High Stalinism: The USSR 1945-53 Consequences of the War: Political Economic Social Cultural The war had a major impact on the Soviet peoples’ relationship with their government. It had also affected Stalin’s relationship with the party, government and army. The post-war story is about Stalin and the party re-establishing control.

The most significance difference between pre and post war USSR was the emergence of the USSR as a superpower, its control over Eastern Europe and the start of the Cold War. European powers were no longer dominant – USA was the clear winner – strengthened economically as well as politically. USSR won territorially, but was devastated by the War. Therefore started the Cold War at a disadvantage. Eastern Europe came under Soviet control by end of 1947, though each country remained independent – the satellite states. USSR spent millions on developing their own nuclear bomb – first tested in 1949. Scientists given a relatively free reign – Beria said, ‘if they don’t succeed we can shoot them later’.

‘Our government committed many errors; there were times, in 1941-2, when we found ourselves in a desperate situation. Another people might had said to the government: you have not come up to our expectations, go!; we shall appoint another government which will conclude a peace with Germany and guarantee us a quiet life. But the Russian people did not do that’ Stalin speaking to a reception for Red Army Commanders in the Kremlin, 24th May 1945. What is the significance of this speech?

Amongst Stalin’s first targets were the military. Stalin had never trusted the military high command; Zhukov’s quarters had been bugged by the NKVD since 1939. Stalin feared that the military would be seen as the saviours of the USSR. An attack was made on the air-force. Six leading air commanders were executed in the ‘Aviator’s Affair. Zhukov was exiled to Odessa, Antonov to Transcaucasia. Stalin took the credit for the capture of Berlin.

Other early targets were politicians who had had ‘a good war’. In 1949, Molotov was put on guard when his wife (who was Jewish) was imprisoned and he was removed from his position as Commissar for Foreign Affairs. Zhdanov, Malenkov and Beria were also put on their guard by Stalin’s unpredictable promotion and demotion policies. Other politburo members were put under the constant watch of Kosygin. Even Kosygin felt under threat: ‘every morning Kosygin left for work he reminded his wife what she was to do if he did not return’

Other victims: Stalin clamped down hard on those who had survived German occupation, or who had spent time in areas administered by the Allies, including: the Ukraine, where 300,000 were deported Red Army soldiers who survived the German POW camps 5.5 million Soviet citizens re-patriated by the Allies, including 50,000 Cossacks surviving Jews. Many of these people were exiled, sent to gulags or executed.

Attack on Leningrad: Leningrad came under particular attack due to the bravery and independence of its leadership during the war. In what was known as the Zhdanovshchina, Zhdanov led an attack on Soviet writers and composers with supposed Western links. These included the famous poet Anna Akhmatova and Shostakovich who had written the Leningrad symphony. Zhdanov died in 1948. Following his death there was a purge of the Leningrad Party organisation led by Malenkov. The main leaders were put on trial, forced to confess and executed.

The Doctors’ Plot: The last purge: Stalin accused 13 doctors who had at one time treated him of conspiring to kill their patients. Many were Jewish More anti-Semitic arrests began. The USSR broke off relations with Israel. Preparations were being made for a show trial. Ironically, Stalin then suffered a stroke, and took 5 days to die. It took several hours before anyone dared call a doctor!

Economy: Four key pressures: Start of the Cold War and developing a nuclear armament system. Control of Eastern Europe - but the economies of these countries can also be exploited. Recovery of industry, especially in the West Recovery of agriculture - re-imposition of collectivisation, but also increase in production.

Economically, the USSR made rapid progress in armament production, but as usual, consumer goods and agriculture lagged behind. In 1946 there was another famine in the Ukraine and peasants paid the hardest price. Nove comments ‘How could it be tolerated that a country capable of making an A-bomb could not supply its citizens with eggs?’