The Nature of Stalin's dictatorship Flashcards
Who were the candidates for becoming leader of the USSR?
Trotsky - the most obvious candidate. He was brilliant, talented and had an outstanding ‘track record’ as leader of the Bolshevik Army
Stalin - expressed no strong views. He was a hardworking administrator and few expected him to win
Why did Stalin succeed in becoming the leader of the USSR?
He took on many important jobs. E.g editor of the party newspaper and Secretary General of the Party. This allowed him to build up a power base with a network of people he could trust
He appeared as Chief Mourner at Lenin’s funeral while Trotsky was tricked into missing it
Trotsky was disliked by many of the other party members. He was outspoken, arrogant and unpopular.
Trotsky did not bother campaigning so he did not have any support outside of the Red Army
Trotsky scared people with his talks of spreading world revolution. They believed he wanted to start another war.
How did Stalin get rid of his opposition?
To get rid of Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky - Stalin allied himself with the right wing of the party (Bukharin and Rykov), who supported the NEP.
Once he got rid of the left wing, he got rid of Bukharin and Rykov - announced his plans for the collectivisation of agriculture
Stalin emerged as the sole ruler of the Soviet Union
What were the reason for the Purges of the 1930s?
Stalin’s ally Sergei Kirov was murdered
Stalin saw this as evidence of conspiracy and began a series of political purges
What were the key features of the Purges?
The Communist Party members fell from 3.5 million in 1934 to 2 million in 1935
Leading party members such as Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin were tortured and their families threatened. Then at the show arias they ‘confessed’ and were murdered
Many less important members were arrested and executed or sent to labour camps (gulags)
Around 25,000 army officers were killed
What were the Show Trials?
Trials in which ‘Old Bolsheviks’ such as Kamenev and Zinoviev were put in view of the whole world
They were forced to confess to whole range of crimes
The confessions were important as they showed Stalin was right to carry out the purges
What were the effects of the Show Trials?
New secret police (NKVD) ruled the population with terror
Over 8 million people were killed or sent to labour camps
Stalin’s position was secure
As older figures were eliminated. Stalin was able to promote younger men who owed their success to him making them completely loyal
Stalin had weakened the USSR
Many of those who were killed were skilled or educated. This slowed down industrial progress.
Army was weakened and suffered badly against the Germans
What was the Cult of Personality/Stalin?
Propaganda was used to build a hero-worship of Stalin
It described Stalin as the ‘wisest man of the twentieth century’. It protected him from further challenges
Soviet people were flooded with portraits, photographs and statues of Stalin. Poets and playwrights praised him. Regular processions and rallies were held in his honour
How did Stalin use propaganda in education?
Children were taught that Stalin was the ‘Great Leader’
Teachings of Communist Theology were compulsory in schools
Education focused on technical and scientific skills needed by workers involved in Five-Year Plans
What was Collectivisation?
It was the first Five-Year Plan.
It was an attempt to feed the growing population of industrial workers
It was an attempt to begin exporting any surpluses to raise cash for investment
It was also a way of eliminating the Kulaks. They were a threat because they owed no allegiance to him.
What were the key features of Collectivisation?
Peasants had to give up their lands and join other families on large farms
New farms were supplied by the state with seeds, tools, tractors and other machinery
Most of the produce went to the Government
What were effects of Collectivisation?
A huge propaganda campaign was launched to convince peasants to modernise
Kulaks were labelled opponents and hunted down by the secret police. They were killed or sent to gulags.
Much of the countryside was devastated by the struggles between Stalin’s secret police and the kulaks
Food production fell. There was famine in Ukraine and at the same time food was being exported.
