Theme 3 Secret Police 1 Lenin-Stalin Flashcards
How did Lenin establish the principle of the use of terror and secret police between 1917 and 1922?
Bolshevik Secret Police, the Cheka, was established in 1917 to root out counter-revolution and sabotage.
During the civil war, the Cheka had minimal interference from other bodies so they could deal quickly with enemies.
Intensified against opposing parties in Red Terror from 1921 to 22.
How did the reorganisation of the Cheka impact the role and power of the secret police
Following the civil war, Cheka was replaced with the GPU and then the OGPU in 1923.
- Developed independence of secret police from interference.
- Became body that exclusively took orders from the leadership.
Who did Stalin target during the period of 1928-39?
Purged those who held back the successful completion of his transformation with the 5YP.
Kulaks and other peasants who opposed collectivisation were particularly targeted.
Political rivals such as Bukharin and Zinoviev, Kamenev were denounced by the secret police.
How did the secret police use coercion and torture during this period?
- Victims taken in the middle of the nigh to disorientate them.
- Taken to hq in Moscow where they were tortured until they confessed.
- OGPU chief produced handbook of torture methods.
- High profile victims would be put on a show trial.
How did Yagoda’s time in power change the Gulag?
Yagoda became head of the secret police in 1934.
- Rapidly expanded the gulag into forced labour to support industrialisation.
- Secret police dealt with opponents rather than regular courts.
- Focused on economic achievements rather than ideological.
What were the ‘achievements’ of Yagoda’s Gulags?
White Sea Canal project:
- 180,000 labourers from Gulags dug canal by hand. Completed under budget in less than 2 years but at the cost of 10,000 prisoners’ lives. The canal was dug shallower which made it useless.
Why did Yagoda’s time in power end?
1936 - Yagoda himself falls victims to one of the inside party purges for his incompetence of guarding Kirov, who had been murdered.
Removed from office and later shot in 1938.
What is Yezhov most known for doing whilst in charge of the NKVD?
Nicknamed “Bloody dwarf”, Yezhov was known to be enthusiastic in torturing suspects. The secret police underwent their most bloody and excessive use of purges under his guidance.
How did Yezhov adapt the judicial processes within the USSR?
Process of arresting, trial and imprisonment sped up. Courts made from only 3 people (one being an NKVD member) dealt with cases.
In 1937, 231 prisoners were processed each day in one court.
How did the use of the Gulag change under Yezhov?
Believed gulags to be underused so numbers of inmates increased substatially. Camps given quotas to be met of prisoner execution and officers that executions were awarded with metals.
How was surveillance increased under Yezhov?
Survailance of the public was increased. Used plain-clothed officers to collect information on individuals. Large crack-down on anti-Soviet activity.
The NKVD even purged its own members.
What was Yezhov’s opinion of torture?
Yezhov enjoyed torturing suspects himself. He once attended a meeting where his shirt cuffs were covered in blood.
What happened to Yezhov?
Stalin grew to believe that, by 1938, the excessive use of terror was demoralising the nation. Stalin accused him of being irresponsible due to his drinking habits and excessive purging. Despite some truth behind the accusations, Yezhov used as scape goat.
What qualities did Beria have as the head of the secret police?
Beria helped with the removal of Yezhov.
He had good organisation skills and unsavoury characteristics (“balding, short and fleshy”, “snake like eyes”)
Had an uncle-like image.
What does Butler suggest about Beria?
Beria was an unpleasant character.
- described as “balding, short and fleshy”
- “snake like eyes”
- “prowl the streets on the lookout for young women… where Beria raped her”
