Theme 3 Flashcards
when was the Decree on Press introduced and what did it entail
Nov 1917-gave gov emergency powers to close any newspapers that supported counter-revolutionaries
when was the Petrograd Telegraph agency nationalised
Nov 1917
when was the Revolutionary Tribunal of the Press est and what did it do
Jan 1918- gave power to censor press and punish editors/ journalists who committed crimes against the people
by 1921 how many newspapers had been shut down
2000
what was the name o the newspaper of the CP
Pravda
describe the cult of Lenin
disapproved by Lenin himself
emerged early on in the regime
after assassination attempt depicted in essentially religious terms with emphasis on his willingness to sacrifice his life for the people
modern day christ
in 1919 and 1920 a new narrative merged with him being a man of the people and a man who refused luxury
famous cartoon of Lenin published by Gustav Klutzes
A spectre is haunting Europe- the spectre of Communism
When was Glavlit introduced, who led it and what did it entail
1922
Felix Dzerzhinsky
GPU policed every publication in the Soviet Union
new prof censors employed
all books investigated
GPU compiled a list of banned books
under Stalin how did censorship tighten
work of opponents purged from libraries
Lenin’s work edited to remove compliments of opponents
Soviet history rewritten
from 1928 Glavlit controlled economic data
describe Stalin’s personality cult
propaganda centralised around leader
portrayed as semi-divine figure
what was the problem with magazines publishing letters from the public
often exposed flaws of the regime such as alcoholism, domestic violence and inequalities
how did K respond to criticism of the regime
launched a campaign criticising the hypocrisy of en and lac of devotion to communism
how did TV play a role in propaganda
vital in the space race- 1961 millions of viewers watched celebration of Yuri Gagarin’s space flight
1961 also saw the first national broadcast of the nations first television news show, which helped spread the idea of model workers to try and increase productivity
how did film and television culture change under B
traditional elements introduced
film makers focused on luxury lives, spurring th desire for consumer goods
control of footage of war in Afghanistan
B speeches could be broadcasted however backfired in the 1970s where a physically and mentally emancipated leader was shown
how did media change under B
Soviet leaders lost control of print media
KGB continued to police political publications especially by dissidents
Western magazines became increasingly available in Soviet cities as part of second economy
describe Stalins’s cult of personality
saved a political purpose by legitimising Stalins claim to power
created a figure of trust that also meant failure were blamed on others
The Myth of Two Leaders
infallible and celebrated figure nicknamed the vozhd (no legal significance
From WW2 focus changed to war leader ‘Generalissimo’
What happened to cults of personality under K
criticised Stalin’s personality cult
revived cult of Lenin
purpose was to move away from Stalinism
by 1958 K crated a cult of his own
depicted as as disciple of Lenin, responsible for successes like Space Race, hero of WW2, great reformer
became problematic in 1960s by associating so strongly to Virgin Land Schemes which was a huge failure and The Corn campaign
Describe B cult of personality
shadow of Stalin’s
adopted for pragmatic reasons: stability and consolidation of power
great Leninist, military hero, dedicated to ensuring world peace (detente with US)
true man of the people
however was counterproductive as was mocked for claims of greatness
cult inspired cynicism rather than loyalty or respect
what did Marx describe religion as
‘opium of the masses’
Why did Lenin oppose religion
Russian Orthodox Church was ally of the Tsar
extremely rich institution
religion stood for values that contradicted communist ones
religious groups were independent of CP so could organise opposition
examples of terror used against Church under Lenin
Nov 1917 Archbishop Ivan Kochurov was murdered outside Petrograd
Jan 1918 Metropolitan Vladimir was tortured and shot in Kiev
what was permitted due to the Politburo issuing a secret order to the Cheka in Nov 1918
mass execution of priests
what was the attitude towards other religions under Lenin
less antagonistic towards Muslims as no direct link between Tsar and Islam
how did policy towards religion change after the Civil War
mass executions and violence stopped, more subtle techniques used
what was the Living Church
claimed to be reformed version of Orthodox Church, deposed Patriarch Tikhon and introduced a new decentralised structure
this policy of splitting the Church was more successful but did not diminish Church growth, nor faith saints
in 1920s campaigns against Islam began, what did they entail
believed Islam encouraged crimes based on custom and had influence in Central Asia which if destroyed could extend power of CP
closed mosques
discouraged pilgrimages
attacked rhinos
anti-islamic museums
what was Stalin’s attitude to religion
pragmatic
during CV shut down churches as they were opposing his policies
NKVD attacked local priests in Central Asian republics where Islam was influential however it continued to flourish especially in Kazakhstan
during WW2 made alliance with the Church
as patriotism grew people looked towards the church as it was linked to Russian identity, soldiers found comfort in God
leader of Russian Orthodox Church proclaimed Stalin as God’s Chosen Leader
anti-religious propaganda ceased
414 churches reopened near end of war
What were K attitudes towards religion
more hardline than Stalin
church attendance was form of resistance especially as Protestant churches claimed a prophesy the Soviet regime would end within the generation
Churches that had been reopened were shut down
anti-religious propaganda reintroduced
anti-religious magazines: Science and Religion published in 60s
Orthodox convents placed under surveillance
campaigns against nuns
80% of protestants were women fear of these beliefs being passed on to children
KGB closed down 3000 Churches between 1958 and 1964
women organised campaigns to protect religious freedoms
led birth to new type of dissident
what was B attitude towards religion
advocated the philosophy of atheism rather than attacking religion
1968 opened institute for Scientific Atheism
B foreign policy seeking allis I Middle East changed his attitude towards ISlam ‘progressive, anti colonial and revoatuiooanry creed’
est Spiritual Board of Muslims of Central Asia and Kazhakstan to allow leaders in different countries limited contact
did not reduce the number of people profession religious with
when was the Cheka est who was its leader and who were the targets
Dec 1917
Felix Dzerzhinsky
counter-revolutionaries
give the timeline of the secrete police
Cheka 1917-22
GPU 1922
OGPU 1922-34
NKVD 1934-41
NKGB 1941-46
MGB 1946-54
KGB 1954-91
what was the role of the Cheka between 1917 and 1921
during CW was to protect communist rule in areas held by Communists
Cheka along with Red Army closed down the Constituent Assembly in Jan 1918
Cheka did not force laws nor were they bound by them
acted arbitrarily
helped Red Army requisition grain from peasants as part of WC
closed down and tortured opposition newspapers
used extreme violence: crucification of priests
supported Red Army attack of Krondstradt Naval base
s
When did the Red Terror end
after the CW, violence still used to attack political opponents but on a much smaller scale
What was the role of the GPU
focus on surveillance an deportations
public opinion under scrutiny, deportation of intellectuals
could intercept post
GPU reported directly to Central Committee
what political trial occurred under Lenin and the GPU and when
trial of Socialist Revolutionaries
1922
all defendants sentenced to death
who were considered class enemies by the GPU
women dressed in Western style
rich Nepmen
young people who danced to jazz
priests
