Treatment of Nationalities under the Communists

Question 1

9 points, L, S, K

What degree of political autonomy was Poland given?

Answer 1

Lenin
* Poland not given independence under Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918.
* Given indpendence after wining Russo-Polish war in 1920. They defeated the Red Army outside Warsaw.

Stalin
* Rising tensions in Europe led Stalin to sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939, dividing Poland between Germany and Russia.
* In 1942 the Polish Worker’s party (PPR) emerged under the leadership of Polish communist Wladyslaw Gomulka, who called national unity and opposed Nazi Occupation.
* In 1944 USSR ocupied Poland during thier advance against Nazi forces.
* Yalta and Potsdam conferences paved the way for USSR to implement Soviet style government in Poland. By 1948 PPR was the only party that could be voted for, establishing a 1-party state.
* In 1952 a Soviet style Constitution was imposed and Poland was renamed the People’s Republic of Poland, under the close supervision of the USSR.

Khrushchev
* Secret speech led to a demand for Stalinist politicians in Poland to stand down, as well as stike action by the workers.
* Gomulka was released from prison and Poland was given more autonomy from Soviet control.

Question 2

5 points, S, K

What social and cultural freedoms was Poland given?

Answer 2

Stalin
* Catholic Church banned.
* Stalinist economic reforms imposed; e.g. collective farms (esp. after WWII)

Khrushchev
* Easing of control after Gomulka re-instated.
* Catholic Church allowed to teach religeon in schools.
* Peasants allowed to leave collectives and start independent holdings.

Question 3

6 points, S, K

What extent of repression was there in Poland?

Answer 3

Stalin
* Katyn massacre - 22,000 remains of Poles discovered in 1943, they had been executed by Soviet Secret Police in 1939-40.
* Those who questioned move away from democracy, e.g. churches or trade unions, were arrested.
* 30,000 workers who went on strikes sent to Polish concentration camps.
* 390,000 Poles sent to Russian gulags.
* Gomulka imprisoned for criticising Stalin’s tactics.

Khrushchev
* Went for a more diplomatic approach, released Gomulka.

Question 4

5 points, L, S, K

What degree of political autonomy was Ukraine given?

Answer 4

Lenin
* Granted independence by Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, but reconquered by 1921 and made a constituent part of the USSR in 1922.
* Ukrainian legislation merely echoed Russia’s, and any of Russia’s legislative acts were automatically enforced in Ukraine.

Stalin
* Under 1936 constitution Ukraine was given the right to leave the USSR, but this was just a facade and in reality Stalin maintainted a tight grip on the region.

Khrushchev
* Ukrainian SSR granted new powers in administrative, judicial and economic matters.
* Also gained right to pass its own laws as long as they were consistent with Union Legislation and were called for by Union organs.

Question 5

6 points, L, S, K

What social and cultural freedoms was Ukraine given?

Answer 5

Lenin
* To win over Ukriane during civil war, Lenin allowed some concessions including use of Ukrainian language.

Stalin
* Pursued a campaign of “nationalist deviation”, which became an attack on Ukrainian language and education.
* In 1946 he arranged for the liquidation of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
* In 1951 a campaign was launched against Ukrainian poet Volodymyr Sosiura for his poem “Love Ukraine” as it was condemned as a manifestation of Ukrainian nationalism.

Khrushchev
* In 1958 law was passed removing the provision stating Ukrainian children were to be educated in their native language.
* “The sooner we all speak Russian, the more quickly we shall build communism.” - Khrushchev

Question 6

6 points, S, K

What extent of repression was there in Ukraine?

Answer 6

Stalin
* Collectivisation vehemently opposed, led to a number of revolts during 1929-30.
* In 1930, Stalin instituted a programme of food requisitioning which triggered a famine in Ukraine 1932-3. It has been suggested that Stalin engineered this famine to attack Ukrainian nationalism.
* 7 million Ukrainians died.
* After Soviet victory in WWII 570,000 Ukrainians sent to gulags or executed for being “Nazi sympathisers”.

Khrushchev
* During cultural thaw which occured as a result of de-Stalinisation, writers who were punished under Stalin were praised.
* Some banned literary works were republished, and new periodicals began to appear, including one devoted to Ukrainian history - the first since the 1930s.

Question 7

5 points, L, S

What degree of political autonomy was Finland given?

Answer 7

Lenin
* Given independence under Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
* Had its inependence formally recognised by Treaty of Tatu in 1920.

Stalin
* In 1939 Finland refused a request from Stalin to set up military bases, which led to the Winter War being fought between them (Nov 1939 to Mar 1940). Helsinki was bombed, and Finland ended up ceding some territory to the USSR.
* They signed a Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance (1948).
* Finland remained neutral, independent and largely left alone by USSR for the rest of the period.

Question 8

4 points, L, S

What degree of political autonomy were the Baltic States given?

Answer 8

Lenin
* Given independence under Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
* Had their independence recognised under Treaty of Tatu (1920).

Stalin
* Annexed by USSR in 1939, with ethnic Russians being given key positions in local government and overall tight control from Moscow.
* Fully subsumed into the USSR as part of Potsdam agreements in 1945.

Question 9

3 points, S, K

What social and cultural freedoms were the Baltic States given?

Answer 9

Stalin
* Russian language became compulsary in schools.
* Freedom of expression restricted throughout population.

Khrushchev
* Continued policy of Russian language to achieve goal of creating unified USSR.

Question 10

2 points, S, K

What extent of repression was there in the Balitc States?

Answer 10

Stalin
* Used severe measures to maintain order, such as deportations - 500,000 deported to places like Kazakhstan or Siberia. Fear that there were people in the Baltics collaborating with the Nazis.

Khrushchev
* Allowed deported people to return home.

Question 11

3 points, L, S

What degree of policital autonomy were the Caucuses given?

Answer 11

Lenin
* Retaken by Red Army in 1921.
* Became constituent member of the USSR in 1922 as a unified ‘Transcaucasia’.

Stalin
* 1936 constitution allowed Georgia full rights as a republic, but this was a facade and in reality it was fully controlled by the USSR.

Question 12

5 points, L, S, K

What cultural and social freedoms were the Caucuses given?

Answer 12

Lenin
* Allowed cultural freedom as long as the people remained loyal to the USSR.
* Allowed muslims religeous freedom.

Stalin
* During ‘The Great Purge’ thousands of muslim religeous leaders were arrested and executed.
* Between 1929-41 most of the region’s Mosques were shut down.

Khrushchev
* Intensified Muslims’ re-education to eradicate religeon within the USSR.

Question 13

5 points, L, S, k

What extent of repression was there in the Caucuses?

Answer 13

Lenin
* Uprising by nationalists in Armenia in 1921 led to brutal repession including murder of 50 unarmed prisoners.
* Uprising in Georgia 1924 met with brutal repression by Cheka and Red army, with mass killings of thousands of civilians.

Stalin
* Brutal repression - between 1937 and 1938 14,000 were shot.
* Attempted revolt during WWII bwtween 1941-44 led to mass deportations carried out by NKVD under Beria. 496,000 Chechans and Ingush were deported, at least a quarter died.

Khrushchev
* Allowed deported Chechans to return, although they struggled with unemployment and clashes with ethnic Russians.

Question 14

5 points, L, S, K

What degree of political autonomy were the Jews given?

Answer 14

Lenin
* October revolution formally abolished Pale settlement and allowed Jews to live anywhere in USSR.

Stalin
* Jewish autonomous region was established in the Soviet Far East in 1934.
* In 1939 the Soviet Union annexed parts of Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, which had a high Jewish population.
* By 1939 the Jewish population of the USSR was about 3.2. million.

Khrushchev
* Rejected policy of Jews being separated from rest of population and pushed a policy of forced intergration.

Question 15

5 points, L, S, K

What cultural and social freedoms were the Jews given?

Answer 15

Lenin
* Increased educational and employment opportunities for the Jews.
* Efforts were made to provide opportunities for Jewish argicultural settlements in Crimea in the 1920s.

Stalin
* Ban placed on Jewish religion and Jewish schools. Societies and publications were forbidden.
* From 1948-53 Soviet Jews saw increasing restrictions on their culture.

Khrushchev
* Forbade the practice of Judaism within the USSR.

Question 16

2 points, L

What degree of political autonomy was there in Central Asia?

Answer 16

Lenin
* In the aftermath of the February Revolution, Muslim nationalists formed Kokand Autonomous Government in Turkmenistan.
* 1918 RSFSR constitution sought to bring region back under Bolshevik control, and it eventually turned into a number of minor ASSRs, each with Soviet executive committees and conformity with Soviet Law enforced.

Question 17

6 points, L, S, K

What social and cultural freedoms was Central Asia given?

Answer 17

Lenin
* Condemnation of Muslim repression suffered by the Tsars and guarantee that Muslim rights would be protected.

Stalin
* Mosques began to be closed or turned into warehouses.
* Religeous leaders were persecuted.
* Religeous schools were closed down.

Khrushchev
* Intensified re-education of Muslism with goal of eradicating religeon from USSR.
* During 1950s and 1960s Soviet citizens urged to settle in “Virgin Lands” of Kazakhstan. Large agricultural projects and increasing population of non-Kazakhs destroyed nomadic lifestyle of natives.

Question 18

What extent of repression was there in Central Asia?

Answer 18

Lenin
* Bolsheviks launched assault of Kokand in Feb 1918 and carried out of massacre of up to 25,000 people.
* Led nationalists to wage a guerilla war. By 1923 the Red Army’s extensive campaigns of violence had weakened opposition.

Stalin
* Used as a dumping ground for other parts of USSR that needed punishing.
* E.g. Operation Lentin, where thousands of Crimean Tartars who were accused of collaborating with Germany were deported to South Kazakhstan in 1945, where many died.

Khrushchev
* Issued a decree ‘on rehabilitation of deported peoples’ which allowed many groups deported to Central Asia to return home.
* Some, like the Volga Germans, were excluded and had to stay.

Question 19

10 points, L, S, K

What degree of political autonomy was there in Eastern Asia?

Answer 19

Lenin
* Tanu Tuva (northern Mongolia) became a “people’s republic” in 1921.
* In 1921, Sinkiang provence came under Soviet influence and partial occupation (until 1949).
* USSR provided (the then non-communist) China with financial aid after WWI - seen as only way to maintain it.

Stalin
* Mongolia captured by USSR in 1945 but the following year became again independent, but still under Soviet influence.
* Tanu Tuva annexed into USSR in 1944.
* People’s Republic of China (communist China) created in 1949.
* USSR liberated Manchuria from Japanese during WWII and handed it back to the PRC. However, they kept jurisdiction of Port Arthur until death of Stalin in 1953.
* Sinkiang Provence also returned to China.
* Korea divided into two after 1945, North under control of the USSR and the South under control of the USA.

Khrushchev
* Relations deteriorated between Khrushchev and Mao due to policy of de-Stalinisation. By 1960s border disputes were emerging.

Question 20

2 points, S

What social and cultural freedoms was Eastern Asia given?

Answer 20

Stalin
* Nov 1949 Mao and Stalin signed a Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance - good relations until Stalin’s death.
* Mao modelled his style of government on Stalin’s and there was a close association between the two of them.

Question 21

4 points, S, K

What degree of political autonomy was Germany given?

Satellite State

Answer 21

Stalin
* Eastern region of Germany under Soviet occupation following WWII.
* GDR (East Germany established Oct 1949 under Walter Ulbricht after the establishment of West Germany in sprince 1949.

Khrushchev
* Ulbricht along with the Soviets maintained a strong Soviet military presence in Germany during Khrushchev’s premiership.
* Khrushchev keen to stop the “brain drain”. In august 1961 Berlin wall was put up. There was also a boarder wall between West and East Germany.

Question 22

1 point, K

What extent of repression was there in Germany?

Satellite State

Answer 22

Khrushchev
* East German uprising following death of Stalin brutally suppressed in 1953. 513 people killed, 106 executed and 5100 arrested, with many sentanced to penal camps.

Question 23

4 points, S, K

What degree of political autonomy was Yugoslavia given?

Satellite State

Answer 23

Stalin
* New elections saw Tito come to power, and he was able to resist Stalin’s attempts to interfere.
* Tito strengthened economic relations between Yugoslavia and the West.

Khrushchev
* Tried to build bridges with Tito by visiting Yugoslavia in 1955.
* Tito supported him with his approach to Hungary.

Question 24

2 points, S

What social and cultural freedoms was Yugoslavia given?

Satellite State

Answer 24

Stalin
* Tito’s communism focused on de-centralisation in favour of control of factories by worker committees and as assembly of communes which each organised their own welfare, health, education and culture programs.
* Stark contrast to Stalin’s policy of centralisation.

Question 25

4 points, S, K

What degree of political autonomy was Czechoslovakia given?

Satellite State

Answer 25

Stalin
* May 1948 Communists in Czechoslovakia seized power in a military coup to prevent Marshall Aid being accepted.
* Elections were rigged to only allow communist politicians.
* After 1948 Czechoslovakia was firmly set in the Soviet sphere of influence. Their motto was “With the Soviet Union Forever!”

Khrushchev
* Even after Stalin died they still kept strong ties with the USSR and remained their most faithful allies in Central Europe.

Question 26

2 points, S + K

What extent of repression was there in Czechoslovakia?

Satellite State

Answer 26

Stalin and Khrushchev
* USSR urged for the other allies to agree to the expultion of ethnic germans and German speaking Czechs to be expelled into the occupation zones of the remainder of Germany.
* The german speaking Sudetenland was depopulated of its 3 million people to be resettled by Czech speaking Czechs.

Question 27

5 points, S, K

What degree of political autonomy was Hungary given?

Answer 27

Stalin
* After defeating them in the war, the USSR ensured that a communist government was left in charge of Hungary.
* The presence of Soviet troops in Hungary was formalised under the Mutual Assistance Treaty of 1949m which granted the USSR rights to a continues military presence, assuring ulitmate political control.

Khrushchev
* Under Khrushchev Nagy (more moderate head of gov) was installed in 1953.
* However, Rakosi was still behind the scenes and managed to get Nagy overthrown. He was replaced by Gero in 1956 on Khrushchev’s orders, but following unrest Nagy was reinstated.
* Although Khrushchev promised more freedoms, when Nagy tried to break away from Warsaw Pact, Khrushchev responded with force.

Question 28

4 points, S, K

What extent of repression was there in Hungary?

Answer 28

Stalin
* During WWII, when USSR occupied Hungary, 600,000 Hungarians were taken to forcibly work on Soviet labour camps in the USSR. 200,000 of these died.
* In 1949 (once Hungary had become the People’s Republic of Hungary) Rakosi implemented Stalinist policies, i.e. attacking church leaders and imprisoning politicians.

Khrushchev
* He sent in 30,000 troops to quell unrest in October 1956, following protests against Gero, and had him replaced by Nagy, and promised more freedoms.
* However in November he sent in more troops to put down an uprising following Nagy’s attempt to leave Warsaw Pact.