Stalinism in Wartime Flashcards
What years was the Great Patriotic War?
1941-45
What was operation Barbarossa?
The Three Pronged attack launched on Russia by Germany.
Where were the Germans focusing their efforts in The Great Patriotic War by 1942?
On the Caucasus Oil Fields.
What was Stalin’s first wartime order?
That the German air force be destroyed and the invading forces annihilated.
Who was left in charge of public announcements during the war?
Vyacheslav Molotov
In his speeches, what did Stalin encourage people to fight for?
Russia itself rather than socialism.
Why did Stalin demote the War Veteran, Georgi Zhukov?
He threatened his own authority.
What efforts did Georgi Zhukov make during the war?
He defended Moscow & led the Soviet troops to Berlin, April 1945.
What sign of opposition was there during the German invasion?
Some ethnic minorities/people living in poverty welcomed the German troops.
When did Stalin issue order 227: ‘not one step backwards?’
July 1942
What was allowed under the issue, ‘not one step backwards?’
Any soldier who fell behind or tried to retreat was to be shot on sight.
How many soldiers were sentenced to death under the ‘not one step backwards,’ issue?
150,000
When did Stalin dissolve the Volga German autonomous republic?
August 1941
After 1941, what happened to the people of the Volga German autonomous republic?
They were sent to the East.
How many people were forced to uproot in Stalin’s actions to prevent political disintegration?
1.5 million
How many new members joined the Communist Party during the war?
3.6 million
What percentage of the Army were party members by 1945?
25%
How did Russia’s success in the war aid the party?
Stalin could credit and advocate the Socialist state.
How did Stalin fight the German’s success in seizing Russian farm land and industry?
1523 factories were transplanted to the East.
When did the transplanting of Soviet factories take place?
between July & November 1941
What percentage of National Expenditure was taken up by the military at the end of 1942?
57%
What percentage of entire production was given to munitions by 1942?
76%
How many new industrial enterprises were established during the war?
3500
How much military equipment was sent to Russia from the West?
17.5 million tons
What were the Russian people told about foreign aid during the war?
That their efforts were ignored by the west.
How much aid was provided by the USA under the Land-Lease scheme of 1941?
11 billion dollars.
How many people signed up to the Russian Army in Moscow after the announcement of the invasion?
120,000
How were working conditions affected by the war?
all undrafted workers were required to partake in war-work,
pentioners were encouraged to return to work,
students were required to undertake part-time work,
overtime became obligatory, holidays were suspended.
The working day became 12 hours.
How many hours was the average working week during the war?
70-77 hours
How were factories governed?
under martial law, discipline was tightened.
How was unauthorised absence from work punishable?
By death.
How was discipline in the army extended?
It was an offence to be captured; whilst in captivity, a soldiers family’s rations would be confiscated.
How many deaths during the war were a result of starvation?
25 million
What percentage of munition was provided by the Gulag slave labour?
15%
What was the death rate in the Gulag Labour Camps by 1942?
25%
Why were priests released from the Gulags during the war?
Stalin wanted to use faith to lift people’s spirits.
How did Stalin fight against the falling population during the war?
He introduced tax for those with fewer than two children, restrictions on divorce, abortion was forbidden, the right to inherit family property was re-established etc.
How many partisans were there by 1943?
300,000
How did the partisans operate?
Using Guerilla Warfare to sabotage enemy operations.
How did the Nazis react to the partisan activity?
Many innocent villagers were massacred in response.
How did Stalin’s reputation soar during wartime?
He became a national superhero.
How many civilian deaths were there during the war?
19 million
How many soldiers died during the war?
9 million
How many Kolkhozes were wasted during the war?
100,000
