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Purges of the 1930's (Consequences of the Great Terror (Eliminated…
Purges of the 1930's
1928 Stalin was undisputed leader but his positions still insecure. He feared he would lose power. He feared:
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Causes
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Opposition
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.
Congress of Victors
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Stalin came 2d in a vote to Kirov at the end of the Congress which elected the new Central Committee
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Economic problems
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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.
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.
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
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Stalin could claim there was a dangerous conspiracy that aimed to overthrow the Communist Government
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The Great Terror
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Zinoviev and Kamenev arrested by Stalin; organised an investigation into the Communist Party in Leningrad
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Show Trials
The Trial of the 16 1936
execution of Zinoviev, Kamenev and 14 of their supporters
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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
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