1. Does the fact that images of Stalin appeared everywhere, as described by Steinbeck in Source 14.8, prove that Stalin attracted genuine adulation?
No, the fact that images of Stalin appeared everywhere does not prove that Stalin attracted genuine adulation because just because Stalin appeared everywhere was supposed to mean that everyone would think that Stalin was watching over them and that they were safe with a great leader. Just because Stalin's pictures were everywhere doesn't mean that people didn't like it. People were scared to say anything because of the purges and they were nervous for their selves so they would rather not care that Stalin's pictures were everywhere.
2. Describe the various devices used to establish and spread the cult of Stalin.
The Stalin cult provided an image of purpose and solidity, giving people confidence and faith that someone could lead them out of their troubles to the good society. They would spread the good word of Stalin through pictures in classrooms, museums, train stations, in parks, libraries, in the class room. There would be songs about Stalin and poems that made the children believe that he was a great man and everybody else as well.
3. Account for the relative success of the cult - why do you think it worked with the Russian people?
I believe that it worked so well with the Russian people because they were very clueless about what was really happening. They saw pictures that they could easily understand and all they heard was good things about Stalin which made them believe that he was a really good man. There was little talk about Stalin because people were scared and so they soon believed that he was a great leader. There was so much advertisement about Stalin and how great of a leader he was that people saw it so much and soon believed it. The pictures were easy for the people to understand and it worked for the Russian people.
4. What conclusions can you reach about whether the adulation Stalin received was genuine? Make notes of your answers.
Service maintains that genuine entusiasm for Stalin was limited until the end of the 1930s when the mass indctrination campaign reached its peak. Such enthusiasm as had been around was then heightened by the grace threat to the soviet union presented by the war. People velieved that stalin was their true guide and the person who cared for them.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Purges, Terror and Show Trials
1.What is the significance of Kirov's murder? (This is what I went over in class.)
The significance of Kirov's murder is that it was not fully understood. There were so many opinions about the murder and nobody really knew what had happened. It was said that Nikolayev was the one who killed Kirov alone because of his journal and nobody questioned Stalin. But, there were many opinions said that Stalin had arranged the murder and the NKVD had followed through. The NKVD had asked Nikolayev to kill Kirov (in addition Kirov was having an affair with Nikolayev's wife) and so he followed through.
2. According to Stalin, who had Nikolayev been working for when he assassinated Kirov? Why is this significant?
Stalin claimed that Kirov's murder was part of a conspiracy against himself and the communist party. He claimed that Nikolayev had acted on orders from a "leningrad Opposition Centre" which had connections with the old Left Opposition, especially Trotsky who, by now, was living in exile in Norway. As a result, Zinoview, Kamenev and seventeen others were arrested and given long prison sentences. The NKVS then went on to arrest other members of the old left opposition.
3. What is a Trotskyite?
Wrecking industry and to helping foreign spies.
4. There are three major "show trials." List them and a brief description of their significance.
Trial of the Sixteen- began in 1936 and involved Zinoviev, Kamenev, and fourteen others. They were accused of involvement in a conspiracy organized by Trosky to overthrow the government.
Trial of the Seventeen- the victims were accused of having links with Trotsky, of setting up terrorist groups, and of wrecking industry. All guilty and thirteen shot.
Trial of the twenty-one- accused confessed to being members of Trotskyist-rightists blow, to wrecking ndustry and to helping foregin spies.
5. During the Great Terror, there were three stages to the purges, staring with members of the Communist party. What were the next two stages and what type of people were purged?
Marchal Tuchachevsk, Russia's most famous general, and several other red armygenerals were arrested and shot. They were accused of sprying for Germany and Japan. The purges quickly came to affect the ordinary citizens of the USSR. Anyone overheard criticizing Stalin was likely to be denounced to the NKVD as a Trotskyite. Neighbours found they could settle old quarrels for good by denouncing eachother. Children were encouraged to denounce their parents. Nobody knew to whom it was safe to talk.
The significance of Kirov's murder is that it was not fully understood. There were so many opinions about the murder and nobody really knew what had happened. It was said that Nikolayev was the one who killed Kirov alone because of his journal and nobody questioned Stalin. But, there were many opinions said that Stalin had arranged the murder and the NKVD had followed through. The NKVD had asked Nikolayev to kill Kirov (in addition Kirov was having an affair with Nikolayev's wife) and so he followed through.
2. According to Stalin, who had Nikolayev been working for when he assassinated Kirov? Why is this significant?
Stalin claimed that Kirov's murder was part of a conspiracy against himself and the communist party. He claimed that Nikolayev had acted on orders from a "leningrad Opposition Centre" which had connections with the old Left Opposition, especially Trotsky who, by now, was living in exile in Norway. As a result, Zinoview, Kamenev and seventeen others were arrested and given long prison sentences. The NKVS then went on to arrest other members of the old left opposition.
3. What is a Trotskyite?
Wrecking industry and to helping foreign spies.
4. There are three major "show trials." List them and a brief description of their significance.
Trial of the Sixteen- began in 1936 and involved Zinoviev, Kamenev, and fourteen others. They were accused of involvement in a conspiracy organized by Trosky to overthrow the government.
Trial of the Seventeen- the victims were accused of having links with Trotsky, of setting up terrorist groups, and of wrecking industry. All guilty and thirteen shot.
Trial of the twenty-one- accused confessed to being members of Trotskyist-rightists blow, to wrecking ndustry and to helping foregin spies.
5. During the Great Terror, there were three stages to the purges, staring with members of the Communist party. What were the next two stages and what type of people were purged?
Marchal Tuchachevsk, Russia's most famous general, and several other red armygenerals were arrested and shot. They were accused of sprying for Germany and Japan. The purges quickly came to affect the ordinary citizens of the USSR. Anyone overheard criticizing Stalin was likely to be denounced to the NKVD as a Trotskyite. Neighbours found they could settle old quarrels for good by denouncing eachother. Children were encouraged to denounce their parents. Nobody knew to whom it was safe to talk.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Kirov Murder Myster
1. In what circumstances did the assassin carry out the murder?
The assassin carried out the murder by killing Kirov and then fainting next to the body. I believe that Nikolayev the assassin had no part in the murder but Stalin had asked the NKVD to murder Kirov and they knocked out Nikolayev next to the body to make it seem like he was in fact the murderer.
2. What strange coincidences surround the murder?
The strange coincidence surrounding the murder was that the assassin had fainted next to the main he had murdered, Kirov. It was very strange that this had accorded and when Stalin asked Kikolayev why he had murdered Kirov he said that Stalin should ask the NKVD that question. This is a strange coincidence surrounding the murder because it was a very confusing time.
3. Is there any evidence to link Stalin to the murder?
Yes there is evidence that links Stalin to the murder. For example Kirov had recieived a great deal of support at the seventeenth party congress and more people had votes for him than for Stalin. Kirov had opposed Stalin over the Ryutin affair and over the pace of industrialisation. This is evidence to link Stalin to the murder because Stalin wanted to get rid of anyone that would be better than him and so it is assumed that Stalin wanted Kirov dead.
4. Is there any evidence to suggest that the NKVD was involved in the murder?
Yes there is evidence to suggest that the NKVD was involved in the murder because prior to the murder, Nikolayev had twice been arrested in Kirov's neighbourhood and released both times on the order of Zaporozhets. It was also alleged that an NKVD man had posed earlier as a friend of Nikolayeva and practiced shooting his revolver with him.
5. Who had the best motive for the murder?
The person who had the best motive for the murder was the NKVD. The NKVD had been involved with Stalin and were on Stalin's side. They would have been the people that set up Nikolayev's murder and blamed on Kirov.
6. What theories can you suggest about who was responsible - was it the assassin alone or were others involved?
No the assassin was not alone. The NKVD had set up Nikolayev and they were the ones who had killed Kirov( in my own opinion) The NVKD were the ones who might have hit Nikolaye and got him out of prison in order to set him up. Stalin didnt want to be the main reason for why this person dies so he might have put it on someone else and paid him for it.
The assassin carried out the murder by killing Kirov and then fainting next to the body. I believe that Nikolayev the assassin had no part in the murder but Stalin had asked the NKVD to murder Kirov and they knocked out Nikolayev next to the body to make it seem like he was in fact the murderer.
2. What strange coincidences surround the murder?
The strange coincidence surrounding the murder was that the assassin had fainted next to the main he had murdered, Kirov. It was very strange that this had accorded and when Stalin asked Kikolayev why he had murdered Kirov he said that Stalin should ask the NKVD that question. This is a strange coincidence surrounding the murder because it was a very confusing time.
3. Is there any evidence to link Stalin to the murder?
Yes there is evidence that links Stalin to the murder. For example Kirov had recieived a great deal of support at the seventeenth party congress and more people had votes for him than for Stalin. Kirov had opposed Stalin over the Ryutin affair and over the pace of industrialisation. This is evidence to link Stalin to the murder because Stalin wanted to get rid of anyone that would be better than him and so it is assumed that Stalin wanted Kirov dead.
4. Is there any evidence to suggest that the NKVD was involved in the murder?
Yes there is evidence to suggest that the NKVD was involved in the murder because prior to the murder, Nikolayev had twice been arrested in Kirov's neighbourhood and released both times on the order of Zaporozhets. It was also alleged that an NKVD man had posed earlier as a friend of Nikolayeva and practiced shooting his revolver with him.
5. Who had the best motive for the murder?
The person who had the best motive for the murder was the NKVD. The NKVD had been involved with Stalin and were on Stalin's side. They would have been the people that set up Nikolayev's murder and blamed on Kirov.
6. What theories can you suggest about who was responsible - was it the assassin alone or were others involved?
No the assassin was not alone. The NKVD had set up Nikolayev and they were the ones who had killed Kirov( in my own opinion) The NVKD were the ones who might have hit Nikolaye and got him out of prison in order to set him up. Stalin didnt want to be the main reason for why this person dies so he might have put it on someone else and paid him for it.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Gulags and the Purges
The Gulag System
1. What type of construction projects were built using the Gulag system?
The first major work project organized by the Gulag was a 500 kilometre canal from the White Sea to the Baltic Sea.
2. What were the conditions of the work camps?
The conditions of the work camps were brutal. The zeks had to work by hand and had no machinery. They were poorly paid and got in trouble if they were late to work. The living conditions were worse if you did not work as hard and food was also very limited to the workers.
3. Why do you think slave labor was used in the projects rather than paid laborers?
I believe that slave labor was used in the projects rather than paid laborers because they did not need to be paid well. Yes, they were paid but not as much as paid laborers would have to be paid. Slave labor was probably used more because they needed a job to feed their families and get money and a job that paid little would help them. It was a easy way out for the Gulag system and they took advantage of it.
Purges, Show Trails and Terror
4. What were the issues surrounding Kirov's murder? Why do you think he had been murdered?
The issues surrounding Kirov's murder was that it was very sudden and there was a lot of confusion right before he died. I believe that Stalin wanted him dead and asked Nikolayev to kill him because Kirov was just as popular as Stalin and he was actually Russian. He was being applauded just as much as Stalin and Stalin didn't want any opponents so he asked Nikolayev to kill Kirov.
5. What was the Great Purge? What specific group did it target?
The Great Purge was when the party expelled members who were unreliable. The specific group that the Great Purge targeted was the ones who once agreed with Trotsky or Zinovev.
6. What was the purpose of the Show Trials?
The purpose of the Show Trials were when the most important party members were arrested by the NKVD and were given public trials to which the press had been invited.
7. What was the Great Terror?
The great terror was when people were accused of spying and either shot or brough back to the show trials. People were ecouraged to tell on their bosses, parents, teachers etc. If anyone over heard anyone talking bad about stalin they were required to tell the secret police
1. What type of construction projects were built using the Gulag system?
The first major work project organized by the Gulag was a 500 kilometre canal from the White Sea to the Baltic Sea.
2. What were the conditions of the work camps?
The conditions of the work camps were brutal. The zeks had to work by hand and had no machinery. They were poorly paid and got in trouble if they were late to work. The living conditions were worse if you did not work as hard and food was also very limited to the workers.
3. Why do you think slave labor was used in the projects rather than paid laborers?
I believe that slave labor was used in the projects rather than paid laborers because they did not need to be paid well. Yes, they were paid but not as much as paid laborers would have to be paid. Slave labor was probably used more because they needed a job to feed their families and get money and a job that paid little would help them. It was a easy way out for the Gulag system and they took advantage of it.
Purges, Show Trails and Terror
4. What were the issues surrounding Kirov's murder? Why do you think he had been murdered?
The issues surrounding Kirov's murder was that it was very sudden and there was a lot of confusion right before he died. I believe that Stalin wanted him dead and asked Nikolayev to kill him because Kirov was just as popular as Stalin and he was actually Russian. He was being applauded just as much as Stalin and Stalin didn't want any opponents so he asked Nikolayev to kill Kirov.
5. What was the Great Purge? What specific group did it target?
The Great Purge was when the party expelled members who were unreliable. The specific group that the Great Purge targeted was the ones who once agreed with Trotsky or Zinovev.
6. What was the purpose of the Show Trials?
The purpose of the Show Trials were when the most important party members were arrested by the NKVD and were given public trials to which the press had been invited.
7. What was the Great Terror?
The great terror was when people were accused of spying and either shot or brough back to the show trials. People were ecouraged to tell on their bosses, parents, teachers etc. If anyone over heard anyone talking bad about stalin they were required to tell the secret police
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