The genocide that Stalin inflicted on the Ukrainians began in 1929 with massive deportations of the most successful farmers of Ukraine. All farmers were forced to give up their land to the government. These farms would then be state owned and factory ran. If farmers and families would refuse to leave their homes, they would be drug out of their houses and forced onto freight trains that would then take them to remote areas. To add on, the Soviet Union sharply increased Ukraine 's’ production quotas, to make it near impossible to fill, which eventually led to the widespread starvation all across Ukraine.
Post WWl, Russia was still not industrialized, suffering economically and politically and in no doubt in need of a leader after Lenin’s death. “His successor, Joseph Stalin, a ruthless dictator, seized power and turned Russia into a totalitarian state where the government controls all aspects of private and public life.” Stalin showed these traits by using methods of enforcement, state control of individuals and state control of society. The journey of Stalin begins now.
(Esler et al. 729) which created this invincible and loving leader who was here for the people but just like Hitler their motives were more selfish and hateful than what was perceived by their people. There was no room for debate or disagreement, it would be met with violence. “To ensure Obedience, Stalin’s Communist party used secret police, censorship, and terror. Police spies did not hesitate to open private letters or plant listening devices. Nothing appeared in print without official approval.
IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF SOURCES The focus of this investigation will be “What were the causes of Stalin’s purges during 1936-1940?” and this book will analyze based on historians did he really consolidate his power over Russia during late 1930’s . For the purposes of investigation it will solely focus on late 1930’s to answer the question in more depth .Thus, The Great Terror: A Reassessment by Conquest Robert is source of great value and strength for this investigation because book focus completely on time frame of 1935- 1940 and also begins book with description of purges and goes in more depth of why according to the author Stalin started purges in Russia and lastly by the end of the book author
Stalin did not tolerate anyone who opposed him, and this is where his cruel methods come into play. He utilized a harsh forced famine in Ukraine, with 4.5 to 7 million victimes. “Stalin used the forced famine as part of a political strategy..” to oppress his people. Another cruel method of his were public trials of his “great purges”, purging anyone opposing him. In these trials, “[defendants] confessed...to a number of crimes.
Imagine living in a society brainwashed by propaganda, where you only can think what you are told. From 1929-1953, citizens of the Soviet Union had to endure this under the rule of Joseph Stalin. Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union in 1929 right after the death of Vladimir Lenin, the first leader of the Soviet Union. From the moment he came into power, Stalin started instilling fear in the population, and those he viewed as a threat were sent to his gulags or labor camps.
Stalin didn’t just use the secret police to crush the hopes and dreams of his people. He also banned religion. This was done because he believed in science and he didn’t want people to focus on life without communism. (Document Four) Stalin’s political actions can be seen as completely tyrannical but he did impact society as
Process of Findings The first part of this report will discuss the evidence pertaining to the “genuinely concerned, pragmatic” side to Joseph Stalin’s leadership. Stalin was a leader who was honoured and praised by many of his people in the USSR for various reasons. He was portrayed on propaganda posters as a kind, caring and genuinely concerned leader particularly towards children who were the future of the USSR (Source A). By Stalin being portrayed as a leader who shows genuine concern and care for the children of his country, it propagates the message that children and the entire population of the USSR will have an “enlightened future” under his leadership13 (Source A), and would in turn help Stalin gain more support for himself.
Stalin’s use of Strong language shows us how truly serious the Soviet Union were going to be in promoting and carrying out their plans. The use of state terror to encourage such production increases proves this even further. The regime also used propaganda in the form of Stakhanovism to promote the industrial revolution that the country went through. This use of propaganda promoted Aleksei Stakhanov as the ideal Soviet worker who could apparently produce one hundred and two tonnes of coal in one shift.
Like Napoleon, Stalin would get rid of anyone who would rebel against his rules or disagree with what he was doing... According to the article "Stalin Banishes Trotsky" by the Editors of History.com, “He ordered someone to kill Trotsky.” This evidence
More than 750,000 people were killed and millions were accused of conspiring against Stalin ( Joseph Stalin: National hero 17). Stalin wanted power, and would do anything to keep it. Stalin once said, “ Death is the solution to all problems. No man - no problems ”(Joseph Stalin Quotes 2 ). He believed that getting rid of anyone who contradicted him or his beliefs would help him maintain power.
Stalin went on a spree of execution, imprisoning and firing many officials (especially the officials with higher level) “The Great Purge 1934-1940.”(H-Headlines). Stalin would do whatever it takes to upset any building power bases or alliances who he thought might work against him to take his leadership status.
Throughout his years in power he continually demonstrated ideologies focused in The Prince. For example, Stalin had a mind that always thought of war. He engulfed the idea that he should be a military leader. He also thought that he should be a feared leader; one that is not hated for being too generous or hated for attempting to keep order and justice, which would lead to taxing the people and using many resources. Lastly, he believed that
However, this only scratches the surface of what Stalin put the Soviet Union through. Stalin was a very persuasive man, his writings make it seem as if he is in the right and is innocent. To support this statement, two pieces of Stalin's writings were
After Lenin, who was Stalin’s sort of mentor, died Stalin “methodically went about destroying all the old leaders of the Party” (PBS) and he first exiled them, then he realized they could still do him harm he either revealed them as an enemy to the people or just plain assassinate them like he did with Trotsky, who was killed by one of Stalin’s assassin's with a ice pick. Joseph Stalin then went on to create something now known as the Great Purge or the five-year plan where he killed and exiled millions of innocent people. He mainly focused on the wealthy peasants aka. the Kulaks where he deported or killed about five-million of them. His five-year plan also called for a 250% increase in the overall industrialization and also a 330% increase in in the heavy industry.
