Main Characteristics of Stalin's rule in the USSR

His rise to power 1

Stalin, Kamanev, & Zinoviev, v Trotsky. Hide Lenin’s testament, Trotsky image weakened. “I am not sure he always knows how to use that power with sufficient caution”

His rise to power 2

Stalin v Trotsky. “Socialism in one country” or permanent revolution. Wider support for socialism, appealed to those war-ridden and to Russian nationalists. Stalin described as a “grey blur”, general public unsure of his stance.

His rise to power 3

Stalin, Bukharin, & Rykov, v Trotsky, Kamanev, & Zinoviev. NEP or rapid industrialisation. Three expelled from politiburo in 1926. Five-year-plans and collectivisation introduced. Stalin defeated all domestic political rivals by 1929. Described as “man of steel”

A totalitarian state

A state whereby the government controls all aspects of life, from actions to thoughts. This is implemented with frequent and strong propaganda, terror, and secret police.

NKVD

These were the ruthless secret police controlled by Stalin, which were used to enforce many of Stalins ideals. They supervised five-year-plans, party purges, & controlled gulags.

Propaganda to Stalin

Stalin saw the role of propaganda as strengthening his control of the state. Used to promote benefits of collectivisation, justify the show trials, purges, and persecution of “enemies of the state”. He believed all systems of communication should be utilised to spread communist propaganda and indoctrinate soviet citizens. His cult of personality was extreme- “Stalin is the new Lenin of today”.

Causes of the five year plans

Stalin believed communism was only effective in a developed society.

NEP industrialisation failed.

Stalin desired greater economical control, and to overcome agricultural failure.

Wanted to modernise Soviet society- “We are 50 to 100 years behind the advanced countries. Either we make good the difference in 10 years or they will crush us”

First five year plan

1928-1932. Focused on heavy industry, machinery, oil, electricity, and new towns like Magnitogorsk. Machinery production quadrupled, oil production doubled, electricity nearly trebled.

Second five year plan

1933-1937. Focused on heavy industry, metalwork, transport, consumer goods, and some rearmament. The Moscow underground was constructed, and consumer goods such as radios and washing machines were introduced.

Third Five year plan

1938-1941. Focused on heavy industry and rearmament. This was halted due to the German invasion of the USSR.

Achievements of the five-year-plans

Total industrial production trebled.

Working class grew from 11mil-33mil.

Global depression not felt, instead employment was at a high

Illiteracy wiped out and secondary school attendance sextupled.

Increase of female workers due to creches.

Propaganda encouraged workers, e.g. Stakhanov.

Collectivisation

The policy of Stalin’s government to force peasant farmers to give their farms up to the government and form large collective government-owned farms. The work, machinery, and profits were all shared.

Kulaks

A social class in soviet Russia made of richer peasant farmers who owned their own farms. This group heavily resisted collectivisation, some slaughtered their animals or burned their products instead of giving it up. They were either killed or sent to gulags (dekulakisation).

Aims of collectivisation

To increase output of agricultural produce (output=profit, used to afford industrialisation), and appeal to communists who disagreed with the kulak class.

Results of collectivisation

10 million died, particularly in Ukraine, as a result of famine, murder, or gulags. 97% of farms were collectivised by 1940. Collective farms were still inefficient. Small private plots were allowed around houses.

Terror

Stalin was paranoia-ridden and lacked trust in his government. This was made evident throughout the show trials and purges. He used terror to grasp his power as a dictator. Stalin wanted to “destroy the men who might form an alternative government”.

Early purges

Aimed mostly at those who criticised the policies of five year plans or collectivisation, or who placed the blame of the Ukraine famine on these policies. Kulaks and questioning party members were purged, and sent to gulags, imprisoned, killed, or exiled to Siberia. Intensified greatly by the assassination of Kirov, leader of the Leningrad communist party.

Statistics of the Great Purge

Arrested 1937-8: about 8 mil

Executed: about 1 mil

Died in camps: about 2 mil

In prison, late 1938: about 1 mil

In camps, late 1938: about 7 mil

The Great Purge in the Party

Began with the trial of Zinoviev, Kamanev, and old Bolsheviks in Aug 1936. Members at all levels in the communist party were accused of plotting against Stalin and spreading Trotskyite propaganda. ~70% of the Central Committee of the party was executed.

The Great Purge in the Army

Stalin next purged the soviet red army. Many officers were either shot or jailed, including most of the army generals and commanders. It was considerably weakened as WW2 approached.

The Great Purge in the Secret Police

Yagoda, head of NKVD, was tried and executed. The NKVD was purged in 1937 and replaced with newer, more ruthless and sadistic agents.

The Great Purge re Minorities

Stalin treated minorities harshly. He closed synagogues and made efforts to “russianise” Jews and other minorities. He punished them harshly, and targeted thousands of Poles, ethnic Germans, and even some Georgians.

Trotsy during the Great Purge

Was blamed for inciting opposition to Stalin, and was assassinated in his house in Mexico in 1940.

Show Trials

Dramaticised court trials broadcast to the public to display Stalin’s power and justify the Great Purge. These trials were part of Stalin’s effort to ensure greater power and condemn critics of his policies.

Summary of the Show trials

Trial of the 16, Aug 1936- Zinoviev, Kamanev, and others

Trial of the 17, 1937- Radek, Pyatakov, and others

Trial of the 21, March 1938- Bukharin, Rykov, and others

Results of the Purges

No challenge to Stalin’s leadership

Destroyed remaining leaders.

Red army took time to recover, therefore weakened during WW2.

Many skilled workers, engineers, and scientists were killed.