stalin GOVERNMENT

Question 1

when did Stalin introduce the new democratic constitution?

Answer 1

1936

Question 2

when were the show trials of Kamenev and Zinoviev?

Answer 2

1935

Question 3

when did Stalin die?

Answer 3

1953

Question 4

when was Kirov assassinated and what did it lead to?

Answer 4

1934 - the purges

Question 5

what posts did Stalin hold from 1917-1919?

Answer 5

‘People’s commissar of nationalities’, Liaison officer between the Ogburo and Politburo and ‘Head of the Workers and Peasants inspectorate’

Question 6

what class developed under Stalin and when?

Answer 6

the Nomenklatura - in the 1930’s

Question 7

what position was Stalin appointed to by Lenin in 1922?

Answer 7

general secretary of the central committee

Question 8

what was Stalins nickname as General Secretary?

Answer 8

‘The Grey Blur’

Question 9

when was the power struggle and who was involved?

Answer 9

1924-28 - Stalin, Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky

Question 10

what were Stalin’s strengths?

Answer 10

-he was general secretary which allowed him to appoint officials who supported him and remove known supporters of Trotsky
-he dominated new members of the party
-he built up an image of himself in the media as someone who was especially close to Lenin and was therefore god natural successor
-he cleverly played off his rivals
-he promoted ‘socialism in one country’ which won popular support within the party

Question 11

what was the Great purges?

Answer 11

the Great purge was at its peak from 1935-38 leading to the death and imprisonment of millions of soviet people. using the NKVD Stalin purged anyone who held up, criticised or opposed his plans for collectivisation of agriculture and industrialisation.

Question 12

what were Trotsky’s weaknesses?

Answer 12

-he was seen as an outsider due to originally being a Menshevik
-he made tactical mistakes allowing himself to be outmanoeuvred by Stalin. such as resigning as commander of the Red army
-Trotsky promoted permanent revolution whereas most Russians wasted socialism in one country

Question 13

what was the Triumvarite?

Answer 13

when Stalin, Kamenev and Zinoviev formed and alliance against Trotsky

Question 14

who were Stalin’s political opponents?

Answer 14

• rivals within the CPSU
• sabotagers and wreakers
• kulaks/ NEP men
• Dissidents - Solzhenitsyn