Purges = cleaning out impurities.
The first purge took place in 1918 & there were periodic chistki (cleansings) throughout 1920s. they
occurred when leaders wanted to exercise more control over party or reshape it. E.g. Lenin Enrolment
of 1924.
The party took in more members during crisis (Civil War) then purged – it was a non-violent process.
They were expelled but not usually arrested.
Great Terror: after Sergei Kirov murdered, from 1936-8, many old Bols leaders were disposed of.
Phases of purges:
1. Chistka (1932-5) – 20% of party expelled non-violently after collectivisation
2. Show-trials where prominent old Bols tried and executed
3. Yezhovschina, named after Yezhov the head of the NKVD (1937-8) – 1000s of party
members, state officials, members of armed forces, industrial directors & professionals were
denounced, arrested & imprisoned. Some executed, more died in Soviet labour camps.
The use of terror:
Lenin Stalin
Lenin used it to crush opposition. Lenin had a Stalin used it to push through the 5YPs. Millions
clear understanding that terror should not be of kulaks/class enemies were killed/sent to labour
used on party comrades. camps. Many workers and engineers, accused of
sabotage and wrecking, were sent to the Gulag.
Gov organisations, inc. Gosplan were purged of
ex-Mens and old bourgeois intelligentsia. In the
Great Terror, Stalin unleashed terror inside the
party, which included an enormous number of
people in the wider society.
Why join the Communist Party?
Not always bc of ideology, but for the privileges that came with the party card inc. larger rations &
access to scarce consumer goods. In some areas, it gave members power over other groups. People
were expelled for reasons such as drunkenness, corruption & not being an active member.
Stalin Constitution (1936):
- Freedom from arbitrary arrest
- Freedom of speech and the press
- The right to demonstrate
- Respect for privacy of the home & personal correspondence
- Employment for all
- Universal suffrage for over 18s, free elections & secret ballots.
Sections:
- Soviet Union was a federal state w/ 11 autonomous republics
- Ethnic groups would have local autonomy within the republics
- Old Congress of Soviets replaced by Supreme Soviet, a single legislative body, filled by
elected reps from the Soviet republics
- Council of the People’s Commissars would cont. as the chief executive authority
- Soviet state embraced equality for all & join ownership of the means of production.
Hollow & cynical propaganda bc it was being systematically abused. However, it was made clear that
the rights were subordinate to the interest of working classes. Only Communists could be put up for
elections so one-party dominance was assured.
Written by Bukharin & Radek who were to perish in the purges. Largely intended for international
consumption, to show Communist sympathisers that the Soviet state was democratic at heart and
provided the chief hope for the future of the world.
Stalin claimed that his constitution was ‘proof that socialism & democracy are invincible’.
The first purge took place in 1918 & there were periodic chistki (cleansings) throughout 1920s. they
occurred when leaders wanted to exercise more control over party or reshape it. E.g. Lenin Enrolment
of 1924.
The party took in more members during crisis (Civil War) then purged – it was a non-violent process.
They were expelled but not usually arrested.
Great Terror: after Sergei Kirov murdered, from 1936-8, many old Bols leaders were disposed of.
Phases of purges:
1. Chistka (1932-5) – 20% of party expelled non-violently after collectivisation
2. Show-trials where prominent old Bols tried and executed
3. Yezhovschina, named after Yezhov the head of the NKVD (1937-8) – 1000s of party
members, state officials, members of armed forces, industrial directors & professionals were
denounced, arrested & imprisoned. Some executed, more died in Soviet labour camps.
The use of terror:
Lenin Stalin
Lenin used it to crush opposition. Lenin had a Stalin used it to push through the 5YPs. Millions
clear understanding that terror should not be of kulaks/class enemies were killed/sent to labour
used on party comrades. camps. Many workers and engineers, accused of
sabotage and wrecking, were sent to the Gulag.
Gov organisations, inc. Gosplan were purged of
ex-Mens and old bourgeois intelligentsia. In the
Great Terror, Stalin unleashed terror inside the
party, which included an enormous number of
people in the wider society.
Why join the Communist Party?
Not always bc of ideology, but for the privileges that came with the party card inc. larger rations &
access to scarce consumer goods. In some areas, it gave members power over other groups. People
were expelled for reasons such as drunkenness, corruption & not being an active member.
Stalin Constitution (1936):
- Freedom from arbitrary arrest
- Freedom of speech and the press
- The right to demonstrate
- Respect for privacy of the home & personal correspondence
- Employment for all
- Universal suffrage for over 18s, free elections & secret ballots.
Sections:
- Soviet Union was a federal state w/ 11 autonomous republics
- Ethnic groups would have local autonomy within the republics
- Old Congress of Soviets replaced by Supreme Soviet, a single legislative body, filled by
elected reps from the Soviet republics
- Council of the People’s Commissars would cont. as the chief executive authority
- Soviet state embraced equality for all & join ownership of the means of production.
Hollow & cynical propaganda bc it was being systematically abused. However, it was made clear that
the rights were subordinate to the interest of working classes. Only Communists could be put up for
elections so one-party dominance was assured.
Written by Bukharin & Radek who were to perish in the purges. Largely intended for international
consumption, to show Communist sympathisers that the Soviet state was democratic at heart and
provided the chief hope for the future of the world.
Stalin claimed that his constitution was ‘proof that socialism & democracy are invincible’.
