16.3.7

Stalin in Power

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Stalin in Power

When in power, Stalin used terror to strengthen his control. He got rid of any opponents and forced through economic policies to modernise the Soviet Union.

Illustrative background for Use of terrorIllustrative background for Use of terror ?? "content

Use of terror

  • Stalin used purges to get rid of any opposition and increase Communist control.
  • By 1933, 18% of Communist party members had been expelled for disloyalty.
  • Stalin used ‘show trials’ to make examples of ‘traitors’ to the Soviet Union.
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The Great Purge

  • The Great Purge (or Great Terror) was between 1936 and 1938.
  • As many as eight million people were arrested during the Great Terror (1937-38). One million were shot. Two million died in the labour camps. The numbers are still disputed by historians.
    • The vast majority were, however, innocent of any crimes.
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Propaganda

  • Stalin made himself the focus of the Communist Party.
  • Stalin presented himself as working alongside factories, farms and workers. This made him seem close to the people.
  • He was called the ‘Leader, Teacher and Friend’ of the Soviet Union.
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Collectivisation

  • Under collectivisation peasants were forced to work to government targets and share resources.
  • This was very unpopular and millions of peasants died as a result.
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Five Year Plans

  • Stalin introduced Five Year Plans to industrialise (focus on industrial activities) the Soviet Union’s economy.

Jump to other topics

1The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1Anglo-Saxon England

1.2The Contest for the English Throne

1.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.4King John

1.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.6The Black Death

2Worldviews

3The Empire of Mali

4The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

5The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

6The Peasants' Revolt

7Religion in the Middle Ages

8Slavery, 1619-1833 AD

9The English Civil War, 1642-1660

10The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1840

11US Independence, 1775-1783

12The French Revolution, 1789-1815

13The British Empire, 1857–1930

14Suffrage

15World War 1, 1914-1918

16The Inter-War Years, 1919-1939

17World War 2, 1939-1945

18The Cold War, 1947-1962

19Civil Rights in the USA, 1954-1975

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