Was Stalin Responsible For The Purges

Stalin's Great Purges of 1932-1939

"Can Stalin be linked to the Purges beyond doubt?"

Abstract

For my Extended Essay, my research question is, Can Stalin be linked to the Great Purges beyond doubt?". There is a lot of evidence supporting that he was responsible for the purges. By using several different sources I investigated each purge individually. The three purges include the chitska, the show trials, and the overall mass terror. For each purge I explain how he was related to them, his possible motives, and if the purge was achieved. I will attempt to link Stalin to the purge by finding evidence that he was involved through my sources. I have obtained translated Soviet documents from the time of the purges to help me. After my investigation I have concluded that indeed Stalin was responsible for the purges. He was the one who ordered them and he wanted to use the purges to maintain his power and stability. There were many people who opposed Stalin so his solution was either to arrest, assassinate, or expel them from the party.

Table of Contents

Abstract………………………………………………………………….…..…2
Introduction…………………………………………………………………..4-5
Body…………………………………………………………………….…...4-11
Conclusion…………….……………………………………………….…..11-12
Bibliography……………………………………………………………...……13

For my research I will investigate if Stalin can be linked to
Anyone that expressed some kind of intellectual freedom that did not agree with Stalin's policies was in danger of being caught by the NKVD. Yezhov made a list of groups that were seen as "Anti-Soviet Elements'. This is list included scientists, artists, writers and musicians, even managers and administrators. What all these people had in common was that they had interests and ideals that were different from the party. That's why they were singled out. Stalin was known to be paranoid as part of his personality, that is why he had to target