Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
THE EMERGENCE OF COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP, 1917-1941 - Coggle Diagram
THE EMERGENCE OF COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP, 1917-1941
CP 13 - New Leaders and ideologies
Lenin's Russia; ideology and change
Ideology and the end to the war
Lenin and Trotsky were ideologically committed to rousing German workers + solders against their government, but at the same time they pursued peace with that government by offering Russian land
This contradiction split the bolsheviks with Bukharin leading the 'revolutionary war group'
Some wanted to pursue war and others did not
Trotsky suggested neither peace or war but Lenin argued for the acceptance of of German terms and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on 3rd March 1918
Ideology and one-party government
Lenin suggested government should be in the hands of the people and assured 'the people' would readily see that a bolshevik government ruled in their interest (this is supported by his early decrees on land and workers control in factories
Lenin sidelined the petrograd soviet and formed the bolshevik only Sovnarkom, which ruled by decree without seeking the Soviets approval
Lenin agreed to allow some left-wing SR's into the Sovnarkom after protests but he was very hostile of power sharing
This is seen in his dispersal of the constituent assembly, January 1918
The left wing SR's ended up walking out the Sovnarkom in protest of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Ideology and the preservation of the Soviet state
Creation of the Cheka in Dec 1917 used to repress 'counter revolutionary' enemies
Between 1918-20 the communist state became more closely linked with terror
The civil war had a large impact and promoted opposition to methods used to manage the wartime issues, such as war communism
It resulted in the forced adoption of a more centralised system of government (Central planning, nationalisation of industry and state control)
Post war in 1921, Lenin began to allow some more capitalistic practices
Lenin also successfully argued for a ban on factions
1 more item...
Stalin's rise; ideology and change
The power struggle and the emergence of Stalin
At his death Lenin didn't nominate a new leader but gave his opinion on members of the Politburo, Stalin was highly criticised due him insulting Lenin's wife
Leadership Candidates:
Leon Trotsky
- Organised the Oct 1917 takeover; created the red army; member of sovnarkom; regarded by Lenin as the 'most able'
Joseph Stalin
- Old bolshevik but not senior member till 1912; member of Sovnarkom; General secretary of communist party from 1922; Peasant backround
Nikolai Bukharin
- Not senior bolshevik until 1922; described be Lenin as the 'golden boy'
Grigorii Zinoviev
- Founder member of bolshevik party; close associate of Lenin 1903-17; not a member of Sovnarkom
1 more item...
The importance of ideology in the power struggle
The 'left' as represented by Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev favoured abandoning the NEP , whereas the 'right' represented by Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky supported it
Stalin fluctuated continuously between the left and the right between 1925-28 suggesting he was an opportunist with a lack of ideological principles
Trotsky believed the Russian people should revolt until a truly socialist society was created. Whereas by 1924, Stalin thought there could be 'socialism in one country' and efforts should be prioritised to creating a 'workers paradise'
Some elements in the party thought it was time to abandon a single strong leader principle
There was a growth of central control during the civil war
CP 14 - The Communist dictatorship
The consolidation of bolshevik authority: political developments 1917-24
Key chronology
Jan 1918 - Constituent Assembly meets are is disperesed
Mar 1918 - Treaty of Brest-litovsk
Mar 1918 - Bolsheviks become the communist party with capital in Moscow
Apr/May 1918 - Russian Civil War begins
July 1918 - Murder of the Tsar + constitution of Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic is adopted
Mar 1919 - Communist party reorganised: Party Secretariat, Politburo and Orgburo established
1 more item...
The early months 1917-18
The bolsheviks survived the first months through concession but also ruthless action. They prevented the share of power with other groups and dissolved the constitutent assembly in January 1918
They made decrees from Oct 1917-Feb 1918 to keep people satisfied such as maximum 8 hour days for workers
The 1918 Constitution
The RSFSR was setup in July 1918 and stated that supreme power rested with the All-Russian Congress of Soviets
It was also responsible for electing Sovnarkom which made it look highly democratic
However, the vote was reserved for the elite, in the vote for the All Russian congress of soviets the workers vote was weighted 5:1 of the peasant and the Sovnarkom was still chosen by the Bolsheviks
The Russian Civil War 1918-20
The backlash to the Treaty of Brest Litovsk and existing political opposition created the "Whites" (consisted of both right and left wing political groups, ethnic minorities, moderates, liberals, some SR's, etc)
The allies in the war gave support to the whites to oppose communism and get Russia back in the war
The spark to war came after an outburst from the Czech Legion in May
By the end of 1920, the war was near enough won by the communists due to the reds Geographical advantages and unified command structure but it came at the cost of as many as 10 million deaths
The war continued in 1921 but as more of a nationalist struggle and Polands revolts led to the independence of national minorities countries
Impact of the Russian Civil War on government and the party
The C.W led to more centralisation with the Politburos creation in 1919 becoming the main centre for party policy (In 1920, the Sovnarkom also stopped meeting as much)
As well as this, it was decreed that local soviets now only consist of party members instead of workers, peasants, etc
Also contributed to by Lenin's 1921 ban on factions
In 1922, the party grew in complexity and Stalin became general secretary and was part of the Politbruo and Orgburo
SOVIET GOV STRUCTURE
Local and district soviets
Provincial + city soviets
Congress of soviets
Central Comittee
Sovnarkom
COMMUNIST PARTY STRUCTURE
Local parties
Provincial + city parties
Congress
Central comittee
Politburo
Impact of the Civil War on national minorities and the 1922 constitution
Independence movements were denounced as counter revolutionary
Constitution was changed in 1922 with the USSR replacing the RSFSR
The development of the Stalinist dictatorship
The political structure of the communist state under Stalin
The structure of centralised control and a single party rule was extended by Stalin who increased his personal infulence
Stalin wanted the party to reflect his wishes and didn't hold a single party congress between 1939-1952
Stalin didn't like working with the whole Politburo so gained loyal servants
Major expansion in party numbers 1.6 million (1930)------>3.5 million (1933)
The 1936 Constitution
In 1936, Nikolai Bukharin drew up a new constitution which Stalin claimed to be the most democratic in the world
It promised local autonomy to ethnic groups + minorities as well as four-yearly elections with the right to vote to all 18+
It also brought civil rights such as the right to free speech
However, elections weren't contested and many of the other concessions weren't how they were made out to be
Stalinism and the dictatorship - the cult of personality
From December 1929, Stalin developed his old cult and tried to inspire confidence with his image during rapid change
He was portrayed as Lenin's desciple
Trotsky and other old bolsheviks were portrayed as enemies of the people in the book 'The history of all Union Communist Party' and Stalin was seen as a hero
Stalin was seen by the people as the peasants saw the Tsars
CP 15 - Economic developments
The economy under Lenin
Lenin believed the economy had to modernise before the socialist economy could be built
State Capitalism (1917-18)
In Oct 1917, Lenin abolished all private land ownership and began to give workers control over their own factories
He emphasised how it would be a long transition to socialism
In Dec 1917, Veshenka (council of the national economy) was setup to supervise and control economic development
Lenin remained cautious about some demands to set about nationalisation of the economy
However, workers were inefficient at organising their factories and gave themselves pay rises. Inflation started to occur and food shortages began to occur as peasants kept produce
War Communism (1918-21)
In Spring 1918, there was another grain shortage and Lenin began food requisitioning (taking grain from peasants to food workers and soldiers)
Kulaks were labelled as enemies of the people and had their grain seized
Peasants resisted and the Cheka had to be used
The economy began to become nationalised with the entire sugar industry becoming nationalised in May 1918
By November 1920 this became all workers and factories too and workers lost freedom
1 more item...
By 1921, total industry output had fallen to around 20% of pre war levels
Disease and food shortages increased and by 1920, the population was 57.5% lower than it was in 1917
The harvest of 1921 produced 48% of the 1913 harvest
Population: 170.9m (1913) -------> 130.9m(1921)
Demands for economic change
The famine brought about revolt and strikes in the city as well as countryside
Marshall law was declared January 2021
Even the Kronstadt sailors revolted which caused chaos
The NEP (1921-28)
The Gosplan was established to advise on a new economic policy which Lenin announced in August 1921
The NEP allowed for the private ownership of small businesses and permitted private trade
Rationing + grain requisitioning ended and workers were paid with industry profits
The NEP got the economy moving again but caused issues when food prices dropped but there was a lack of goods to exchange (scissor crisis)
Kulaks and new Nepmen emerged and by 1926 the economy was back to 1913 levels
The economy under Stalin
Industrial development
Stalin originally continued the NEP until Dec 1927 where he ended the NEP and announced the first 5 year plan for industrialisation, known as the great turn
First 5 year plan (1928-32) aimed to
increase production by 300%, develop heavy industry, boost electricity output by 600% and double the output from light industry.
However, these aims weren't met but impressive growth of new industry still occured
Second 5 year plan (1933-37) aimed to
continue development of heavy industry, emphasise light industry, develop communication and boost engineering.
The first 3 years were successful but in 1936, there was more emphasis on rearmament
Third 5 year plan (1938-42) aimed to
develop heavy industry, promote rapid armament and complete the transition to communism.
Development was good but German invasion in 1941 finished it early
Agricultural change
Stalins great turn involved a move towards collective farming and allowing mechanisation to increase output
Collectivisation Stage 1 (1929-20)
- Firstly Stalin announced he would annihilate the Kulaks who caused grain issues and the red army + Cheka were used to execute, arrest and deport Kulaks. In January 1930, Stalin announced 25% of grain farming areas would be collectivised but this was a massive underestimate. Collectivisation started rapidly but it began to fall back
Collectivisation Stage 2 (1930-41)
- This time it was at a slower pace but issues of implementation began to appear...
dekulakisation removed the most successful farmers
grain and livestock was destroyed
1 more item...
CP 16 - Leninist/Stalinist society
Class issues
The classless society
November 1917 saw the official abolition of class hierarchy where titles and privileges disappeared where everyone became a plain citizen apart from party members. Those who previously identified as nobility were forced to do tasks such as road sweeping. However, the NEP revived some of the bourgeoisie. But under Stalin they wanted to build the new 'socialist man' who was committed to the community and give service to the state
The proleteriat
Proletarianisation (turn mass of population into urban workers) was important to create the socialist man
Workers briefly enjoyed more free lives under Lenin but this was crushed by the NEP and by 1921 workers could be shot or imprisoned if they failed to meet targets
It got worse under Stalin but the urban labour force was almost doubled by 1932
However, from 1931, the introduction of bonuses, piece pay, and workers being able to choose where they work produced a new 'Proletarian elite'
Despite this, living conditions in towns and countryside were still awful and wages were still lower in 1937 than they were in 1928
The effects of social change on women
Early policies
Previously the role of women was to attend to household tasks, look after children and also play their part in farming. They also had no legal priviliges
The revolution changed this and in November 1917, the new government decreed against sex discrimination and gave women the right to own property
Women were then also expected to work but this was on top of household tasks too so the double work made for a grim life
Stalinist policies
However, under Stalin much of this was reversed due to his propaganda representing a more 'traditional' family
Contraception was banned, large divorce fees introduced and benefits offered to large families
Despite this, many women continued to work and by 1940, 43% of the industrial workforce was made up of women but they earned on average 40% less than men
Young people
Education
Lenin setup the commissariat of enlightenment which provided free education and there was a large emphasis on education to help build a socialist society. However, textbooks and exams were abolished due to a shortage of textbooks written
Under Stalin, some of these reforms were reversed as the amount students had to work increase and schools were put under the control of the Veshenka. Nationalism was promoted and military training also introduced
By 1941, 94% of people age 9-49 were literate and it was 86% in the countryside
Youth organisations
A Russian young communist league was setup in 1918 for those age 14-21 and became the youth division of the communist party and it was renamed the Komsomol in 1926
Under Stalin membership increased and it taught communist values such as volunteering
Religion
Lenin didn't see the church as a threat and allowed religious freedom after the October revolution
He accepted the best thing was to tolerate the large Christian Orthodox majority
However, the power of the church was reduced when the state seized church land, took-over church schools, etc
hundreds of priests died of starvation too under war communism
"The godless" group was setup and destroyed churches and religion
A huge anti-religion wave took place
By 1941, nearly 40,000 Churches and 25,000 mosques had been closed
1 more item...
National Minorities
The Bolsheviks came to power with the help of the minorities and they had promised them national self determination which they fulfilled with their decree of November 1917
Abolition of Anti-Semitic laws in 1917 and early communists promoted different languages
However, under Stalin this changed as he strived for Russian nationalism
From 1938, learning Russian in schools became compulsary
The 1930's saw deportations begin and an anti-semetic attitude
Propaganda
Lenin used Propaganda well to win converts to socialism
Stalin also used it heavily to promote collectivisation and his industry plans
After his death, Lenin was viewed like a god and Stalin his disciple, Petrograd renamed Leningrad
Cultural change
The 1920's became known as the 'silver age' as art and poetry flourished
However, under Stalin this disappeared as all writers had to belong to the Union of Soviet Writers who restricted their work
Works were expected to glorify the working man and help promote a socialist society
CP 17 - Communist control and terror
Faction and opposition in the 1920s
Opposition + consolidation of power
From the start of the bolsheviks they faced opposition politically, class opposition and wider society
The SR + Mensheviks had already destroyed themselves by walking out in 1917
The Cheka, established in Dec 1917, was used heavily and they dissolved the Constituent assmebly to prevent sharing power. As well as this the class warfare eliminated the Kulaks and bourgeoisie
The Red Terror
In August 1918, the attempt on Lenin's life excused a frenzied attack on the Bourgeoisie using the Cheka
In September 1918, the Sovnarkom gave the Cheka authority to find, question, arrest and destroy the families of suspected traitors
All remaining SR's + Mensheviks were rounded up and shot (500 in Petrograd alone)
Even the Tsar and his family were killed
Between 500,000-1,000,000 shot in 1918-21 period
Faction and control
By 1921, Lenin turned to opposition in the party and put a ban on factions where all members had to accept the decisions of the central comittee
Opposition to Stalin and the purges
Stalin extended the use of terror and class warfare and he used opposition as a scapegoat to the terror caused by his own economic policies as seen in the 1928 Shakhty show trial
Stalin got Yagoda to create the Gulag when in 1929 prisons reached full capacity
Stalin + opposition to 1932
The Crisis of 1932
In November 1932, Stalins wife committed suicide and left a note criticising Stalin which 'unhinged him'
Nikolai Bukharin had just been re-elected to the central committee and Stalins position was far from secure
Opposition groups also emerged in the party elite such as Ryutins platform and in the end 24 members were expelled and exiled to Moscow
This followed with the death of Ryutin and in 1933 Stalin announced a general purge of the party
The Kirov Affair, 1934
In the elections to the Central Committee Stalin received c150 negative votes
Kirov spoke about stopping forceable grain seizures and increasing rations. Kirov was very close to Stalin and didn't mean to challenge him
Kirov was murdered in December 1934 and Stalin blamed it on the Zinovievites trying to take over the party
In Jan 1935, Zinoviev, Kamanev and 17 others were arrested and during that year 11,000 'former people' were arrested, exiled or put in camps as well as 250,000 members being expelled
The Great Purges, 1936-38
In Aug 1936, a show trial involving Zinoviev, Kamanev and 14 others and all were executed
In Jan 1937, another show trial of 17 was staged
In May/June 1637, 8 senior military officers were arrested, tortured and forced to sign false confessions
In the military, of the 767 high command officers, 512 were executed
In March 1638, another trial involving Bukharin took place and he was shot along with 16 others
The Yezhovschina, the purge of ordinary citizens
Yezhov, the new head of the NKVD terrorised citizens and the great terror was aimed at the people
70% of the members of the Central Commitee arrested and shot
350,000 national minorities put on trail
The end of the purges
Stalin realised the purges were harming the country, blaming it on Yezhov and Beria took his position as head of the NKVD
CP 18 - The Soviet Union by 1941
The political condition of the Soviet Union
One-party centralisation
By 1941, Stalin had a highly centralised and authoritarian one party state thanks to Lenin dissolving the constituent assembly and Lenin's constitution only permitting the existence of one party
Attacks on opposition
Lenin had created the Cheka and developed a prison camp system to deal with ideological + political enemies as well as expelling 150,000 party members in 1921 and banning factions
Stalin continued this but more radically and during his purges, 600,000 party members were executed
However, there was still rural hostility and the welcoming of the german invasion by some soviet citizens
Economic and social position
The Stalinist economy
By 1941, Stalins 5 year plans had transformed Russia into a highly industrialised economy
By 1940, the USSR had overtaken Britain in Iron and Steel production
This aided the soviet victory in WW2
However, he neglected production of consumer goods and they were scarcer in 1941 than under the NEP
On top of this they were still producing less grain in 1941 than they were under the NEP
Stalinist society
In the countryside, communist control had grown stronger with the surveying of the NKVD
The increased migration to urban areas also created a much stronger working class, the 'proleteriat'
However the quality of life did not increase substantially under Stalin with internal passports (1932), strict censorship, and strict surveillance
Instead of a classless society, there was now a hierarchical society dominated by a privileged elite organised around the party
The state had become more formidable, extensive and brutal
The Soviet Union by June 1941
As the 1930's drew to a close, the Soviet Union faced the issue of an expansionist Nazi Germany
The S.U wasn't ready for war in 1941 due to purges of the red army in the 1930's weakening it
Economically, there were shortages in quality and quantity of equipment
However, the focus on this led to grain shortages and a struggle to feed the population