Transcript
The Soviet Union: Totalitarian State
Under Lenin
• Communist Party was the only party allowed.
• The use of force and terror through the secret police (Cheka) was necessary and good for the cause
• Used propaganda slogans, including “Bread, Land, Peace and All Power to the Soviets.”
Lenin’s Death
• Died in January 1924.
Lenin’s Death
• Lenin believed Leon Trotsky should replace him as leader. Had a vision of the Soviet Union in line with Lenin.
• Lenin believed that Stalin could not handle the power that came with leadership.
• Stalin takes control, has Trotsky killed.
Joseph Stalin
• As General Secretary of the Communist Party, Stalin was able to consolidate his power by exerting total control over the details of party structure –
• Stalin appeared to provide a sense of security and direction for the future
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Joseph Stalin
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Soviet Mentality
• The people accepted difficulties and sacrificing – Czars and communists had controlled people through force, fear
• Promises of prosperity and something great coming soon were believed
Soviet Mentality
• Brutality of the state was for their own protection
• Checka, then NKVD, terrorized people – they were genuinely afraid
• “Politicals” - Enemies of the people who were arrested for alleged spying, disloyalty, etc. Received worse punishments then common criminals
• Gulags
Gulags
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Gulags
Gulags
Gulags
Gulags
Gulags
The Great Terror 1937-38
• Arrests - about 7 million
• Executed - about 1 million
• Died in camps - about 2 million
• In prison, late 1938 - about 1 million
• In camps, late 1938 - about 8 million
• Only 10% in camps survived
The Great Terror 1937-38
• Those arrested include original Bolsheviks, military officers, party members
• Stalin’s signature appears on death warrants of over 600,0000
• History is re-written
Four... Three...
Two... One...
Changing History
Changing History
Full Circle...
• Stalin dies in 1953• “All of us around
Stalin were temporary”
• “Destalinization” of the USSR under Kruschev
Full Circle...
Thought Questions
• Why didn’t the people of the Soviet Union rise up?
• What do you think you could do to stay safe?
• Who was probably most at risk?
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