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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 in each year, and who?
1936: Kamenev & Zinoviev + 14 others
1937: 14 executed
1938: Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky, Yagoda, and 19 others.
53 total
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?
Supporter of Bukharin and Rykov
Pamphlet 1932: end forced collectivisation, slow industrialisation, reinstate party members (including my man Trotsky✊)
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?
Murdered in 1934, possibly by Stalin although this is debated.
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: fear of disrupting party unity
Propaganda: cult of personality – masses love daddy Stalin so won’t resist as he mercilessly purges them🥰
Conditions: economic policies disrupt social cohesion so no resistance
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
Messages hinged around Homo Sovieticus to symbolise economic development
Stakhanov info
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
Helped to completely ensure that nobody would defy Stalin
But without other policies (namely economic) would not be enough
What were the aims of Cultural policies in the USSR and were they successful?
Control all outlets of cultural production, dissuade opposition
Yes: Socialist Realism 1930s gives state control over artistic output; Cult of personality a booming success
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