Reasons behind the Purges
- Created by: HappyGiraffe
- Created on: 28-04-22 10:59
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- reasons behind the Purges
- to cover up problems in the economy
- there were accidents in poorly run mines so the government made it seem like 'enemies' were causing these accidents
- experts, and others, were blamed for deliberately causing problems in the mines and factories- then they were shot
- people were shot as a warning to others, and to show how important it was to meet targets
- factory managers often resented super-keen workers called Stakhanovites
- these managers soon found themselves in the firing line, as they were blamed for getting in the way of fast economic development
- to control peasants and workers better
- many workers in the Soviet Union were not used to factory discipline and drifted from job to job.
- some workers used false papers. some also lied about their backgrounds to try and 'reinvent themselves', in order to survive in the communist Soviet Union
- Kulaks released from prison, and peasants escaping a famine caused by collectivisation in the Ukraine, fled to the growing cities to try to start a new life
- executions were used to remove anyone not trusted by the state
- to remove old rivals within the communist party
- though Stalin had won the power struggle, he still did not feel secure as Zinoviev, Kamanev, Bukharin, and their allies were still in the party
- as problems increased in agriculture and industry, other leading communists became critical of Stalin
- in 1932, Stalin wanted an old Bolshevik- Ryutin- shot, but could not persuade the Politburo to kill a leading communist.
- this weakness angered Stalin, making him feel insecure, so he wanted his rivals dead.
- as a result, many of those who had been close associates of Lenin were shot
- this weakness angered Stalin, making him feel insecure, so he wanted his rivals dead.
- to control local communist party bosses
- many local party bosses were friendly with local NKVD commanders, and covered up their own mistakes, while punishing others
- some local bosses were arrested and shot in order to persuade others to follow orders
- there was much corruption, as leaders in moscow struggled to get local party bosses to do as they were told
- to blame others for the assassination on Kirov
- Kirov was the Leningrad party boss
- he opposed the shooting of Ryutin, and in the Central Committee elections in 1934 he may have gained more votes than Stalin
- Kirow resisted attempts from Stalin to move him to Moscow. Later, he was shot. Many historians think that Stalin was responsible.
- to cover up problems in the economy
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