Stalin's Show Trials
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Questions and Answers

What was one method used by Stalin to force peasants to join collective farms?

  • Offering financial incentives to join collective farms
  • Providing free education to the peasants
  • Encouraging the peasants with propaganda
  • Sending the red army to forcibly confiscate the land (correct)

    • What percentage of peasant farmers had joined collective farms by 1930?

  • 58% (correct)
  • 75%
  • 10%
  • 35%

    • What was the outcome of the famine that broke out between 1932-1933?

  • 1 million deaths
  • 10 million deaths (correct)
  • No deaths were reported
  • 5 million deaths

    • What did Stalin use to create a cult of personality for himself?

    <p>Renaming cities and streets after himself</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the show trials orchestrated by Stalin?

    <p>To bring communism to the world stage and demonstrate the power of purges</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role did Andrei Vyshinsky play in the show trials?

    <p>He was the prosecutor who interrogated the accused individuals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the fate of the individuals accused during the show trials?

    <p>They were executed based on flimsy evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Stalin's purge of the Red army serve his political agenda?

    <p>It removed the threat of a military uprising against him</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main purpose of the NKVD during the Terror under Stalin?

    <p>To eliminate any opponents or suspected opponents of Stalin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the size of the gulag Kolyma indicate about Stalin's terror?

    <p>It demonstrated the large-scale nature of Stalin's terror</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of Stalin's notorious show trials?

    <p>To eliminate any person perceived as a threat to the government</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why were even NKVD members afraid during the Terror under Stalin?

    <p>They feared falling victim themselves or facing punishment if they failed to reach the arrest quota</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the working conditions like during the first five-year plan in the USSR?

    <p>Extremely tough</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did fear and propaganda influence the behavior of workers in the USSR during the five-year plans?

    <p>Workers strived to work like Stakhanov, who was declared a 'hero of socialist labour' for exceeding targets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the aim of Stalin's policy of collectivism in the USSR?

    <p>To join all small unproductive peasant farms together to form large state-owned farms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the actual impact of Stalin's policy of collectivism on small farmers?

    <p>Small farmers destroyed their produce and livestock when asked to hand them over to the state, leading to a crash in production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main objective of Stalin's 5-year plans?

    <p>To make Russia self-sufficient, modernize the Soviet Union, and ultimately make it a world power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What industries did Stalin focus on during his first 5-year plan?

    <p>Heavy industry such as coal, iron, machinery, and railways.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the focus of Stalin's 5-year plan during the period of 1933-1938?

    <p>Consumer goods, which were largely taken over by military weapons production.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant infrastructure project was undertaken as part of Stalin's 5-year plans?

    <p>The construction of a huge canal connecting the White Sea with the Volga.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method did Stalin use to force peasants to join collective farms?

    <p>Stalin used force and the Red Army to confiscate the land and coerce peasants to join collective farms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of the collective farms established during the 5-year plans?

    <p>The collective farms were inefficient, leading to a famine that caused the deaths of 10 million people between 1932-1933.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Stalin consolidate his power through economic control?

    <p>Stalin's policy of using harsh penalties and the 5-year plans furthered his control of the economy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What tactics did Stalin use to create a cult of personality for himself?

    <p>Stalin effectively used propaganda, statues, posters, renaming of cities, and manipulation of media to create a cult of personality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the main characteristics of Stalin's rule in Russia in terms of state control in the economy?

    <p>Absolute fear, propaganda, and establishment of state control in the economy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Stalin aim to make Russia self-sufficient and modernize the Soviet Union?

    <p>Through the implementation of ambitious 5-year plans focusing on heavy industry and consumer goods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main focus of Stalin's first 5-year plan in terms of industrial development?

    <p>Heavy industry such as coal, iron, machinery, and railways.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the objectives of Stalin's 5-year plan during the period of 1933-1938?

    <p>The focus shifted to military weapons and infrastructure projects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact did Stalin's policy of collectivism have on small farmers?

    <p>Destroyed their produce and livestock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Stalin's policy of collectivism aim to restructure farming in the USSR?

    <p>Join small unproductive peasant farms to form large state-owned farms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the economic impact of Stalin's policy of collectivism in the USSR?

    <p>Designed to increase production, but resulted in a crash in production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the use of fear and propaganda influence the behavior of workers in the USSR during the five-year plans?

    <p>Workers strived to work like Stakhanov</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of peasant farmers had joined collective farms by 1930?

    <p>58%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of the collective farms established during the 5-year plans?

    <p>Inefficient</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Stalin aim to make Russia self-sufficient and modernize the Soviet Union?

    <p>Through his 5-year plans</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the impact of Stalin's policy of collectivism on small farmers?

    <p>Forced to join</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Methods of Control and Collectivization

    • Stalin utilized violence and intimidation to force peasants into collective farms, including confiscation and deportation.
    • By 1930, approximately 80% of peasant farmers had joined collective farms.
    • The famine from 1932-1933 resulted in the death of millions, particularly in Ukraine, due to grain requisition policies and poor harvests.

    Cult of Personality and Political Maneuvering

    • Stalin cultivated a cult of personality through propaganda portraying him as an infallible leader and savior of the nation.
    • Show trials were orchestrated to demonstrate Stalin's power, eliminate opposition, and create a façade of political legitimacy.
    • Andrei Vyshinsky served as the chief prosecutor, playing a significant role in orchestrating the show trials to ensure guilty verdicts.

    Consequences of Political Repressions

    • Many accused during the show trials faced execution or severe penalties, reinforcing a climate of fear.
    • The purge of the Red Army removed perceived threats to Stalin's power, consolidating his control over the military.
    • The NKVD's main purpose during the Terror was to enforce state security, suppress dissent, and manage state-sponsored violence.

    Gulags and Working Conditions

    • The vastness of the Kolyma gulag highlighted the extensive nature of Stalin's terror, with harsh conditions leading to high mortality rates.
    • During the first five-year plan, workers faced grueling conditions, long hours, and inadequate resources, contributing to widespread hardships.
    • Fear and propaganda effectively coerced workers into greater productivity, as failure to meet quotas led to severe repercussions.

    Economic Policies and Impact

    • Stalin's policy of collectivism aimed to consolidate small farms into large, state-controlled entities to boost agricultural output.
    • The impact on small farmers included loss of land and autonomy, resulting in resistance and widespread discontent.
    • The primary objective of Stalin's five-year plans was rapid industrialization and modernization of the economy, focusing on heavy industry.

    Industrialization Focus

    • The first five-year plan targeted industries such as steel, coal, and machinery, emphasizing infrastructure and production capabilities.
    • The five-year plan from 1933-1938 expanded industrial production and aimed at achieving increased self-sufficiency.
    • A significant infrastructure project during this era was the construction of the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station, showcasing the emphasis on large-scale initiatives.

    Overall Impact of Policies

    • Collectivization dramatically altered agricultural practices but led to reduced productivity initially and increased famine risks.
    • Stalin's overarching goal was to modernize the Soviet Union to compete with Western powers, achieving this through state control over the economy and aggressive industrial policies.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge about the infamous show trials orchestrated by Stalin to eliminate political opponents and instill fear in the public during the 1930s. Learn about the key figures, accusations, and outcomes of these highly-publicized trials.

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