Topic 3 - Stalins Dictatorship Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Topic 3 - Stalins Dictatorship Deck (21)
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1
Q

Who were the possible successors of Lenin

A

Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky

2
Q

Why Stalin won the leadership

A

He stopped Lenin’s testament (pro Trotsky) being read out
Stalin gave the speech at Lenin’s funeral after Trotsky was late.

Had the powerful position of General Secretary, meaning he controlled the jobs and gained support

By 1928 by removing all of his rivals, it was clear Stalin had replaced Lenin as the leader of the party.

3
Q

When was Trotsky exiled from the USSR

A

1929

4
Q

When was the great Terror

A

1936 - 1938

5
Q

What was the Great Terror or Purges + SFD

A

People were encouraged to inform on people who spoke out against the state. Anyone who was caught doing so would be sent to labour camps (Gulags) or killed. By 1938 1 million people had been killed.

6
Q

What was the secret police under Stalin called

A

The OGPU

7
Q

The role of the OGPU in the terror

A

They dealt with political ‘crimes’ (speaking against the state). The OGPU could arrest people and get confessions through any method such as torture. They would imprison people without trial or would set up fixed trials.

8
Q

Who was purged + SFD

A

The Politburo, the communist party, teachers, engineers, scientists, the armed forces, even the secret police.

By 1939, Stalin had purged important party leaders.

9
Q

Who ran the prison camps

A

The Gulag (hence the name “Gulags”)

In 1928 there were about 30,000 people in camps
By 1938 there were about 7 million

10
Q

What is propaganda

A

Propaganda is the giving of information, true or false, in order to provoke a bias (make someone think in a certain way)

11
Q

What were show trials + SFD

A

These were fake trials where the accused were blackmailed into confessing

The OGPU arrested 40,000 suspects for ‘trial’
In 1934 Kirov got killed and in 1936 sixteen old Bolsheviks were put up for trial for his assassination.

12
Q

The importance of show trials (4)

A

Gave the impression of a fair trial

The accused normally confessed, so people believed they were guilty

The trials suggested that there was a danger of the revolution - they would therefore support and unite behind Stalin

Trials scared people into being less critical

13
Q

Effects of the purges

A

Atmosphere of fear. This enforced obedience but also created resentment

Because so many people were killed there was a loss of useful people (13 of the 15 top generals in the red army)

Created a government of inexperienced people who were simply loyal to Stalin. The country, especially the army, was weaker because of this.

14
Q

What methods of propaganda did Stalin use

A

Censorship of media

Censorship of education (paste over people that were “out of favour”)

Pro-Stalin posters, banners, songs, poems, books, and films
Talks + speeches about the benefits of the Stalinist regime.

People visiting from other countries were taken on show tours to make the country seem better.

15
Q

Why did Stalin use propaganda

A
To turn people against his enemies 
Get people to accept his decisions 
To get people to put up with hardships 
Get people to work harder 
To build up a 'cult of Stalin'
16
Q

What was the Cult of Stalin

A

Stalin’ supporters quickly began building a cult of Stalin. These people would worship him like a god and accept anything he said. Although Stalin said publicly that Lenin and Communism was more important than he was, his image was everywhere.
~ Made him popular
~ Removed opposition

17
Q

What was the 1936 constitution

A

In 1936, ‘Stalins Constitution’ was hailed as ‘the most democratic system in the world’, however it is seen now as mostly propaganda to make other countries accept Stalins rule.

18
Q

When did Lenin die

A

January 21, 1924

19
Q

What was the ‘official culture’

A

Censorship meant that everything had to be simple and easy for anyone to understand. It also had to conform with Stalins ideas.

20
Q

Who were Zinoviev and Kamenev and what happened to them?

A

They were supporters of Stalin and members of the politburo who persuaded the rest of the politburo not to sack Stalin.

Even though they had worked with Stalin against Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev, by 1926 they were forced into an alliance with Trotsky and they were expelled from the communist party.

21
Q

How the 1936 constitution was used as propaganda

A

It made other countries accept Stalins rule. The ‘democratic’ one party system was widely approved of.