2.4 The Great Purge and the Reign of Terror

The Great Purge, a brutal campaign of repression in the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938, was orchestrated by Stalin to eliminate perceived enemies and tighten his grip on power. It targeted party members, officials, and ordinary citizens, resulting in millions of executions, imprisonments, and exiles.

The purge reshaped Soviet society, creating a culture of fear and conformity. While it initially strengthened Stalin's control, it also weakened the military and intelligentsia, leaving lasting scars on the nation's psyche and hampering its development for decades to come.

The Great Purge: Causes and Consequences

Stalin's Motivations and Targets

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• The Great Purge, also known as the "Great Terror," was a campaign of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938, orchestrated by Joseph Stalin to eliminate perceived enemies and consolidate his power
• Causes of the Great Purge included Stalin's desire to eliminate potential rivals, his paranoia and fear of opposition, and his aim to create a more centralized and obedient society
• The purges targeted various groups, including Communist Party members, government officials, military officers, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens, who were accused of being "enemies of the people," often based on fabricated charges

Consequences and Long-term Effects

• Consequences of the Great Purge included the execution, imprisonment, or exile of millions of people, decimating the Soviet leadership and intelligentsia
• The purges significantly weakened the Soviet military, as many experienced officers were removed, which would later impact the country's performance in World War II
• The atmosphere of fear and suspicion created by the purges led to a culture of conformity and obedience, as people were afraid to express dissent or challenge the regime
• The Great Purge had long-lasting effects on Soviet society, leaving a legacy of trauma, distrust, and political repression that continued to shape the country for decades

The NKVD's Role in the Purge

Investigation, Arrest and Interrogation Tactics

• The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD), the Soviet secret police, played a central role in planning and executing the Great Purge under the leadership of Nikolai Yezhov
• The NKVD was responsible for conducting investigations, arrests, interrogations, and trials of suspected "enemies of the people," often using torture and coercion to extract confessions
• The secret police operated a vast network of informants and encouraged citizens to report on each other, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and fear
• The NKVD oversaw the Gulag system, a network of forced labor camps where many purge victims were imprisoned and subjected to harsh conditions (Kolyma, Vorkuta)

Show Trials and Disregard for Due Process

• Show trials, such as the Moscow Trials, were staged by the NKVD to publicly condemn and eliminate prominent figures accused of treason and conspiracy against the Soviet state
• The NKVD's actions during the Great Purge were characterized by arbitrariness, brutality, and a disregard for due process, as people were often arrested and punished without evidence or fair trials
• The fear instilled by the NKVD's activities led to self-censorship, conformity, and a reluctance to express dissent among the Soviet population, as people sought to avoid becoming targets of the purges
• The NKVD's tactics created a climate of terror where even the innocent could be accused and punished based on mere suspicion or fabricated evidence (Zinoviev, Kamenev)

Impact of the Purge on Soviet Society

Reshaping the Soviet Leadership

• The Great Purge significantly reshaped the Soviet leadership, as many high-ranking Communist Party members, government officials, and military officers were targeted, accused of disloyalty, and removed from their positions
  • Prominent figures such as Nikolai Bukharin, Grigory Zinoviev, and Lev Kamenev were arrested, subjected to show trials, and executed
  • The purges created a power vacuum that allowed Stalin to fill key positions with loyalists and consolidate his control over the party and state apparatus

Repression of the Intelligentsia

• The Soviet intelligentsia, including writers, artists, scientists, and academics, faced severe repression during the purges, as they were often viewed as potential sources of dissent
  • Many intellectuals were arrested, imprisoned, or executed, while others were forced to conform to the state's ideology and produce works that glorified the regime (Osip Mandelstam, Nikolai Vavilov)
  • The purges stifled creativity, free thought, and scientific progress, as intellectuals were pressured to adhere to the party line and avoid expressing critical or unconventional ideas

Impact on the General Population

• The general population experienced the Great Purge through an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty, and the constant threat of denunciation and arrest
  • Ordinary citizens were encouraged to inform on their neighbors, colleagues, and even family members, creating a climate of distrust and suspicion
  • Many people lived in fear of being labeled as "enemies of the people" and faced the possibility of losing their jobs, homes, or lives
  • The purges disrupted social bonds and created a sense of isolation, as people were afraid to express their true thoughts and feelings to others

The Great Purge: Strengthening vs Weakening Stalin's Control

Short-term Consolidation of Power

• The Great Purge initially strengthened Stalin's control over the Soviet Union by eliminating potential rivals, consolidating his power, and creating a more centralized and obedient political system
  • The removal of influential figures and the promotion of loyal Stalinists ensured that Stalin faced no significant opposition within the party and government
  • The purges instilled a culture of fear and conformity, making it difficult for anyone to challenge Stalin's authority or policies openly

Long-term Weaknesses and Consequences

• However, the long-term effects of the Great Purge also weakened the Soviet Union in several ways, which may have undermined Stalin's control in the long run
  • The loss of experienced military officers during the purges weakened the Soviet armed forces, which became evident during the initial stages of World War II, when the country struggled against the German invasion
  • The purging of skilled professionals, such as engineers, scientists, and managers, hampered the country's economic development and technological progress
  • The atmosphere of fear and suspicion created by the purges eroded social trust and cohesion, making it difficult for people to cooperate and work together effectively

Legacy and Impact on Soviet Politics

• While the Great Purge solidified Stalin's personal control in the short term, it also created structural weaknesses and societal trauma that would have lasting impacts on the Soviet Union, even after Stalin's death
• The legacy of the purges continued to shape Soviet politics and society for decades, as subsequent leaders grappled with the consequences of Stalin's reign of terror and sought to distance themselves from his excesses while maintaining the system he had created (Khrushchev's "Secret Speech" denouncing Stalin's cult of personality in 1956)