13 févr. 1934 - Political Impact
of Stalin’s rule
Description:
1. The Great Terror (1934-38)
In order to consolidate his power and enforce party discipline, Stalin launched a series of campaigns of political oppression and purges.
These were aimed to eliminate his enemies and remove domestic opposition to the Soviet government between 1934 and 1938.
-Kirov affair > press other box
- Political rivals
> Extensive purge of Leningrad party (Kirov’s powerbase)
> Kamenev, Zinoviev and Bukharin accused of conspiring with Trotsky to overthrow the government.
> Tried in public show trials before being executed.
- Red Army
> High-ranking commanders and tens of thousands of Red Army officers were accused of treason—tortured and shot.
> Yezhov—in charge of the secret police was also arrested and executed in 1940.
- Soviet Citizens
> Secret police arrested, questioned and forced people to inform against friends
> Peasants, factory workers and intellectuals were arrested to prevent them from organising opposition to Stalin’s rule.
> killed on the spot or sent to labour camps
- Intellectuals and Professionals
> Mass executions of intellectuals and skilled workers negatively affected the strength of the country.
> loss of administrators, engineers and teachers affected the quality of Soviet civil service.
> efficiency of the government was affected.
No internal and external opposition against Stalin → rest of Soviet Union feared Stalin → did not dare to challenge him → control over his people
2. Propaganda: cult of the leader
> depict himself as the rightful successor to Lenin.
> praised in films, books, posters, paintings and musicals as the savior/fatherly figure
> All offices, factories and classrooms had to have a picture of Stalin.
> Soviet history was also rewritten to elevate Stalin’s status.
> Personalities such as Trotsky and Yezhov, whom Stalin regarded as threats, were edited out of the photographs.
Citizens brainwashed to have a positive image of Stalin → admired Stalin → obeyed his policies → Stalin exert control over his people
no date
Ajouté au bande de temps:
Elective History
Combined Humanities 2267
unfinished; only did Chpt 1-3++
Date:
