Stalin’s Reign of TerrorThe Great Purge

The Terror

• One of the most famous aspect of Stalin’s rule over Russia was his Reign of Terror

• Between the years of 1931 and 1937, shortly after coming to political power, Stalin eliminated those who he felt were a threat, in any capacity, to his rule.

• At times, his executions reach 3,000 people per day.

Reasons for the Terror

• #1 United Country– Stalin’s belief in Russia’s survival and eventual success

depended on a strong independent leader with no opposition

• #2 Urgent Industrialization– Stalin’s need to industrialize in order to compete with

the Western world (and Germany) afforded him little time to deal with contrasting viewpoints

• #3 Paranoia– Stalin became obsessed with the idea others were

plotting against him and had any suspicious individuals executed as a precaution

Stalin’s WifeBecause of Stalin’s paranoia of others, especially those close to him, his wife killed herself in 1935 in fear of her husband and his potential to suspect her or wrongdoing.

The Purges• Although the actual documented executions

took place from 1930-1938, evidence was clear as early as 1928 of Stalin’s intentions.

• He targeted 6 groups:– The Kulaks (wealthy peasants)– Political Opponents– High Ranking Army Officials– The Church– Ethnic Groups– Artists and Intellectuals

The NKVD

• The NKVD were Stalin’s elite squad of secret police who carried out executions throughout the country of those who were perceived as opposition to any aspect of his rule.

• Those who were not executed were often sent to the Gulag, Russian labor camps, only to serve a life of forced labor and imprisonment.

1930-1933

• Stalin first eliminated those who refused industrialization and collectivism– Collectivism – the belief that every individual plays

a role in the decisions of the whole.• The Kulaks were the primary targets of this

purge.• Because of their status, many fought losing

rights and amenities under Stalin’s plan for and equal and industrialized Russia

1934-1939 – The Show Trials

• Stalin manufactured “show trials” where political adversaries were forced to confess crimes and were summarily executed for their admissions

• These were used as an example to the public as a means to instill fear to any who opposed Stalin’s reign

• Executions included leaders of the Bolshevik party (Stalin’s former allies) such as Rykov, Kamenev, and Zinoviev.

1937-1939 – The Army

• In 1937, all prominent military leaders were executed

• In the following years (1938-1939), all Admirals and officers were executed or imprisoned.

The Church

• Important and widely visible church leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church were imprisoned.

• This forced churches to shut their doors across the country

Ethnic Groups

• Stalin believed in “Russification” – A form of cultural assimilation where those not of

Russian decent are forced to give up cultural identity in order to unify Russian culture

• In order to ensure Russian dominance of his country he ordered the execution of all ethnic minorities

Artists and Intellectuals

• Stalin feared artists and the educated class would criticize his rule through their work and speech.

End Result:

• Over 10 million were imprisoned and/or executed under Stalin’s Reign of Terror and the Great Purge which enabled him to rule by fear and solidify his totalitarian regime over Russia until the time of his death in 1953

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