3.1.3

Show Trials

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The 'Show Trials' of 1936–1938

‘Show trials’ were used for high profile prisoners.

Public nature of the 'Show Trials'

Public nature of the 'Show Trials'

  • Most ordinary people were not given the right to a trial. Show trials were for high profile Russians.
  • The script was written in advance for show trials and everyone knew what the outcome would be.
  • Films of the 1936-38 show trials were released around the world.
The most high-profile trials

The most high-profile trials

  • Zinoviev and Kamenev’s trial took place in 1936.
  • They were made to confess to aiding the now-exiled Trotsky in terrorist activities.
  • Bukharin then received his show trial in 1938.
  • Stalin had fully eliminated all of his former rivals.
The outcome

The outcome

  • People often confessed to crimes they had not committed in the hope of mercy, in an attempt to protect their loved ones and because of their fear of torture.
  • The show trials created the impression of the existence of a real threat to the USSR from internal enemies.
  • Many workers actually supported the show trials, because it gave them a way to denounce their bosses for personal reasons, and to get them fired or arrested as a result.
Jump to other topics
1

The Leadership Struggle, 1924-1929

1.1

Struggle for Power 1924-28

1.1.1Stalin & his Rivals1.1.2The End of Lenin & Stalin1.1.3Stalin & the Communist Party
2

Five Year Plans & Collectivisation

2.1

Changes in Industry

2.1.1Industrialisation & Gosplan
2.2

Agriculture & Collectivisation

2.2.1Five Year Plans & Grain Hoarding2.2.2Collectivisation2.2.3Kulaks
3

Purges, Show Trials & The Cult of Stalin

3.1

The Use of Terror in the 1930s

3.1.1Purges3.1.2NKVD3.1.3Show Trials3.1.4Labour Camps
3.2

Propaganda & Censorship

3.2.1Art & Religion Under Stalin3.2.2Media & the Cult of Stalin3.2.3The Cult of Stalin3.2.4History
4

Life in the Soviet Union, 1924-1941

4.1

Life in the Soviet Union

4.1.1Living Conditions & Ethnic Minorities in the USSR
5

The Second World War, 1941-1953

5.1

USSR in the War

5.1.11941-19425.1.21943-1945
5.2

Stalin & WW2

5.2.1Stalin's Popularity5.2.2Post-War Consolidation
5.3

Post-War Recovery

5.3.1Economic Recovery5.3.2The USSR by 1953

Practice questions on Show Trials

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Show Trials in the 1930s:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    How were the show trials made so public?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    When did Zinoviev and Kamenev’s trial take place?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which of the following about show trials are correct?True / false
Answer all questions on Show Trials

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NKVD

Labour Camps