Show Trials And The Great Purges
Notes
- Stalin feared being overthrown or having a counter revolution
- formed a secret police called the NKVD to control threats
- old heroes of the revolution or anyone with popular support charged with treason (seen as a threat)
- 1 in 5 army officers were executed
- they were often put on "Show trials" forced to admit they had done it (under duress)
Summary
Josef Stalin was absolutely terrified of being overthrown or of having a counter revolution, that he went to extremes to protect himself. He created a secret police service called the NKVD, who controlled any and all threats to the safety and success of Him and his country. anybody who had any popular support of the people were tried with treason, and as many as 1 in 5 officers were executed, all because of Stalin's paranoia. They were often put on "show trials" and forced to admit there wrongs even if they didn't do it.
Image
Quote
powerful leaders of the fearless Communist Party, who had turned the entire world upside down and terrified it, now marched forth like doleful, obedient goats and bleated out everything they had been ordered to, vomited all over themselves, cringingly abased themselves and their convictions, and confessed to crimes they could not in any wise have committed
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Political Cartoon
Video
Subjunctive Question
What if the great purge had never existed?