trotsky (reality probably criticised five year plan)
trial of 21, purge of the right Bukharin and Rykov accused of forming faction (trotsky-rightist bloc) which they confessed Tomsky committed suicide before trial
how did Stalin progress his purges
purges in red army 3/5 marshals purged, 35,000 officers shot or imprisoned due to criticisms of collectivisation ( to ensure power of army leaders cut and loyalty enforced)
purge of secret police, purges grew their influence so to ensure they didn’t pose threat to Stalin they were purged, Yezhov killed 3,000 of his own personal and was used as a scapegoat.
Locals were purged as party branches had quotas
how did Stalin’s terror differ to Lenin’s
scale
wasn’t particularly necessary as party had secured power.
was to impose grip and control on party unlike Lenin who did it to control people
Stalin worked on own agenda
how did Stalin control the party
he controlled the party, political institutions had no power.
politburo met only 9 times a year
power was in sub-groups outside the politburo (so Stalin had more control)
Stalin attended important meetings where h would walk around the room when others spoke to intimidate others not to disagree with Stalin
Why was the soviet constitution of 1936 a fraud
every citizen given right to vote, freedom of press religion and organisation and guarantee of employment (at time western countries still effected by great depression)
but only candidates from communist party could stand
