Totalitarian State In The 30s? Flashcards
What the Ryutin Affair in 1932?
Ryutin releases a 200 page document condemning Stalin and demanding his removal as leader. Stalin tries to get him executed, but Politburo stops him. This showed Stalin did not have control of the party.
Who was Kirov and why was he a threat to Stalin?
He was the Chairman of the Leningrad soviet and at the ‘Congress of Victors’ he was promoted to the same rank as Stalin and got the same length of standing ovations. He was ‘murdered’ in 1934, kicking off the Purges.
Why was Kirov’s ‘murder’ important for starting the Purges?
Stalin painted his murder as a conspiracy against the government and as an excuse to purge the party of opponents.
Who was killed in the first show trial?
Kamenev and Zinoviev
Who was killed in the third show trial?
Bukharin, Yagoda, and Rykov
How did Stalin try but fail to strengthen his position by purging the Army?
He unnecessarily executed half of the officers and executed war heroes and experienced generals due to paranoia of armed uprising.
What were the successes of the Purges?
All of Stalin’s opponents were destroyed. No one could oppose him.
What were the costs of the Purges?
1 million executed. The army was decimated. Education suffered from loss of teachers. Industry suffered from loss of workforce and specialists, could not finish third five year plan.
What opposition was there to Stalin in the 1930s?
Many people opposed collectivisation and believed it was badly implemented, including his wife who committed suicide about it.
There was doubt of Stalin as a leader in the party and many wanted to replace him. There was also the threat from Nazi Germany. (He did nazi that coming!)
