Great Purge

Definition

The Great Purge was a campaign of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938, orchestrated by Joseph Stalin. It involved the widespread elimination of perceived enemies, including party officials, military leaders, and ordinary citizens, through arrest, imprisonment, and execution. This period is characterized by a climate of fear and is emblematic of totalitarian rule, showcasing the lengths to which a regime will go to maintain control over its population.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Purge resulted in the execution of hundreds of thousands of people, including prominent Communist Party members and military leaders.
2. Many individuals were falsely accused of crimes or treason and faced brutal interrogations before being sentenced to death or labor camps.
3. The purges had a significant impact on the Red Army's leadership, leading to a weakened military just before World War II.
4. Stalin used the purges to eliminate potential rivals and consolidate his power within the Communist Party, creating a culture of fear among citizens.
5. The Great Purge not only targeted political adversaries but also affected various social groups, including intellectuals, artists, and ordinary citizens, contributing to widespread paranoia.

Review Questions

• How did the Great Purge reflect the characteristics of totalitarianism in Stalin's regime?
  • The Great Purge exemplified totalitarianism by demonstrating how Stalin sought absolute control over the Soviet Union through fear and repression. By eliminating perceived enemies within the Communist Party and society at large, Stalin maintained power and silenced dissent. The use of state apparatuses like the NKVD to carry out mass arrests and executions highlighted the extreme measures taken to enforce loyalty and conformity, creating an atmosphere where citizens were afraid to speak out or challenge authority.
• Discuss the effects of the Great Purge on Soviet society and its military capabilities leading up to World War II.
  • The Great Purge had devastating effects on Soviet society by instilling a pervasive culture of fear and mistrust. As many party officials and military leaders were executed or imprisoned, the Red Army suffered from a loss of experienced leadership, which significantly weakened its effectiveness. This resulted in serious consequences for the Soviet Union's readiness as World War II approached, leaving it vulnerable during early conflicts such as the invasion by Nazi Germany.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of the Great Purge on the development of Soviet political culture and governance post-Stalin.
  • The long-term implications of the Great Purge significantly shaped Soviet political culture and governance even after Stalin's death. The pervasive atmosphere of suspicion and repression established during this period influenced subsequent leadership styles and policies in the Soviet Union. Additionally, the legacy of widespread fear contributed to a reluctance among future leaders to openly challenge authority or reform policies, thereby entrenching authoritarian practices within Soviet governance for decades.

Related terms

Show Trials: Public trials in the Soviet Union during the Great Purge that were designed to showcase the supposed guilt of accused individuals, often involving forced confessions and staged evidence.

NKVD: The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs, a law enforcement agency in the Soviet Union responsible for carrying out Stalin's purges and enforcing state security.

Totalitarianism:

A political system in which the state seeks to regulate nearly every aspect of public and private life, often through oppressive means, as seen in Stalin's Soviet Union.