The purge of the military and NKVD Order 0047

Stalin had never trusted the Red Army because the majority of its senior officers had been appointed by Trotsky. He feared that the military might try to seize power

In June 1937, 8 Generals and the Head of the Red Army's Political Commissars were put on trial

• Following their torture at the hands of the NKVD, they confessed to espionage and plotting with Trotsky
• They were executed in June 1937
• In…