Political Purges

Totalitarian State In the 1930s the Soviet Union had many features in common with Nazi Germany: Control through terror Secret police Labour camps Cult of the leader Education controlled by the state Propaganda and censorship State control of arts and sciences Only one political party.

Stalin maintained his powerful position by: Control by Terror Control of Ideas.

The “Great Purges”, 1934-1938. During this period millions of Russians – in the Communist party, the army, the arts and sciences, and many other walks of life – were arrested and either sent to Labour Camps, or shot. A feature of the Purges was the Public Show Trials, where old Bolsheviks confessed to crime against the Soviet Union.

Between 1936 and 1953 over 40,000,000 people were arrested. 24,000,000 were executed or died in labour camps. By 1938 25,000 army officers had been purged. Many of those “purged” were loyal Communists with years of service to the Party. Most were ordinary people

Effect of Purges By 1938, when Stalin relaxed his purges, there were few people brave enough to speak against him. He had stamped out opposition very effectively. He had also damaged Soviet industry and the army. Scientists, politicians, administrators, engineers and about two thirds of the Red Army’s officers had been executed or sent to labour camps.