Terror Complete Flashcards
Lenin’s legacy of terror?
Established Cheka in December 1917
‘Sharp sword of revolution’
1922- Establishment of OGPU- supervised network of labour camps
How did Stalin initially extend terror? - not physical
He expelled Trotsky from the party in 1929 and Bukharin was removed from the politburo
1930– expelled some of his former supporters after criticising the excesses of collectivisation
Define State Terror?
A means to control the population and remove opposition through control and fear
What was the Shakhty trial?
In 1928 managers and workers of the Shakhty coal mine questioned the pace of industrialisation and were then accused of counter revolutionary activity. They were given a public show trial in which they were forced to confess- 5 executed and others received long prison sentences
Who was Ryutin?
Former Moscow Party secretary and a ‘rightist’ who called for the removal of Stalin from the party. He wrote a 200 page document entitled Stalin and the crisis of the Proletariat dictatorship.
Outcome for Ryutin?
Stalin wanted him executed but was over-ruled by Kirov and Ryutin was imprisoned for 10 years
Who else suffered in the Ryutin plot?
Zinoviev and Kamenev as they failed to report on this document
By 1934 1/5 of party had been branded Ryutinites and were expelled
When was NKVD established?
1934
Who were the leaders of the NKVD?
Yagoda, Yezhov and Beria
Background of Yagoda?
Joined Cheka at end of Civil War
Responsible for preparing the first major show trial in 1936
When did Kirov oppose Stalin?
17th Party Congress- he spoke out against maintaining such a fast pace of industrialisation- he supported the abolishment of forcible grain seizures and an increase in workers rations
He received a standing ovation
Impact of 17th party congress?
There was no longer the title of General Secretary instead Stalin and Kirov along with two others were given the title ‘ Secretary of Equal Rank’
Opportunity to share blame for eco crisis but a reduction of Stalin’s power
When was Kirov murdered?
December 1934
Who did Stalin blame for the murder?
Trotsky- said it was his attempt to overthrow the party
What was published straight after Kirov’s death?
A decree allowing Yagoda- Head of NKVD- power to arrest and execute anyone found guilty of terrorist plotting
100 party members were shot and thousands more arrested and sent to prison camps
How was death penalty extended?
June 1935 applied to anyone of subversive activity
Nature of Kirov murder?
As he approached his office in the Leningrad Headquarters he was shot in the neck by Nikolayev- whose wife was possibly having an affair with Kirov
Nikolayev claimed NKVD knew about murder- some NKVD men were mysteriously killed in a car accident and others imprisoned for failing to protect Kirov- lenient treatment
Downfall of Yagoda?
Pleaded guilty in 1938 to allowing Nikolayev to reach Kirov however since Yagoda was on trial himself- failed to uncover the conspiracy of Z and K and had failed to secure confessions of B and R who S wanted to implicate- he may not have been telling the truth
Impact of assasination?
Signal for regime to tighten its hold over the country and begin widespread purges
What was a show trial?
Public trial to which foreign journalists were invited and their function was to prove that the USSR and Stalin were facing opposition from enemies of the state- therefore the punishment they faced was justified
Reality definition of show trial?
A way in which Stalin could remove his enemies- past, present or future- maintain authority- retain popularity
How were show trials staged?
The verdict was never in doubt and the purpose was to demonstrate the accused’s guilt preferbly with a public admission of betraying the revolution and people
What was the NKVD role in show trial?
They were to try extract a signed confession from the accused in the month leading up to the trial
Forms of interrogation used by NKVD?
Subtle pressure and promises, starvation, physical and mental torture and threats to the defendant and his family
New punishment law April 1935?
Children over the age of 12 were to be subject to the same punishments as adults including the death penality
When was first major show trial?
August 1936 19th-24th
What was the first show trial?
Kamenev and Zinoviev were to publicy be trialled for propagandist purposes
Both were accused of an alliance with Trotsky, stirring up discontent and plotting to kill Stalin
14 others were accused along side them
Downfall of Tomsky?
Was under investigation for complicity with Zinoviev, half way through Z show trial S visited Tomsky with a bottle of wine and Tomsky ordered S to leave and soon after shot himself
Outcome of first show trial?
Both Z and K confessed
Vishinsky - the prosecutor- closed his speech with ‘I demand that these mad dogs be shot, every last one of them’
All defendants were sentenced to death, including Trotsky in absentia
Other significant event in year of 1936?
Stalin Constitution drafted by B was introduced- it was to celebrate the achievement of socialism- Stalin claimed his constitution was the ‘most democratic in the world’
What did the constitution promise?
Local autonomy to ethnic groups and support for national cultures and languages
4 years elections with everyone over 18 being given the right to vote including former people- bourgeois elites- who had previously been denied the right to vote
Main intention of constitution?
Impress foreigners- the promises were often ignored
Stalin did not allow any Union-republic to leave the union
