Why Did Stalin Launch the Purges? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Why were the Purges so Damaging to the USSR? - Summary

• Stalin is widely regarded by historians as one of the most brutal dictators of the 20th century, responsible for the deaths of over 20 million Soviet citizens—more than those killed under Hitler's regime. The purges, a key aspect of Stalin's rule, played a significant role in this staggering loss of life.
• Stalin's intense paranoia led to countless political attacks, resulting in mass arrests and assassinations that affected every level of Soviet society, from high-ranking Bolsheviks to ordinary workers. Many of those targeted were innocent, coerced into false confessions through torture or subjected to predetermined guilty verdicts in staged trials.
• The purges had far-reaching consequences for the USSR, instilling a pervasive atmosphere of fear and causing many citizens to overwork themselves to avoid punishment. Soviet industry suffered as skilled workers fell victim to the purges, and the economy prioritized quantity over quality in production. Additionally, the purges severely weakened the Soviet military, leaving the Red Army with a shortage of experienced leaders at the outset of the Second World War.

Political Motives

Securing Power

• Stalin's rise to leadership in the USSR emerged from a power struggle.
  • This ascent engendered numerous adversaries for Stalin.
• Subsequently, Stalin developed a sense of paranoia.
  • By the mid-1930s, Stalin harbored suspicions that many within the party sought his overthrow.
    • He harbored distrust toward individuals associated with Lenin or Trotsky in the past.
    • His objective was to eliminate perceived threats to his authority by any means necessary.
  • Stalin aimed to establish a robust dictatorship.
    • He sought to quash all forms of government opposition.
    • His overarching aim was to cultivate unwavering loyalty from all Soviet citizens, employing tactics based on instilling fear.

Sergei Kirov

• Kirov held a significant political position in the USSR.
  • He joined the Politburo in 1930.
• Kirov's assassination in 1934, allegedly orchestrated by Stalin, led to pivotal events:
  • The assassination was believed to be a tool for Stalin to suppress Kirov's economic policy reforms.
    • The Great Purge was initiated by Stalin following Kirov's assassination.
• Stalin utilized the event to justify the launch of the Moscow Trials.
  • During the Moscow Trials, several prominent figures were accused of treason after forced confessions:
    • Kamenev
    • Zinoviev
    • Bukharin
    • Rykov
  • Historians suggest that these confessions were obtained through coercion and torture.

Economic Motives

• Stalin's ability to arrest and execute individuals who failed to meet production quotas was a powerful tool.
• The state frequently labeled individuals as saboteurs, leading to widespread accusations and fear.
• The atmosphere of terror resulting from purges coerced people to intensify their efforts, driving economic growth.
• By leveraging the fear instilled in the population, the USSR achieved significant economic advancements.
• Stalin utilized the forced labor of those imprisoned in the GULAG system to bolster production without cost.

What Groups were Targeted in the Purges?

The Great Terror (Yezhovshina) 1936-1938

• The Great Terror (known as Yezhovshina in Russian) was initiated by Kirov's assassination.
• Historians differ in opinions regarding its end - some believe it concluded in 1938, while others argue it persisted until Trotsky's assassination.

Trotsky's Assassination

• Trotsky posed a significant threat to Stalin's leadership.
• The Moscow Trials, in Trotsky's absence, condemned him to death.
  • Despite not being present, he was sentenced to death.
  • He had already left the USSR.
  • He then traveled to various countries before eventually settling in Mexico.
• Trotsky actively criticized Stalin through numerous articles.
• In 1940, Trotsky met his demise through assassination.
  • A Spanish communist named Ramón Mercader fatally attacked Trotsky with an ice pick at his residence.
  • The Soviet government denied responsibility for Trotsky's murder.