Purges of the 1930's
1928 Stalin was undisputed leader but his positions still insecure. He feared he would lose power. He feared:
his supporters were prepared to challenge his authority
his old rivals could conspire against him and overthrow him
Causes
All relate to the safety of his own position
Opposition
Economic problems
government saw issues in Stalins policies for industry and agriculture.
from the politburo who had declining faith in him. Kirov's growing authority being head of the Communist party in Leningrad was a challenge to Stalin some wanted him to take over or for Trotsky to return.
Stalin’s personality
Stalin became mentally ill but after the suicide of his second wife in 1932 he certainly became reclusive. Stalin signed 366 death warrants in 1938 - led to over 44,000 deaths. Yagoda and Yezhov (Heads of NVKD) were both killed points to Stalin not wanting the truth to emerge.
Wanted to cleanse the party of “old Bolsheviks” who were loyal to Lenin and not him.
show trials would show he was in total control and so warn off opposition. Stalin’s political motives killed Kirov, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Bukharin, Rykov and Trotsky, all potential threats.
Opponents argued that Stalin had too much power
A coerced economy would not work,
Targets were unrealistic,
Collectivisation would shatter the morale of the (peasant) Red Army
Russia should introduce capitalism and trade more with the West.
Stalins lack of control
Although Stalin may have initiated the purges there is an argument that it got out of his control. In the end wives were informing on husbands and children on parents.
Kirov's Murder
Congress of Victors
February 1934 indicator Stalins position was under threat
Stalin came 2d in a vote to Kirov at the end of the Congress which elected the new Central Committee
Kirov: 1225 votes
Stalin: 927 votes
a useful pretext for launching the terror
Murdered in December 1934
Speculation that Stalin ordered the attack but no evidence
Stalin could claim there was a dangerous conspiracy that aimed to overthrow the Communist Government
reason to arrest rivals and launch a mass campaign to hunt enemies
The Great Terror
Starts December 1934 in Leningrad immediately after Kirov's murder
Zinoviev and Kamenev arrested by Stalin; organised an investigation into the Communist Party in Leningrad
spread throughout the USSR in 1936 and reached its peak in 1937
Show Trials
The Trial of the 16 1936
The Trial of the 17 1937
The Trial of the 21 1938
execution of Zinoviev, Kamenev and 14 of their supporters
execution and imprisonment of 17 of Trotsky's former supporters
execution of Bukharin and many of his closest supporters
Show trials also destroyed reputations of key defendants. All defendants confessed to plotting to murder Kirov and working with capitalist nations to overthrow the USSR
Only a tiny fraction of the Great Terror. 95% of those affected were men between 30 and 45 years who held senior positions in Party or important roles in the economy
Secret Trials
These were in addition to public trials. Stalin organised a trail of Red Army leaders
1937 8 senior generals were tried for plotting to overthrow the government. Stalin did not trust him as they had worked hard for Trotsky. All executed
Consequences of the Great Terror
Eliminated Stalins rivals from the 1920s
Led to the death/imprisonment of a whole generation communists that had known/worked with Lenin
Removed all Party members who could claim authority that was independent from Stalin
Emerged new generation of Communist Party leaders who owed their positions to Stalin, thus were loyal to him
Established the principal Stalin had the right to use terror against anyone disloyal
The NKVD became a powerful organisation within the regime. Beria became a powerful figure within the government