The Great Purges 1936-38: Terror

Question 1

Why did Volkogonov think the purge of 1936-38 was necessary?

Answer 1

-S driven by powerful need to win + overtake everyone
-Soviet Union incl. old middle classes, former officers, members of old pre-17 pol parties, saboteurs + spies

Question 2

What was the show trial of August 1936?

Answer 2

-involved Z, K + 14 others
-to gain confessions, convictions + prove existence of pol conspiracies

Question 3

What was the outcome of the show trial?

Answer 3

-all 16 guilty of Trotsky inspired plot murder Stalin
-executed with 160 accomplices

Question 4

What was the show trial of Jan 1937?

Answer 4

-of 17 prominent communists was staged
-incl. radek + accused of plotting with exiled Trotsky

Question 5

What was the outcome?

Answer 5

-13 sentenced to death
-Yezhov accused Bukharin knowing about conspiracy but refused to confess + expelled + arrested

Question 6

What harkened may/june 1937?

Answer 6

-8 senior military commandments incl Mikhail a hero of civil war
-arrested tortured + made sign false confessions - convicted of espionage

Question 7

What was the further purge of military personnel?

Answer 7

-of 767 high command - 512 executed, 29 died in prison, 13 suicide + 59 in jail
-military intelligence also execute or imprisoned

Question 8

What was the third and largest major political show trial?

Answer 8

-March 1938 when 21 B’viks interrogated

Question 9

What was the outcome?

Answer 9

-bukharin, rykov + Yagodha sentenced be shot
- accused conspiring with ‘T-Z terrorist organisation’ to assassinate leaders + sabotage