The Purges Flashcards
What did Stalin spend the rest of his rule doing?
Trying to consolidate and extend his authority
Which of Stalin’s personality traits played a role in the purges?
Stalin was a deeply suspicious and paranoid person
What did Stalin’s Georgian origins provide himself with?
A fierce sense of honour and revenge; getting even with adversaries was a way of life
What happened on the 1st of December 1934?
Kirov was shot dead at the Communist party headquarters
What suggests that the shooting of Kirov was planned out by Stalin?
As Kirov was a very popular figure in the party and if organised opposition to Stalin was to occur, they’d rally around him so Stalin knew he had to be removed
Within two hours of learning of the murder, what does Stalin do?
Stalin issues the ‘Decree against Terrorist attacks’
What was the result of the ‘Decree against Terrorist attacks’?
A purge of the party in an attempt to find his killers, three thousand suspects were round up
What happened to the suspects rounded up?
They were imprisoned or executed and tens of thousands of other people were deported from Leningrad
Who would replace the suspects from the post Kirov purges?
Stalin’s nominees
What was the result of the introduction of Stalins nominees? (2)
- No significant area of Soviet bureaucracy that Stalin didn’t control
- CSPU was entirely under his control
What was the result of the post-Kirov purges?
Of the 139 central committee members elected that year, all but 41 were executed.
What was the great purg made up of?
The purge of the party, the purge of the armed services and the purge of the people.
How did Stalin use the major show trials?
To remove any political rivals?
Which political rivals were removed?
Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin
What were those arrested from the party forced into?
Admitting their crimes even if they didn’t commit them
How did Stalin use the show trials?
To remove any threats within the party and to further his control
Before 1937 what had the military always been?
An independent force
As the military were an independent force what did it mean for Stalins control over Russia?
It would never be complete if he did not control the armed forces
What would Vyshinsky announce and what did it lead to?
There was a ‘gigantic conspiracy’ within the Red army, providing a reason for the purges which would ensue.
What happend swiflty after the Vyshinsky announcement?
8 leading generals within the army had been arrested and following their confession, they were all shot
Why did a purge of the army follow the arrest of the 8 leading generals?
To prevent a reaction
What happened to the war commisars during the purge of the armed forces?
All eleven war commissars were removed from office
What happened to the supreme military council during the purge of the armed forces?
91 of the 101 were arrested and 80 were executed
How many commissioned officers were either imprisoned or shot?
35’000
