Stalin's Russia: The Big Ones (policies & opposition)

Number and proportion of officers executed or imprisoned? When?

June 1937; ½ of total officers; 35,000

Between which dates were party members show-tried and executed? How many and which figures?

1936-38 53 total - including Zinoviev and Kamenev, Tomsky, Rykov, Bukharin- most of the remaining “old Bolsheviks”

Number and proportion of officers executed or imprisoned? When?

June 1937; ½ of total officers; 35,000

Between which dates were party members show-tried and executed? How many and which figures?

1936-38 53 total - including Zinoviev and Kamenev, Tomsky, Rykov, Bukharin- most of the remaining “old Bolsheviks”

Between 1929 and 1930 how many peasant arson attacks were there on state property?

30,000

How many died in total during the famines? Which regions were worst affected?

15 mill; Ukraine & Kazakhstan worst

By which year were 90% of peasants on collective farms?

1937

How did coal production change between 1930 and 1938?

35 million —> 165 million tons

How long did Soviet children attend school for free?

10 years; aged 5-15

What sneaky manoeuvre helped Stalin assert control over industry?

The appointment of loyal Stalinist managers

How did steel and pig-iron production change 1932-40?

• Steel 4.4 —> million tons

How did the USSR’s electric power output change between 1932 and 1940?

13.5 billion kWh —> 48.3 billion kWh

What were some failings of industrialisation?

• Housing issues caused by mass migration

• Scarcity of commodities due to redirection of resources

What were the economic aims of Collectivisation?

• Increase efficiency of food production

• Solve food supply crisis caused by NEP (+poor harvest 1927)

• Export grain to garner foreign state capital for reinvestment

What were Stalin’s personal aims in pursuing Collectivisation?

• Crush peasant/nationalist spirit (particularly Ukrainian)

• Increase state control over USSR

In what ways was Collectivisation a success?

• Peasant spirit crushed

• Freed up men for industry

• Proportion of grain harvest to workers doubled 1929-40

In what ways was Collectivisation a failure?

• Failed to garner foreign capital; lack of grain & trading partners (except Germany) and prices low due to Great Depression (1933)

• Overall agricultural productivity just reaching 1913 levels!

What were the aims of industrialisation?

• Develop a “war economy” to allow USSR to defend itself

• Placate workers by improving living conditions

In what ways was industrialisation a success for Stalin?

Gave him far greater control over workers:

• Bonuses to the well-behaved/productive

• Introduction of labour books to track workers’ careers

• Internal passports to limit migration

What was the significance of Soviet economic policy?

Most significant policy:

• Improvements (if small) in production and living standards fuelled support for the state amongst working populations: lowered risk of revolt

• Peasants (who benefited least from industrialisation) subjugated – threat reduced

• Disrupted social cohesion in both groups through migration

• Cemented Stalin’s control over society

• Industrialisation used to justify the purges (IMPORTANT as otherwise could have faced opposition)

Who was Martemyan Ryutin? What did he publish and when? What did it contain?

1. Supporter of Bukharin and Rykov

2. Pamphlet 1932: end forced collectivisation, slow industrialisation, reinstate party members (including my man Trotsky✊)

3. A personal ATTACK on Stalin!! Ordered people to organise in cells against him (based)

In what various ways was Ryutin dealt with by Stalin’s state?

• Expelled, then imprisoned, then reinstated 1930-31

• 1932 imprisoned 10 yrs – Kirov prevents execution

Who was Stalin wary of in the early 1930s? Why?

Sergei Kirov, an excellent orator who many party members sided with on votes; opposed the pace of industrialisation at the 17th congress

What was Kirov’s fate? How did it benefit Stalin?

1. Murdered in 1934, possibly by Stalin although this is debated.

2. Removed Stalin’s only serious rival, and gave him an excuse to enact further purges!

What are a few lovely things the Decree Against Terrorist Acts did?

• Limited criminal investigation time to 10 days

• Banned appeals and petitions for pardons

• Sentence had to be carried out immediately following passing

Of the 1,996 delegates at the 1934 Congress, how many were executed by 1937? Replaced by whom (general)?

1,108, replaced by Stalin’s mates

In what ways were the purges (Use of Force/Social Policies) successful?

• Eliminated internal opposition; deterred others

• Obliterated any lingering external threat (10 million dead ☠)

In what ways were the purges (Use of Force/Social Policies) a failure/mistake? (remember guys it's from a non-moralistic POV obvs killing 1 gajillion people isn't cool)

Went too far; external opposition in Russia limited (due to economic policy):

• Reduced labour forces

• 1937 purges weaken Soviet army

• 1953 doctors purge leads to death of Stalin (omg reference?1!?1!?1!?!!??)

What was the fundamental nature of opposition in the 1930s USSR?

Mostly internal; opposition directed at Stalin. However also some peasant revolts!

Why was opposition to Stalin so weak?

• Party: opposition in minority, and feared disrupting party unity

• Propaganda: cult of personality – reinforced above

• Conditions: economic policies disrupt social cohesion and fucked the peasantry, and improved workers’ QoL from Industrialisation

Where might the false idea of Stalin being a charismatic leader stem from?

The cult of personality resulting from propaganda

What were some main ideas (aside from simping for Stalin) found in Soviet propaganda?

• Nationalism - cross-class appeal (though limited by ethnic divisions)

• Messages hinged around Homo Sovieticus to symbolise economic development and encourage optimism

How was Stakhanov used in propaganda?

• To motivate/pressure workers: encouraged to compete to reach his level

• Embolden Stalin’s image: Stakhanov thanked him in November of -

How significant was propaganda in maintaining Stalin’s steel grip on power?

Supporting factor:

• For those who hadn't benefitted from economic policy, fostered an “it's better somewhere else” mentality

But without other policies (namely economic) would not be enough

What were the aims of Cultural policies in the USSR and were they successful?

1. Control all outlets of cultural production, dissuade opposition by stifling cultural development

2. Yes: Socialist Realism 1930s gives state control over artistic output; Cult of personality a booming success