Stalin’s power of party and state

How often did the Politburo meet in the 1930s compared to the 1920s?

In the 1920s the Politburo had met weekly but by the mid-1930s meetings were held only about 9 times a year

What did Stalin do during meetings?

He would use the intimidating tactic of walking around the room while others spoke. There was a real fear that saying something disagreeable to Stalin would result in execution.

E.g. Patel Rychagov, commander of the Soviet air force, was executed when he complained about the quality of Soviet aircraft

What was stated in the Soviet Constitution of 1936?

• Every citizen in the USSR was to be given the vote which was change from before when the Kulaks and priests were denied the vote

• Civil rights including freedom of press, religion and organisation were given

• Guarantee of employment

Why was the Soviet Constitution of 1936 a fraud?

In theory it sounded democratic but in practice it was a fraud.

• Democracy was imposed from above and limited by the leadership

• Only candidates from the Communist Party were allowed to stand in elections

• The government announced that political parties in the democratic sense were a product of conflicts between classes which were generated by capitalism so the Soviet Union only needed one political party because they had no conflicts

What did Stalin hope the Constitution would do for the USSR internationally?

It aimed to convince countries such as Britain and France that the USSR had democratic credentials that would make them good allies in the fight against Nazi Germany.

What personal limits were there with Stalins power?

It was physically impossible for Stalin to control every issue in a country as large as the Soviet Union.

Give two examples of limits imposed from within leadership from the Politburo

• When Stalin wanted to execute Ryutin who had denounced Stalin in 1932, the Politburo refused to agree and Ryutin was sentenced to ten years in a labour camp

• Stalin’s ambitious targets for the Second Five-Year Plan was considered too high by many both inside and outside the Party so Stalin was forced to accept a hurried redrafting of the Plan with lower targets

How were limits on Stalin’s power imposed from below?

In 1930 Stalin issued a statement that castigated those Party members who were ‘dizzy with success’ in implementing the policy of collectivisation overzealously.

What did the USSR call WW2?

The Great Patriotic War

What Committee undertook the co-ordination of the country’s administration during the war?

The State Defence Committee (GKO)

How did Stalin react when the Germans invaded at dawn on the 22nd of June?

He was so shocked he suffered a breakdown and retired to his dacha (country villa) for several days leaving communication with the front confused, until coaxed into action by Molotov.

When was the High Stalinism period?

1945-53

How did the Party leadership reassert authority after WW2 when there was a slight relaxation of control?

Terror was used to reinforce control as concessions such as those given to the Orthodox Church were withdrawn

What happened to the old guard of Stalin’s associates?

Those such as Molotov and Kagaovich were eclipsed by the new generation within Party leadership of rivals including Malenkov, Beria and Zhdanov

What was the Mingrelian Affair of 1951?

The purge of the Party in Georgia that removed some of Beria’s allies which targeted those of Mingrelian nationality, a group that Beria belonged to.

What was the Politburo renamed to and how was it enlarged?

It was renamed the presidium and enlarged from 10-36 members allowing Stalin to bring in new comers.

What and when was the ‘doctors plot’?

In January 1953 a group of doctors were arrested, accused of trying to assassinate the leadership.