Dictatorship and Conflict in the
USSR, 1924-53
Essay-Questions
Contents:
1. Main reason for the purges
2. Main effect of rapid industrialisation
3. ‘The setbacks of 1941-42 were the most significant feature of the Second World War in the
Soviet Union.’
4. Main effect of collectivization
5. Main reason of rapid industrialisation
Main reason for the purges
The main reason why Stalin launched the purges was to gain total control over the Soviet Union,
while other reasons such as the removal of Old Bolsheviks and his paranoid personality also played a
significant role.
According to the interpretation, one of the main reasons for the introduction of the purges was
Stalin’s paranoid personality. He always saw enemies everywhere, even when they did not exist and
feared that people would always betray him in the end. His paranoid personality became evident
when his wife killed herself during an argument they were having regarding the Holodomor. At her
funeral, Stalin said ‘she died as an enemy’. This suggests that he did not show any sensitivity, even
towards his wife’s death. He also suspected ‘wreckers’ for wanting to sabotage industrialisation on
behalf of his political rivals, during the Five-Year Plans, instead of understanding that quotas were
reasonably high and that many people had no experience in heavy industry, so their mistakes were
unintentional. He also suspected that foreigners who had moved to the Soviet Union because they
agreed with the communist ideology were in fact spies. Lastly, Stalin enjoyed taking revenge and
easily resorted to violence, as proven by the torture he used to force confessions out of his enemies.
Overall, Stalin’s paranoid personality made him believe that anyone could be an ‘enemy of the
state’, so it was a major reason why he started the purges.
The most important reason for the introduction of the purges was that Stalin wanted to have total
control over everyone. During dekulakisation, many officers refused to arrest and execute kulaks, as
they knew them personally. By creating an atmosphere of constant terror, Stalin showed the officers
that they had no choice but to follow all his orders. In addition, industrialisation and collectivisation
had created a lot of instability in society. New cities were overcrowded and dangerous while many
former peasants who had been forced to become workers directed their anger towards the
Communist Party. Stalin wanted to ensure that all those unhappy people would be too afraid to
cause any problems and would remain disciplined under his rule. It was also crucial to him to
guarantee that the Five-Year Plans would continue. Not only had he made it his mission to make the
1
, USSR and industrial power, but the production of weapons was necessary at that time. When Hitler
was appointed as German Chancellor in 1933, the probability of a war between Germany and the
Soviet Union seemed to be increasing more and more. Therefore, Stalin needed the already
exhausted workers to continue producing at an even higher rate, something they would at least try
to do, if it meant avoiding the purges. Stalin also wanted to ensure that the Red Army would remain
loyal to him in the case of a war. In general, he feared the military, as it had the power to overthrow
him, using weapons. He was also particularly cautious, because many officers had been appointed by
Trotsky, so they would dislike him. Stalin had many reasons to fear the people of the Soviet Union,
especially during such unstable times. Thus, the need to keep everyone under control as the most
important reason for the purges.
Another important reason for the launch of the Purges was getting rid of the Old Bolsheviks. The
opposition to Stalin seemed to the increasing constantly. For example, when Martemyan Ryutin
attacked his policies of rapid industrialisation and collectivisation and he ordered his execution,
other members of the Politburo voted against him. This showed that important members of the
Party had their own opinions and were willing to oppose Stalin, who consequently saw them as a
threat. In addition, many historians believed that he was the one who had organised the murder of
Kirov, who seemed very popular, as Party members liked him personally and supported his calls for
the position of General Secretary, but he refused. However, Stalin still found out about this incident,
which would be an important motive for him to kill him. Nevertheless, whether he had planned the
murder or not, he conveniently blamed his former opponents in the power struggle. He tortured and
forced confessions out of Kamenev, Zinoviev and Bukharin before executing them, while blaming
Trotsky as well. By purging all the political rivals, he ever had or even the ones that could develop
into rivals, he could be certain that nobody would challenge his power. Therefore, their removal was
an important reason for introducing the Purges.
In conclusion, the most important reason that led to the purges was the need to keep everyone
under control. Although Stalin’s paranoid personality made him see traitors everywhere, by creating
fear amongst everyone, he could ensure that people would not betray him and would remain
obedient, especially at a time when the Soviet Union was threatened. Moreover, even though
removing the Old Bolsheviks would mean that no politician would ever challenge him, total control
over everyone, including the Red Army and ordinary people would mean that he would forcefully
gain so much support and power that nobody would ever dare threaten his power regardless.
2
USSR, 1924-53
Essay-Questions
Contents:
1. Main reason for the purges
2. Main effect of rapid industrialisation
3. ‘The setbacks of 1941-42 were the most significant feature of the Second World War in the
Soviet Union.’
4. Main effect of collectivization
5. Main reason of rapid industrialisation
Main reason for the purges
The main reason why Stalin launched the purges was to gain total control over the Soviet Union,
while other reasons such as the removal of Old Bolsheviks and his paranoid personality also played a
significant role.
According to the interpretation, one of the main reasons for the introduction of the purges was
Stalin’s paranoid personality. He always saw enemies everywhere, even when they did not exist and
feared that people would always betray him in the end. His paranoid personality became evident
when his wife killed herself during an argument they were having regarding the Holodomor. At her
funeral, Stalin said ‘she died as an enemy’. This suggests that he did not show any sensitivity, even
towards his wife’s death. He also suspected ‘wreckers’ for wanting to sabotage industrialisation on
behalf of his political rivals, during the Five-Year Plans, instead of understanding that quotas were
reasonably high and that many people had no experience in heavy industry, so their mistakes were
unintentional. He also suspected that foreigners who had moved to the Soviet Union because they
agreed with the communist ideology were in fact spies. Lastly, Stalin enjoyed taking revenge and
easily resorted to violence, as proven by the torture he used to force confessions out of his enemies.
Overall, Stalin’s paranoid personality made him believe that anyone could be an ‘enemy of the
state’, so it was a major reason why he started the purges.
The most important reason for the introduction of the purges was that Stalin wanted to have total
control over everyone. During dekulakisation, many officers refused to arrest and execute kulaks, as
they knew them personally. By creating an atmosphere of constant terror, Stalin showed the officers
that they had no choice but to follow all his orders. In addition, industrialisation and collectivisation
had created a lot of instability in society. New cities were overcrowded and dangerous while many
former peasants who had been forced to become workers directed their anger towards the
Communist Party. Stalin wanted to ensure that all those unhappy people would be too afraid to
cause any problems and would remain disciplined under his rule. It was also crucial to him to
guarantee that the Five-Year Plans would continue. Not only had he made it his mission to make the
1
, USSR and industrial power, but the production of weapons was necessary at that time. When Hitler
was appointed as German Chancellor in 1933, the probability of a war between Germany and the
Soviet Union seemed to be increasing more and more. Therefore, Stalin needed the already
exhausted workers to continue producing at an even higher rate, something they would at least try
to do, if it meant avoiding the purges. Stalin also wanted to ensure that the Red Army would remain
loyal to him in the case of a war. In general, he feared the military, as it had the power to overthrow
him, using weapons. He was also particularly cautious, because many officers had been appointed by
Trotsky, so they would dislike him. Stalin had many reasons to fear the people of the Soviet Union,
especially during such unstable times. Thus, the need to keep everyone under control as the most
important reason for the purges.
Another important reason for the launch of the Purges was getting rid of the Old Bolsheviks. The
opposition to Stalin seemed to the increasing constantly. For example, when Martemyan Ryutin
attacked his policies of rapid industrialisation and collectivisation and he ordered his execution,
other members of the Politburo voted against him. This showed that important members of the
Party had their own opinions and were willing to oppose Stalin, who consequently saw them as a
threat. In addition, many historians believed that he was the one who had organised the murder of
Kirov, who seemed very popular, as Party members liked him personally and supported his calls for
the position of General Secretary, but he refused. However, Stalin still found out about this incident,
which would be an important motive for him to kill him. Nevertheless, whether he had planned the
murder or not, he conveniently blamed his former opponents in the power struggle. He tortured and
forced confessions out of Kamenev, Zinoviev and Bukharin before executing them, while blaming
Trotsky as well. By purging all the political rivals, he ever had or even the ones that could develop
into rivals, he could be certain that nobody would challenge his power. Therefore, their removal was
an important reason for introducing the Purges.
In conclusion, the most important reason that led to the purges was the need to keep everyone
under control. Although Stalin’s paranoid personality made him see traitors everywhere, by creating
fear amongst everyone, he could ensure that people would not betray him and would remain
obedient, especially at a time when the Soviet Union was threatened. Moreover, even though
removing the Old Bolsheviks would mean that no politician would ever challenge him, total control
over everyone, including the Red Army and ordinary people would mean that he would forcefully
gain so much support and power that nobody would ever dare threaten his power regardless.
2
