Peasants Town Workers Organised opposition
- Tsar Nicholas had a large army, used Okhrana to - Living conditions were poor, living in Left wing groups - Challenge the rich and the tsar ‐ Socialist
maintain power. overcrowded barracks and slums. Revolutionaries. (SRs).
- 80% of the population were peasants. - Houses were badly built. - Share out wealth - Equal society.
- Modern farming equipment was unknown. - Petrograd's population tripled. - Peasants supported them
- When WW1 broke out, in 1918, the situation became - Moscow's population doubled. Left SRs - supported Revolution and assassination of enemies.
more difficult for the peasants. - Soldiers were sent to end strikes.
Social Democrats- believed in Revolution to overthrow capitalism and
- Kulaks owned everything and lived a comfortable life. - Many Russian workers were employed in large
create a fairer society.
factories.
- Middle Peasants owned a small amount of land. - Bolsheviks - A group of pro Revolutionaries
- Inflations
- Poor Peasants did not own any land, they were hired by - Mensheviks - Russia is not ready for a Revolution.
kulaks.
- Peasants were hoarding their grain until price Moderate Groups - Russia should be DEMOCRATIC
increased - food shortages. Octobrists - Supporters of Moderate reforms, better government.
Impact of WW1 on Russia Kadets - Liberals, believing in political rights for all and a
constitutional monarchy that puts limits on the power of the tsar.
Military Defeats Russia in early 1917 Right wing groups - Defenders of the traditional Russian
Large areas were lost to the Germans, such as Poland and
Lithuania. & political system and way of life.
Economic Effects February - Nationalists - Believe Russians should be in charge, within a
strong Russian empire.
- Government printed too much money – leading to inflation. Revolution - Conservatives - Opposed to social change. Want to defend the
- Between 1914-1917, > 17 million roubles were spent –
status of nobles and wealthier groups in society.
Taxes increased which affected people.
- Government’s spending increased (x8) – Russia fell into Short term causes of Revolution in Petrograd in Feb 1917
debt. Strikes:
- Duma became a centre of opposition to his
Social Effects government. - Protesting on the low living standards of workers.
- In 1916, food shortages increased and the army - Industrial Protests
The tsar as commander-in-chief - Bloody Sunday
requisitioned grain. - Tsar had little impact on running the war, he
- The Russian Railway system collapsed under the pressure - 80,000 protested against the tsar, in support for the Duma.
was blamed for the defeats in WW1
of moving huge no. of soldiers. - Railway traffic has been disrupted and Petrograd began to
- Things started to go wrong in Petrograd – Out
- Daily bread rationing had decreased and people were run out of food supplies.
of Control.
starving. - Protests rose to about 240,000.
- Huge Mistake by the Tsar!!!!!!!
- Suffering in the countryside.
Mutiny in the Army
- Horses were seized by the military to haul guns. The February revolution
Triggers for revolt: - Some soldiers refused to obey commands from their officers.
Political Effects - Food Shortages - On 27th Feb, the regiments decided that they will no longer
- The Duma didn’t support the Tsar. - Unrest among workers, for example the Putilov obey orders from commanders.
- The Tsar dissolved the Duma in 1914, to ensure there is no Steelworks. - Police stopped trying to keep order.
criticism. - Revolts in International Women’s Day. - The Military commander reported that revolutionary crowds
- Tsar refused to replace the advisers in the Duma. were taking over the railway stations.
, - The Tsar met high ranking army officers and - Some of its leaders were in exile, in Switzerland, such as Lenin.
Duma Confronts the Tsar
members of the Duma in Pskov.
- Duma asked to create a cabinet (senior members of the - They suggested that the Tsar must abdicate to Provisional Government
government made up of minsters who run different end the unrest in Petrograd. - The Tsar wasn’t ready to co-operate with the Duma, in changing
departments of the government). - The Tsar thought to hand over his throne to his Russia into a constitutional monarchy (ruled by King whose powers
- Duma also asked him to let they stay in session. son (Alexsei) or his brother (Duke Michael). are limited by parliament).
- TSAR REFUSED!! - Russia became a REPUBLIC. - Tsar ordered the Duma to stop meeting and not to re-assemble until
- The Kadet Party and other liberals left the Duma - Duma → Provisional Government April.
meetings, formed the Duma Committee. - The members disobeyed the order and set up the Duma Committee.
- Many left Petrograd with no decisions being made. Role of revolutionary parties in the Feb - Revolutionary groups were planning to set up their own Soviet.
Revolution - Across the city, workers and navvies started to elect representative for
Commanders withdraw support for the Tsar the Petrograd Soviet.
- Bolshevik leaders were surprised of the sudden
Army High Command gave-in two options: - Both the Duma Committee and the Petrograd Soviet, held meetings at
fall of the tsar.
- Option one – Send more soldiers to crush the revolt. the palace.
- Option two – deal with the members of the Duma
- On 2nd March, the Duma Committee established the Provisional
Weakness/ Failures of the Provisional Government Government (under the leadership of Prince Lvov). *
1. Lack of control over military February Revolution - Release political prisoners
- Promise full democratic freedom
On 1 March, ‘Order Number 1’ was published, it said that &
the army and navy would only obey orders from the - End death penalty
Petrograd Soviet mainly.
The Provisional - Take over land from the Tsar
Government The Provisional Government needed gain support from Western
2. Failure to hold a General Election allies (Britain & France).
- Lacked legitimacy – votes placed didn’t represent the wider
Problems faced by the Provisional Government
population
- They wanted to hold a general election; but there were many - Army was driven backwards as the Germans - ‘Dual Control’ – two governments – Provisional Government and
problems facing Russia, for example, WW1. advance into Ukraine. the Petrograd Soviet.
- Delaying the election proved to be a mistake – lacked - Petrograd Soviet had control over the railways and
government support. The Kornilov Revolt (August 1917) communications (telegraph) – cause problems for the Provisional
General Kornilov’s aims: Government.
3. Failure to meet peasant demands - Create a strong government - Petrograd Soviet set up groups to organise food supplies and even
- Peasants wanted more land - Defeat revolutionary groups in Petrograd set up its own newspaper – Izvestya.
They didn’t want the Peasants to seize lands because: Kornilov ordered troops to Petrograd to restore
- In March, the Central Executive committee was set up which
- it thought they should have waited for a general election. order.
represented all the workers and soldiers soviets.
- Huge no. may desert from the army and return home. Failed because:
- Russia might fall apart - Soldiers were not following orders Role of Alexander Kerensky
Reluctance: Peasants started seizing lands - Petrograd workers defended the revolution - Member of Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet
4. June Offensive Impact: - Within, the Provisional Government, he was the Minister of War.
- Provisional Government ordered an attack. - Bolsheviks defended the Petrograd Soviet and - Caused the June Offensive (FAILURE).
- The Russian Army attacked the Austrian and German gave the Bolsheviks a military advantage. - Skilful Speaker but made mistakes, such as continuing with
armies, which was a disaster. - Distrust between soldiers increased (worsened) WW1.
,Bolsheviks and Lenin The ‘April Theses’ April Theses
- Small no. of supporters – 23,000 members - Lenin wasn’t pleased – Stalin and Kamenev - Rejection of the Provisional Government
- Many important leaders were in exile were supporting the Provisional Government. - All power pass to the soviets
- The Bolsheviks played no part in the February - Lenin argued that the Bolsheviks must try and - End to WW1
Revolution. seize power. - Taking over land form rich landowners
- In 1926, the communist government had a
Lenin’s Return Growing support for the Bolsheviks
statue outside Finland Station to remind
- Germans arranged Lenin’s return Lenin’s triumphant return. - propaganda - In June, All-Russian Congress met in Petrograd – 800
- Had a ruthless personality - Other Bolshevik leaders were shocked when representatives.
- Intelligent and was not corrupt. Lenin talked about the revolution: ‘a worker’s - Bolsheviks had the least number of representatives – SRs were
- He treated enemies with ridicule and contempt revolution could happen only in an advanced popular.
- He was uncompromising and confrontational industrial country’. - Bolshevik’s ambitions were best suited with the Soviets.
- Bolshevik members had risen to 75,000. - The Bolsheviks were provided with money (secretly.) by the Germans.
- Set up 41 newspapers across Russia
- Support for the Bolsheviks grew further during the Kornilov Revolt.
Reasons for the Bolsheviks Success
- The Provisional Government lacked support and was The ‘July Days’
The Bolshevik
unpopular. - In July, Protest against the Government’s June Offensive –
- Slogans such as “Bread, Peace and Land” summed up the army units refused to go in front – supported by Petrograd
popular mood and was easily understood.
- The Bolsheviks were not associated with support for the Revolution factory workers and also by Kronstadt Sailors.
- They marched on the Tauride Palace in Petrograd – demanding
Provisional Government. that Petrograd Soviet to TAKE POWER.
- Lenin provided a strong leadership; Trotsky was a skilled - Bolsheviks were blamed in organising the July Days.
organiser. - Lenin went into hiding – Kamenev and Trotsky was arrested.
- The Bolsheviks were more supportive with demands of
workers, soldiers and peasants. The Bolshevik Revolution Build- up to the Bolshevik Revolution
- Red Guards occupied key positions in the city. The Kornilov Revolt had weakened the Provisional Government.
- Mensheviks and SRs protested that the
Role of Lenin
Bolsheviks were seizing power without - In Finland, Lenin was sending messages – demanding action
agreeing with any other Revolutionary - Lenin was convinced that a revolution in Russia would ignite
groups. others across Europe (Germany).
- On 25th Oct, the Bolsheviks stormed the
- On 10th October, Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd.
Winter Palace.
- Kerensky was defeated – he had driven across Role of Trotsky
the city, trying to find soldiers to fight for the - Trotsky thought it would be better to seize power before the All-
Provisional Government. Russian Congress meet again later in October.
- Kerensky escaped and eventually fled from
- He was given the opportunity of the Military Revolutionary
Russia. Committee (MRC) to seize power.
- It was declared at the Congress of Soviets that - By 23rd Oct, the MRC had control over all soldiers in Petrograd
the Bolsheviks had taken power across Russia. - Propaganda was shown as Lenin was the hero of the revolution.
,Bolshevik Decrees 1917
Soviet’s response to Bolshevik Decrees Bolsheviks abolish the Constituent Assembly
Decree on Peace:
- In November, all titles had been abolished: Your - The Bolsheviks had no control over the Assembly and had no
- Create peace without seizure and protection. Excellency. intention of giving up the power
- Increased support for the Bolsheviks - Everyone was described as ‘Comrade’. - The Assembly was broken up by the Red Guards and Kronstadt
Decree on Land: - Encouraged Soviets; this was important because Sailors.
- Distributed lands of wealthy landowners the Bolsheviks didn’t control every soviet.
End Of Democracy?
- In December, the Church lands were nationalised. Election of Constituent Assembly - End of Constituent Assembly = End Of Democracy
Decree on workers’ rights: - Bolsheviks didn’t intend to set up a - Bolsheviks used the Russian railway network to spread Bolshevik
- Decree on Work – 8h working day and 48h week – give parliamentary democracy. Control to the main cities of Central Russia.
workers less demanding hours. - Intention – Control the soviets - At first, Lenin’s government (represented by Sovnarkom) included
- Decree on Unemployment – Support workers who are - The SRs won majority of the votes and were the Left SRs – the alliance broke down in 1918, when they refused
retired. allowed to set up the Constituent Assembly to sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
- Decree on Worker’s Control – Allowed workers’ - Bolsheviks won <25% of the votes.
Execution of the Tsar
committees to run their factories.
- The French not the British would allow them to leave Russia and
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Bolsheviks in Power: enter their countries.
- Trotsky wanted to end the war, without SURRENDING. - They claimed that they would not help someone who had ruled as
Early Consolidation of an autocrat.
- Trotsky was to be disappointed, Germans kept advancing
and Petrograd was in trouble. Power (1917-18) - By 1918, Civil War had broken out in Russia and the
- The Left Communists wanted to continue with the war. & Bolsheviks for fighting for survival.
In March 1918, Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed: Civil War (1918-21)
- They feared that anti-Bolshevik armies may advance through the
- Russia lost all its western lands (such as Poland). Ural Mountains and free the Tsar and his family from captivity,
- Russia lost 26% of its population. hence they were executed.
- Russia lost 27% of its farmland and 26% of its railways. - Russia had been humiliated and had huge - The Bolsheviks tried to take away their weapons and when the
- Russia had to pay the Germans 300 million gold roubles. losses. Czechs fought back they had control over the Trans-Siberian
- The Nationalist began to form the White
Reasons for the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Railway.
Armies to overthrow the Bolsheviks.
- They needed a ‘breathing space’ – to get their rule - The British and French armies joined them and decided to fight
- For Russia, the end of WW1, kick-started the
organised without worrying about the military& economic against the Reds.
Civil War.
problems.
Key Events of Civil War
- Bolsheviks could concentrate on other matters, for Civil War (1918-21)
example, other revolutionary groups, and preparing to - Nationalists and conservatives were - Admiral Kolchak set up a Siberian Regional Government in Omsk,
defend themselves. determined to overthrow the Bolsheviks as they an attack from the Reds, broke its power in 1919.
- Bolsheviks hoped that a revolution would breakout across opposed their plans for social change. White Army led by General Deniken was forced to retreat in 1920;
Europe and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk will be void. - They also opposed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Denikin resigned; was replaced by General Wrangel, by the end of
Reactions to the Treaty - Monarchists wanted to restore order 1920 – the army was evacuated.
- Czech Legion – 40,000 soldiers from the - North-West – General Yudenich led the White army and by Oct
- The Left SRs were increasingly unhappy and they even
Austro-Hungarian army used ships to sail 1919, was defeated by Trotsky’s Red Army.
assassinated the German ambassador, in order to re-start
around the world and fight on the Western
the war.
front against the Germans.
,Bolshevik Strengths in the Civil War Whites weaknesses - These countries wanted to prevent the spread of Bolshevik ideas to
- Controlled Central Russia – meant shorter distances to - Geographically too spread-out – travel long other countries.
supply their armies with weapons. distances to supply their armies. - The Bolsheviks could appeal to Russian national pride.
- Trotsky was an effective commander/ leader. - Controlled few areas with industry Effects of the Civil War
- They had control of most of Russia’s industries. - Few Whites than Reds
- Bolsheviks became more reliant on using force to gain control.
- Used propaganda to win supporters – only force to - There were no single White Leaders and they
- Cheka was everywhere where the reds controlled – they arrested and
change the lives of ordinary Russians. were competition to each other.
- Made Alliances with others. - Whites were unpopular – treated peasants badly shot anyone it considered an enemy.
- Bolsheviks became more organised under Trotsky’s leadership.
and planned to force non-Russians back under
Trotsky as commander of the Red Army
Russian Control
- Trotsky was more important than Lenin in winning - Millions of people died
the Civil War. Foreign intervention - Economy was badly damaged
- British, French and US soldiers - goals were to - Populations of major cities dropped
- Trotsky employed ex-tsarist officers and held their
encourage the Whites to fight the Reds. - The brutal behaviour of the Bolsheviks led to protests within the party.
families hostage – to ensure liability.
- Trotsky introduced strict discipline – deserters were - Peasants protested at the way the Bolsheviks seized their grain and
shot. shot opponents.
- Trotsky encouraged education in the army (literacy). Bolshevism and dictatorship
- Red Army soldiers had to swear the Socialist Military
Oath which said how they should behave as soldiers.
Bolsheviks in Power: - Bolsheviks began to restrict freedom, in order to secure their
Civil War (1918-21) control over Russia and shut down any opposition.
- In Dec 1917, they banned all non-Bolshevik Newspapers and
The Kronstadt Mutiny – 1921 Totalitarianism the Kadet Army.
- The mutiny was a response to War Communism in 1918. - Lawyers were abolished and replaced by Revolutionary Tribunals –
- These sailors helped to create the revolution in 1917 (SHOCK). brutal – and judged people according to their class.
Sailors demanded: - SRs, Mensheviks and Anarchists were arrested – officially banned.
The ‘Red Terror’ – Lenin – 1918-19 - In 1922, there was a show trial of leading SRs and were later deported
- New elections to the soviets by secret ballot.
- Russia was becoming a Totalitarian state – Bolsheviks had complete
- Freedom of speech and freedom of the press. - Opposition was growing to the new
- An end to commissars in the army and navy. control
government and the Civil War was
- An end to requisitioning of grain. starting. Role of Cheka, December 1917
- Government restrictions of trade to be lifted. - Lenin was also reacting to an attempted - It was used to arrest any opposition and prevent demonstrations
- Sailors felt that the peasants and workers were being assassination by Fanya Kaplan. against the government.
betrayed. - The arrests and executions continued and - Responsible of running political prisons & labour camps such as the
- Sailors families in Ukraine were suffering. accompanied the setting up of a Gulag.
dictatorship. - Cheka targeted Better-off peasants and Middle-class peasants.
- The mutiny was CRUSHED. The Red Army – under the
- In 1922, Cheka was renamed the GPU and in 1923, the OGPU.
command of Trotsky – attacked the sailors.
- Hundred were killed and many were captured and later ‘Socialist Fatherland is in Danger’ decree
executed by the Cheka. - In Feb 1918, the Bolsheviks passed a decree that allowed them to force
anyone to do labour – execute anyone who resisted.
- Mutiny was over – impacted the Bolshevik government a lot.
- This included the arrest and execution of anyone regarded as an
enemy of the revolution.
,Centralising Bolshevik power - The Soviet Union was a one-party state, without Setting up the USSR: 1924 Constitution
real political freedom.
From ‘Bolsheviks’ to ‘Communists’: - The only party at elections was the Communist - In 1924, the communists reorganised the lands of the old Russian
- In March 1918, the Bolsheviks party was named the Party. empire.
Russian Communist Party. - People were not allowed to criticise the - They would be known as the USSR.
- Theu believed that their policies were building a Communist Party and its hold on power. - The USSR was made up of 4 SSRs.
socialist state; Russia will be a communist country. - Political and personal freedom was reduced. - The largest was called the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist
- Instead, Russia became a brutal dictatorship. Republic (RSFSR) – included the old tsarist empire.
- At each party Congress, members of the party - Russia remained the largest and most powerful member.
The role of Lenin elected the Central Committee to make decisions.
- As leading member of the Communist party and - The Central Committee elected the Politburo, - The relationship between Russia and other SSRs came together to
Chairman of Sovnarkom, he united the part and the made up of Lenin, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Trotsky form the USSR.
government. and Stalin. - The Red Army had carried the communist power into these areas and
- A centralised dictatorship started to grow in Russia - The Politburo became powerful until the Central force them to join.
and kept political rivals under control. Committee went wrong with the decisions made - The All-Union Congress of Soviets were controlled by the Communist
The movement of power to the Communist Party in the Politburo. Party.
- The Mensheviks and SRs walked out in protest; the All-Russian - The Communist Party hanged its named to the ‘All-Union
Congress of Soviets was left under the control of the Bolsheviks Communist Party of Bolsheviks’.
and the Left SRs. Bolsheviks in Power:
- In reality, power was held by the Bolsheviks and NOT the Nationalisation and ‘State Capitalism’
SOVIETS – ‘RUBBER STAMP’. Civil War (1918-21)
Lenin’s aim was to create a planned economy, the government
Totalitarianism
-
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 → 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 → 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞
→ 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐨 controlled everything.
Only Communist Party members can stand in elections Economic and social - It was hard for an inexperienced government had control over parts
𝐒𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐓𝐒 → 𝐀𝐥𝐥 − 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐬
change (1918-24) of the country.
→ 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞′ 𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐬 (𝑺𝒐𝒗𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒐𝒎)
- Many factories had already been taken over by workers: some were
Communist.
Part of the War Communism Consequences - However, many factory owners simply shut their factories down.
Fixed Price paid for Grain Peasants didn’t wated to sell their grains for lower - By August 1918, 30% of the factories were shut, and the economy
price, so they waited until prices increased. was grinding to a halt.
Food rationing was introduced (depended on job) Workers received food. Middle-class did not. - Communists nationalised the biggest industries and gave them
From July 1918, all large industries were Increased government control. Workers’ Factory targets for what they should be achieving.
nationalised. They were bought under control. Committees were abolished. - This was known as State Capitalism
Money was abolished Government paid people with kind. - The economy continued to fall apart, a new and tougher approach
Labour conscription. People were forced to work as Women’s right were reduced. Strikes became illegal was adopted – War Communism
directed by the government (Strict). and strikers could be shot.
Reasons: War Communism (1918-21)
In towns & cities, housing belonging to the rich Living space became more equal, and the
were redistributed. government had more control over it. - Russia was drifting in to Civil War, workers had to carry on
Private markets and trading was banned. A black market developed. People could still but producing goods – the Red Army needed food.
sought-after-goods – such as better clothes illegally - There was a strong desire in the new government to end capitalism,
abolishing money and getting rid of free markets.
- Russia lost grain-producing areas in Ukraine; less food produced.
- Population of cities collapsed. Thousands went to live with relatives in
the countryside.
,War Communism → NEP Effects of the NEP on the economy Dealing with the crisis: 10th Party Congress
- There was growth in the agriculture output.
It was a way of getting out of WW1 with the Treaty of Peasants began producing more, because it - At this Congress, Lenin was able to deal with crisis threatening the
Brest-Litovsk. could be sold. power to the Communist Party.
Failures of War Communism Agriculture was still not modernised. - Without action, opposition to government policy would undermine the
- War communism had to be abandoned, it was an communist rule.
- Industry began to grow. Many communists
economic disaster. thought that NEP will take long for Russia to Consolidate the communist hold on power:
- Peasants were destroying their crops. industrialise. - The move from War Communism to the NEP was agreed.
- They were widespread shortages of food – leading to
- ‘Scissor Crisis’: By 1923, prices of agricultural - Factionalism was banned – they were not allowed to criticise the
famine and cannibalism. products were falling as peasants were centralised party control of power. This included the Workers’
Led to political crisis: producing more grain. Opposition, who wanted workers to have more say in how factories were
- There was a huge peasant uprising. Prices for factory-made goods were growing, run.
- Lenin and the Communist Party were shocked by the because industry was growing slowly. - Many of the party’s members were expelled as they were regarded of not
Kronstadt Mutiny. Society became unequal, some people did better being ENOUGH COMMUNISTS. 44% were expelled.
- Workers’ Opposition was unhappy as the party out of the NEP. Kulaks COMPLAINED!!
Communists and social change: Impact of communist policies
ordering workers around.
- In 1917, Women declared equal with men
- Factory workers felt the Communist Party did not
- Divorce was made easier – ‘Post-card divorces’.
represent them, and were unhappy about low living
Bolsheviks in Power: - Non-religious marriage introduced.
standards – organised protests and strikes.
New Economic Policy (NEP)
Economic and social - In 1919, the Zhenotdel was set up to increase freedom and
influence of women. Alexandra Kollontai (leader).
- Free market and money was re-established.
change (1918-24)
- Lenin disapproved Kollontai’s beliefs in ‘sexual freedom’.
- NEP-men & NEP-women - In 1920, Abortion was made legal.
- NEP brought in greater freedoms for peasants. - More women learn to read and write.
- Made up most of the new opportunities – trade and
- In1923, Kollontai becomes world’s first female ambassador.
improve the standard of living. - The government had no intention of losing
- Requisitioning of grain was replaced with taxation. control of the whole of economy. - In 1926, Women can legally own property in a relationship.
- Peasants were free to sell of their leftovers and keep any - Russia remained a one-party state and trade Impact of the NEP on women
profit made. unions remained under the control of the - Cutbacks in government spending led to a decline in the no. of
Reactions to the NEP Communist Party. materials provided in factories – limiting job opportunities for women.
- Happiness grew within the workers and the peasants. Impact of communist policies on culture - Women were expected to do the domestic chores.
- Propaganda through Art & Education.
- Unwealthy peasants enjoyed greater freedom. - Few women was promoted to top jobs in the Communist Party.
- Art: - Paintings supporting revolutions, revolution brought freedom to
- The NEP would develop into a better future. paint. - Progress of women’s rights slowed down
- Religion – Communists were atheists – wanted to get rid of religion.
- Communists were disappointed They wanted to reduce the influence of the Orthodox Church, which had
supported the tsar. In 1917, Church had been seized (lost control over
Impact of communist policies on education
- SUICIDES went up among the Party members. education). Priests were shot and Church valuables confiscated. They - Free, compulsory education was established in 1919. Pre-school
- Some workers were disappointed: it looked as if the set up a group that spread anti-religious propaganda. education was provided in many factories.
- Literature – Censorship ensured the books carried messages approved
peasants were gaining more from the revolution. by the communists. From 1925, the RAPP promoted ‘socialist realism’. Peasants were encouraged to learn to read and write (58% literate).
-
How different was NEP from War Communism? - Film– All film companies were nationalised in 1919. Many - Teachers were not trusted; the authority was limited by banning
communists films were made.
- NEP was very different from War Communism - Music – Classical music and ballet, Music Composers tended to support
homework and corporal punishment – pay rate was below factory
- The government kept control of banks and major steel the new political ideas. The RAPM had control over the Music. New workers.
styles of music tried to imitate sounds like machinery.
and coal industries.
,Replacing Lenin: Complications The aftermath of Lenin’s death Stalin eliminates the opposition: the power struggle
- Stalin suppressed Lenin’s testament and Step 1: defeating Trotsky and the ‘Left Communists’
- Lenin fell ill and died in Jan 1924
- Next Leader of the Communist Party???? organised Lenin’s funeral. - Trotsky was seen as the real danger by all rivals, they were ready to
- Few predicted Stalin to be the ‘New Lenin’. - Other communist leaders agreed that the work with Stalin in order to isolate Trotsky.
- Stalin was the General Secretary of the Communist testament should not be published. - Trotsky worsened these matters by criticising the lack of democracy
Party – he had lots of responsibilities – it was a - On Lenin’s funeral, Stalin appeared close to in the party (poor tactic by Trotsky.) **
powerful job. Lenin and a leading figure – cult of Lenin. - Trotsky and the ‘Left Communists’ wanted ‘Permanent Revolution’
- Lenin’s Testament criticised all other leading - In 1924, Petrograd → Leningrad and rapid industrialisation.
communists, for example, Stalin. - Trotsky was ill and didn’t attend Lenin’s - The ‘Right Communists’ were prepared to put up with the NEP for
- Lenin, probably wanted them all to work together. funeral. longer, in order to build a foundation oof industrialisation.
- For Stalin, his testament, was seen as a great - He claimed that Stalin gave him the wrong date - At the Party Congress, in 1925, all the votes went for Stalin and other
embarrassment. for the funeral. rivals, except for Trotsky.
- Trotsky didn’t know how to compete with his - Trotsky lost his job as Commissar for War and some tried to expel him.
Rivals for Power rivals.
Stalin: Strengths Step 2: defeating the ‘United Opposition’
- He was general secretary of the Communist Party –
Zinoviev and Kamenev was actually in agreement with Trotsky.
-
gave him tremendous power, through appointing key
- They wanted an end to NEP and the start of rapid
jobs in the party. Stalin’s rise to power industrialisation.
- He appeared to be moderate in how he dealt with rivals. and dictatorship - They formed the ‘United Opposition’ – criticised the way the
- He seemed patriotic – ‘Socialism in one Country’.
Weaknesses (1924-41): party was running the economy.
- Their criticism allowed Stalin to accuse them as ‘factionalists’.
- He had been SERIOUSLY CRITICISED in Lenin’s Struggle for power
- Zinoviev and Kamenev was sacked from all their jobs and Trotsky
testament. (1924-29) was expelled from the party and the Soviet Union (USSR).
- He was seen as boring.
- Zinoviev and Kamenev admitted that they were wrong and were allowed
Trotsky: Strengths Weaknesses back in.
- He was seen as a brilliant speaker - Had opposed Lenin’s plans for the October Step 3: defeating Bukharin and the ‘Right Communists’
- Worked closely with Lenin. Revolution – criticism.
- Helped the Communist Party to win Civil War. - Stalin was, in fact, supportive with ideologies of the ‘United
Weaknesses Bukharin: Strengths Opposition’ – rapid industrialisation.
- Considered arrogant – ordering people during Civil War - A brilliant speaker and political writer. - It wasn’t difficult for Stalin to get rid of Bukharin; he lacked support
- Did not join the party until 1917, so he didn’t have a - Very popular in the party in the party, couldn’t control the votes at party congresses and was in
lot of supporters. Weaknesses favour of NEP (unpopular).
- He believed that Permanent Revolution looked - Lacked experience - Poor relations within other western countries – made the USSR fearful
unpatriotic – communism will succeed if it spreads to - He supported the NEP – not popular in the of war.
other countries. Communist Party. - In order to prepare for war, the Soviet Union needs to rapidly
industrialise.
Zinoviev & Kamenev: Strengths - Stalin ordered police to seize the grain from peasants who were seen as
- Two communists worked closing together. hoarding it – broke all the rules of NEP.
- Two party bosses in Petrograd and Moscow. - During 1929, Stalin called for the collectivisation of agriculture and
- Zinoviev had a strong reputation as a brilliant thinker the launch of the Five-Year Plans, to industrialise rapidly.
and speaker. - Bukharin was unable to stop this and was soon expelled (secretly
discussing with Kamenev on how to stop Stalin) by Stalin.
,Purges and the use of terror in the USSR Reasons behind the purges - For example, peasants tried to escape famine caused by
collectivisation in the Ukraine into cities to start a new life.
To cover up problems in the economy
Stalin’s use of terror
- Accidents in poorly run mines but the
To remove old rivals within the Communist Party
1918 – Dismissal of the Constituent Assembly
1918-19 – Red Terror government made it seem like enemies were - Stalin’s rivals were still in the Communist Party.
1918-21 – Cheka’s brutality in the Civil War causing these accidents. - ‘Old Bolsheviks’ disliked the one-man rule of Stalin.
1920s – People thought unworthy of Communist Party - People were shot as a warning to others, the - In 1932, Stalin wanted Ryutin (his rival) shot – couldn’t persuade
membership was expelled. importance of meeting targets. the Politburo, acted as a weakness which clearly angered Stalin
1933 – 18% of the members expelled as disloyal. - Factory managers disliked Stakhanovites. (insecure)
- Managers were blamed for slowing down - Many who had been close associates of Lenin were shot by Stalin.
Purges of the 1930s
production.
1931 – Ex-Mensheviks shot as WRECKERS. To control Communist Party bosses
1932 – Stalin fails to persuade the Politburo to shoot To control peasants and workers
- Leaders in Moscow struggled to get local party bosses to do as they
Ryutin down.
- Some workers used false papers and lied about were told.
1934 – Murder of Kirov
their background to try to ‘reinvent themselves’, - There was much corruption among the NKVDs.
1936 – First show-trials: Zinoviev and Kamenev shot
In order to survive the USSR - Some local party bosses were arrested and shot in order for others to
1937 – Start of the Yezhovschina (Time Of Yezhov).
obey orders.
NKVD – Start of Mass arrests
To protect the government if war broke out
Purge of the military
1938 - Show trial: Bukharin SHOT Stalin’s rise to power Hitler came to power in 1933; by 1936, it had become clear that
Yezhov arrested and later shot – end of Yezhovschina and dictatorship he may go for war against the USSR.
1939 – seven million people have been imprisoned in (1924-41): To blame others for the assassination of Kirov in Dec 1934
labour camps
Use of terror (1930s) - Kirov was the party boss in Leningrad – opposed Ryutin’s
Role of the NKVD (secret police) shooting.
- Destroyed anyone considered to be an enemy of the - In Central Committee elections at the Party Congress he may have
communist rule. gained more votes than Stalin.
- Intimidating and arresting people & ‘conveyor system’. Main Events of the Purges - Kirov was killed – Zinoviev and Kamenev was accused and arrested.
A faltering start
Many were arrested for betraying the USSR as: - After Kirov’s murder, Zinoviev and Kamenev was The weakness of the communist government
- Stamp-colleting (foreign countries) arrested and SHOT.
- Speaking to foreigners - The mass purges of the Great Terror reveal a government trying to
- Head of NKVD (Yagoda) was arrested and later
- Failing to cut out photos of Trotsky shot – criticising Stalin. rush the transformation of a country.
- Accidently scribbling on Stalin’s photo - Violence was the tried and trusted strategy of a ruthless party that
- Failing to meet production targets. Attacking the Communist Part and ‘wreckers’ had seized with power with violence – used violence to deal with
- Arrests first targeted local Communist Party problems.
- Others were arrested for no reason at all – the NKVD bosses and party members – accused of opposing - Stalin was supported by key people who thought that this was the
were also given targets, for the no. of arrests they could government orders.
way to solve the problems of the USSR.
make. - Show Trials – accused of ‘wrecking’. - Many of them would later become victims of the terror they had helped to start.
Mass arrests
- The NKVD were given targets of how many they
should arrest – accused of being enemies.
- People were interrogated they confessed and blamed
others involved in their crimes. (Out Of Control)
, Main Events of the Purges The labour camp system in the Soviet Union
The ‘Time Of Yezhov’ Gulag – system of labour camps across the Soviet Union.
- Yezhov was head of the NKVD – he was arrested and In these labour camps were:
shot in 1938. - Peasants arrested during collectivisation
- Blaming the person who carried out government policy. - Workers convicted of wrecking.
- Show trial of Trotskyites: ‘We clean the floor; that - Communist party and government officials suspected of sabotage
doesn’t concern us’. - Artists, writers and university lecturers
Consequences of the Purges - Leaders of ethnic minority groups
Destruction of the ‘Old Bolsheviks’ - Innocent people arrested due to strict quotas by the NKVD
- ‘Old Bolsheviks’ had argued with Lenin and were - Slave labourers in the Gulag system, provided the energy that run
confident of their own opinions were dead. the mines and factories in the camps.
- They were replaced by a new generation who owed - Built roads and railway lines, and mined coal and gold.
everything to Stalin. - Prisoners faced long hours on little food.
Weakening of armed forces - Working in thin uniforms and sleeping In heated huts in cold
- In 1937, members of armed forces were arrested and weather conditions.
accused of plotting against Stalin. – threatening his - It was a savage world, vast numbers died.
rule. Show Trials (1936-38)
- With the party leadership crushed by earlier arrests and Stalin’s rise to power
- Leading Communist Party members were tried and found
executions, Stalin then turned on this group in order to and dictatorship guilty of crimes at show trials.
be secure.
(1924-41): - The show trials affected only a small number of people.
- The Red Army had expanded and became better
equipped because of the Five-Year Plans and this Use of terror (1930s) - To convince people across the Soviet Union that those on trial
increased its importance in the Soviet Union. really were traitors.
- 35,000 officers were arrested – confessions were beaten - Films were released to the world’s press.
out. - Zinoviev and Kamenev were forced to confess in taking part in
- Many experienced soldiers were arrested and SHOT. terrorism organised by Trotsky – found guilty and shot.
- This weakened the Soviet Union’s defences when - Bukharin was tried and shot.
Germany invaded in 1941. - Show trials were used to destroy old opponents of Stalin and
justify the mass arrests, by getting people to confess to imaginary
Chaos in the economy and government crimes.
- Experienced members of the government had been - Some confessed to protect their families
executed – hold back the development of the country. - Some were tortured into confessing.
Huge loss of life Importance of show trials
- Possibly seven – eight million people were arrested and
one million were shot and two million died in labour - This persuaded many people that there really was a threat to the
camps. Soviet Union from these enemies of the people.
- The numbers were colossal – majority were innocent of - The show trials encouraged ordinary workers to criticise their
any crime. managers for the things that frustrated them.
- There is evidence for support for them for many workers.
- These workers felt that the government was finally allowing them
to have in influence on how the Soviet Union was run.
