The great purge

Question 1

Kirov’s murder

Who was Sergie Kirov and why would stalin dislike him?
What did Stalin use Kirov’s death to do?

Answer 1

Sergie Kirov (head of party in leningrad) had defended a man that critised stalin’s policies. Kirov argued against stalins economic policy making Kirov popular.

Kirov was murederd in December 1934, Stalin used this to claim the part was under attack and used this fear to hunt down his enemies.

Question 2

Cuases of the purge

Who did Stalin want to remove?
What excuse did Kirov’s murder give Stalin?
What problems did Satlin have with other senior officials?

Answer 2

Stalin wanted to remove Sergie Kirov who had outvoted him by 298 votes.

Kirovs murder gave Stalin proof of an attack and gave him the excuse to eliminiate any opposition under the pretence of treason.

Senior figures weer aware of the problems of Stalin’s industrial and agricultural policies (undermining him). Stalin could blame others for any problems.

Question 3

What were the purges?

When did the public show trials take place?
Who were persecuted in the 1937 secret trials and why?
Who were targetted in the purges?
How long did the great purge last?

Answer 3

Public trials against Trotsky, Zinoviev and Bukharin in 1937. Public demonstrations.

Secret trials - Red army leaders tried in 1937 for plotting agaisnt the government.

Who were targetted:
* Junior arm officers (37,000. Shot or labour camp)
* Political opposition
* All admirals of the Navy (shot)
* Army’s senior officers

They lasted 1928-40, with the hieght of the purges being 1937

Question 4

Consquences of the purges

Answer 4

Got rid of anyone with power to contradict or oppose Stalin. Spread fear of opposing Stalin or communist rule.

Question 5

Show trials

Who organised the trial of the 16 and trial of the 17?
Who were the trial of the 17 against?
Who organised the trial of the 21 and who did it target?

Answer 5

Show trials:
- Trial of 16 organised by Yagoda
- Trial of the 17 organised by Yagoda targetted Zinoniev and Kamenev
- Trial of the 21 organised by Beria, targetted Bukharin and former head of secret police (Yagoda)

Question 6

Victims of the purge

When, what reason what happened to them:
* Yezhov
* An estimated 24 mil people
* Trotsky

Answer 6

An estimated 24 million people:
* 1929-39
* Treason, being Kulaks, having bourgeois views ect.
* Sent to labour camps where around 13 million died.

Yezhov, head of NKVD
* 1939
* treason - being british spy
* shot

Trotsky
* 1940
* Long time critic of Stalin
* Killed in his home in Mexico city