National Study Russia 1917-1941: Stalinism And Its Impact On The USSR
Modern History Assessment Task
HSC Course 2010
National Study Russia 1917 – 1941
Stalinism, the term used to embody the form of government experienced by the Soviet Union under Stalin’s rule, had a significant and lasting impact on the USSR. Stalinism impacted on several aspects of life. Collectivisation was introduced which assisted in the funding of industrialisation, terror was used to create a communist state. Stalin centralised every aspect of life, from the single leadership of Stalin himself to party control of the state and its functions. Free will disappeared and service to the state was expected. Consequently a Stalinist state which had a major impact on the USSR was created.
Stalin’s most immediate concern once he had gained …show more content…
It transformed the USSR from a one party state to a totalitarian dictatorship. Purging was the removal of unwanted members from the communist party. Initially, Stalin’s purges were directed against members of the Communist Party. He decided to eliminate all those who might present a threat to his power. To begin with party purges were not as violent or as deadly as they later became. The procedure was to oblige members to hand in their party cards for checking, at which point any suspect would not have their cards returned to them. This meant the individual and their family lost their privileges in regards to employment, housing and food. The purges extended beyond those former leaders who had fallen out with Stalin, the purges now included army personnel and middle ranking officers of the party. Stalin was suspicious and fearful of everyone he encouraged party members to inform on ‘enemies of the people’. 800 000 party members were expelled during 1933 and a further 340 000 in 1934. By the end of 1933 there were already about two million people in prison, in forced labour camps and deportation camps. Stalin implemented show trails as a way of creating public awareness of the consequences of being untrustworthy. The first of these show trials was in 1936 which involved Zinoviev, Kamenev and fourteen others. They were accused of taking part in a conspiracy planned by Trotsky which was to overthrow the government. All involved were found guilty and shot. Stalin instructed many more purges during his time in power which all had an impact on the USSR. The purges impacted on the USSR in a way which created a suspicious and frightened atmosphere. The leader of the USSR was paranoid and therefore was in no state of mind to be directing such a vast nation. Almost every family in the USSR suffered the loss of at least one of its members as a victim of
HSC Course 2010
National Study Russia 1917 – 1941
Stalinism, the term used to embody the form of government experienced by the Soviet Union under Stalin’s rule, had a significant and lasting impact on the USSR. Stalinism impacted on several aspects of life. Collectivisation was introduced which assisted in the funding of industrialisation, terror was used to create a communist state. Stalin centralised every aspect of life, from the single leadership of Stalin himself to party control of the state and its functions. Free will disappeared and service to the state was expected. Consequently a Stalinist state which had a major impact on the USSR was created.
Stalin’s most immediate concern once he had gained …show more content…
It transformed the USSR from a one party state to a totalitarian dictatorship. Purging was the removal of unwanted members from the communist party. Initially, Stalin’s purges were directed against members of the Communist Party. He decided to eliminate all those who might present a threat to his power. To begin with party purges were not as violent or as deadly as they later became. The procedure was to oblige members to hand in their party cards for checking, at which point any suspect would not have their cards returned to them. This meant the individual and their family lost their privileges in regards to employment, housing and food. The purges extended beyond those former leaders who had fallen out with Stalin, the purges now included army personnel and middle ranking officers of the party. Stalin was suspicious and fearful of everyone he encouraged party members to inform on ‘enemies of the people’. 800 000 party members were expelled during 1933 and a further 340 000 in 1934. By the end of 1933 there were already about two million people in prison, in forced labour camps and deportation camps. Stalin implemented show trails as a way of creating public awareness of the consequences of being untrustworthy. The first of these show trials was in 1936 which involved Zinoviev, Kamenev and fourteen others. They were accused of taking part in a conspiracy planned by Trotsky which was to overthrow the government. All involved were found guilty and shot. Stalin instructed many more purges during his time in power which all had an impact on the USSR. The purges impacted on the USSR in a way which created a suspicious and frightened atmosphere. The leader of the USSR was paranoid and therefore was in no state of mind to be directing such a vast nation. Almost every family in the USSR suffered the loss of at least one of its members as a victim of