Red Terror & Centralisation

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The Red Terror

The Bolsheviks moved quickly to crush their opposition and to restrict political freedoms.

Quashing opposition

As early as December 1917, all non-Bolshevik newspapers, even those of other left wing groups, were banned.
The Kadet Party was banned and its leaders arrested.
Law courts were replaced by Revolutionary Tribunals, and the Cheka shot enemies of the Bolsheviks.

The secret police

The Cheka terrorised enemies of the Bolsheviks during the Civil War and the so-called Red Terror. The Cheka was then renamed the GPU (State Political Directorate) in 1922, and then the OGPU (All-Union State Political Directorate) in 1923.
During the Red Terror (September 1918 to February 1919), between 50,000 and 140,000 people were executed, and concentration camps were established on the Solevetsky Islands.

One-party state

Between 1918 and 1922, the SR, Mensheviks and anarchists were removed and deported (sent into exile in other countries). Russia became a one-party state.
In February 1918, Bolshevik decrees became more extreme. The party could now force anyone to do hard labour and could execute anyone who resisted.

Bolshevik Centralisation

In March 1918 AD, the Bolsheviks became the Russian Communist Party (of Bolsheviks). There was a shift towards ‘communism’ rather than ‘Bolshevism’ in public. This led to a process of centralisation.

The Sovnarkom

Lenin was the chairman of the government, which was called Sovnarkom (the Council of People’s Commissars).
He was responsible for Russia’s development into a brutal dictatorship, rather than into a genuinely equal communist society.
The centralisation of power under his control was typical of his leadership style.

The Communist Party

Although the Soviets were supposed to be in charge in the regions, in reality power was completely under the control of the Communist Party.
The Soviets were eventually required to agree automatically with the decisions of the central party.
While from the outside, the communist government seemed like a democracy, in reality the Communist Party decided everything.
When elections were held, it was only members of the Party who could stand for office. Criticism was not allowed.

The Politburo

The Central Committee was elected at the Party Congress to represent the party between congresses. The Central Committee elected the Politburo (the key policymaking committee).
The first members of the Politburo were Lenin, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Trotsky and Stalin.
From 1917 AD onwards, the Politburo became increasingly powerful.

The Soviet Union

In 1924 AD, under a new constitution, Russia was reorganised into the USSR - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
There were initially four republics. The largest was the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic.
Officially, each region had voluntarily become part of the USSR.
- In reality, the Red Army had forced the regions to join and there was no way for them to leave the USSR.
In December 1925 AD, the Communist Party became the ‘All-Union Communist Party (of Bolsheviks)’ in response to this change.

1The End of Tsardom

1.1Russia's Economy & Society

1.1.1Industrialisation

1.1.2Living & Working Conditions

1.2Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court

1.2.1Growth of Revolutionary Opposition

1.2.2The 1905 Revolution & the October Manifesto

1.2.3Reforming Russia Before 1914 - Stolypin

1.2.4The Duma & Political Stalemate

1.3The First World War

1.3.1The Impact of Military Defeats

1.3.2Social & Economic Effects of WW1

1.3.3Romanov Unpopularity

1.3.4The Tsar's Abdication

1.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - The End of Tsardom

2Lenin's New Society

2.1The Provisional Government

2.1.1The Failure of the Government

2.1.2Social & Economic Problems

2.1.3Lenin & Trotsky

2.1.4The Growth of the Bolsheviks

2.1.5The October / November Revolution

2.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - The Provisional Government

2.2The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship

2.2.1The End of the First World War

2.2.2The Cheka

2.2.3Red Terror & Centralisation

2.2.4The Civil War & The Red Army

2.2.5Propaganda

2.2.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Early Bolshevism & the Civil War

2.3Social & Economic Developments

2.3.1War Communism

2.3.2The Kronstadt Rising

2.3.3The New Economic Policy (NEP)

2.3.4The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky

2.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Social & Economic Developments

3Stalin's USSR

3.1Stalin the Dictator

3.1.1The Power Struggle to Succeed Lenin

3.1.2The Communist Party & Government

3.1.3The Terror & the Purges

3.1.4The Secret Police

3.1.5Cult of Personality

3.1.6Propaganda & Censorship under Stalin

3.1.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Stalin's Dictatorship

3.2Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR

3.2.1Collectivisation

3.2.2Five Year Plans

3.2.3Social & Economic Consequences

3.2.4Social & Economic Consequences 2

3.2.5The Extent of Modernisation

3.3Impact of the Second World War

3.3.1Stalin's Wartime Leadership

3.3.2Political, Economic & Social Consequences of War

3.3.3Top Grade AO2/3 - Modernisation of the USSR

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