Rise to power Joseph Stalin

1 rise power

1.1 succeeding lenin: 1924–1927
1.2 dekulakisation, collectivisation, , industrialisation: 1927–1931

1.2.1 economic policy
1.2.2 cultural , foreign policy


1.3 famine , great terror: 1932–1939

1.3.1 great terror

rise power

succeeding lenin: 1924–1927

anastas mikoyan, stalin , sergo ordzhonikidze in tiflis (now tbilisi), in 1925

lenin died in january 1924. stalin took charge of funeral , 1 of pallbearers; against wishes of lenin s widow, politburo embalmed corpse , placed within mausoleum in moscow s red square. incorporated growing personality cult devoted lenin, petrograd being renamed leningrad year. bolster image devoted leninist, stalin eager present himself theorist, giving 9 lectures @ sverdlov university on foundations of leninism ; later published concise overview of lenin s ideas. @ following 13th party congress, lenin s testament read out senior figures. embarrassed contents, stalin offered resignation general secretary; act of humility saved him , retained in position. in private life, dividing time between kremlin apartment , dacha had obtained @ zubalova. wife had given birth daughter, svetlana, in february 1926.

stalin saw trotsky main obstacle rise dominance within communist party, , while lenin had been ill had forged anti-trotsky alliance kamenev , grigory zinoviev. although zinoviev had expressed concerned stalin s growing authority, rallied behind him @ 13th congress counterweight trotsky, led party faction known left opposition. left opposition believed many concessions capitalism had been made nep; stalin deemed rightist in party support of policy. stalin built retinue of supporters in central committee, while left opposition gradually removed positions of influence. supported in bukharin, stalin believed implementing left opposition s proposals plunge soviet union instability.

leon trotsky , stalin bearing coffin of felix dzerzhinsky on 30 july 1926

in autumn of 1924, stalin removed kamenev , zinoviev s supporters key positions. in 1925, kamenev , zinoviev moved open opposition of stalin , bukharin. attacked 1 @ 14th party congress, stalin accused kamenev , zinoviev of reintroducing factionalism—and instability—into party. in summer of 1926, kamenev , zinoviev joined trotskyites form united opposition against stalin; in october agreed stop factional activity under threat of expulsion, , later publicly recanted views under stalin s command. factionalist arguments continued, stalin threatening resign in both december 1926 , december 1927. in october 1927, zinoviev , trotsky removed central committee; latter exiled kazakhstan , later deported country in 1929. of united opposition members repentant later rehabilitated , allowed return government. stalin had established himself party s supreme leader, although not head of government, task entrusted key ally vyacheslav molotov. other important supporters on politburo voroshilov, lazar kaganovich, , sergo ordzhonikidze, stalin ensuring allies ran various state institutions.

in 1924, georgian nationalists seeking independence launched august uprising; suppressed red army. in april 1925, tsaritsyn renamed stalingrad. in 1926, stalin published on questions of leninism. in book introduced concept of socialism in 1 country , claimed orthodox leninist perspective. nevertheless clashed established bolshevik views socialism not established in 1 country achieved globally through process of world revolution. in 1927, there argument in party on ussr s relationship situation in china. stalin had called communist party of china ally kuomintang (kmt) nationalists, viewing communist-kuomintang alliance best bulwark against japanese imperial expansionism in eastern asia. however, ktm reversed tables in shanghai massacre of 1927 massacring membership of communist party in shanghai midway through northern expedition.

dekulakisation, collectivisation, , industrialisation: 1927–1931
economic policy


—stalin, february 1931

by latter half of 1920s, soviet union still lagging behind industrial development of western countries, , stalin s government feared military attack japan, france, or united kingdom. many bolsheviks, including in komsomol, ogpu, , red army eager rid of nep , market-oriented approach, desiring push towards socialism. there concerns growing sector of society—the kulaks , nepmen—who had profited policy , become wealthier other citizens. there had been shortfall of grain supplies; 1927 produced 70% of grain produced in 1926. @ point, stalin turned against nep, putting him on course left of trotsky or zinoviev.

in 1928 stalin travelled novosibirsk, there claiming kulaks hoarding grain. ordered kulaks arrested , grain confiscated, stalin bringing of area s grain moscow him in february. @ command, grain procurement squads surfaced across western siberia , urals, violence breaking out between these squads , peasantry. stalin announced both kulaks , middle peasants must coerced releasing harvest. bukharin , several other members of central committee angry had not been consulted measure, deemed rash. in january 1930, politburo approved measure liquidate existence of kulaks class; rounded , exiled either elsewhere in own regions, other parts of country, or concentration camps. large numbers died during journey. july 1930, on 320,000 households had been affected de-kulakisation policy.

aleksei grigorievich stakhanov fellow miner; stalin s government initiated stakhanovite movement encourage hard-work. partly responsible substantial rise in production during 1930s.

in 1929, politburo announced mass collectivisation of agriculture, establishing both kolkhozy collective farms , sovkhoz state farms. stalin stipulated kulaks barred joining these collectives. although officially voluntary, many peasants joined collectives out of fear face fate of kulaks; others joined amid intimidation , violence party loyalists. 1932, 62% of households involved in agriculture part of collectives, , 1936 had risen 90%. many of peasants had been collectivised resented loss of private farmland, , productivity slumped. famine broke out in many areas, politburo ordering distribution of emergency food relief these regions. armed peasant uprisings against dekulakisation , collectivisation broke out in ukraine, northern caucasus, southern russia, , central asia, reaching apex in march 1930; these repressed red army. stalin responded uprisings article insisting collectivisation voluntary , blaming violence , other excesses on local officials. bukharin expressed concerns these policies; regarded them return lenin s old war communism policy , believed fail. however, summer of 1928 unable rally sufficient support in party oppose reforms. in november 1929 stalin removed him politburo.

officially, soviet union had replaced irrationality , wastefulness of market economy planned economy organised along long-term, precise, , scientific framework; in reality, soviet economics based on ad hoc commandments issued centre, make short-term targets. in 1928, first five-year plan launched, main focus on boosting heavy industry; finished year ahead of schedule, in 1932. ussr underwent massive economic transformation. new mines opened, new cities magnitogorsk constructed, , work on white sea-baltic canal begun. millions of peasants moved cities , became proletariat, although urban house building not keep demand. large debts accrued while purchasing foreign-made machinery. many of major construction projects, including white sea-baltic canal , moscow metro, constructed largely through forced labour. last elements of workers control on industry removed, factory managers increasing authority , receiving privileges , perks; stalin defended wage disparity pointing marx s argument necessary during lower stages of socialism. promote intensification of labour, series of medals , awards stakhanovite movement introduced. stalin s message socialism being established in ussr while capitalism crumbling amid wall street crash. speeches , articles reflected utopian vision of soviet union rising unparalleled heights of human development, creating new soviet person .

cultural , foreign policy

photograph taken of 1931 demolition of cathedral of christ saviour in moscow in order make way palace of soviets

in 1928, stalin declared class war between proletariat , enemies intensify socialism developed. warned of danger right , including in communist party itself. first major show trial in ussr shakhty trial of 1928, in several middle-class industrial specialists convicted of sabotage. 1929 1930, further show trials held intimidate opposition: these included industrial party trial, menshevik trial, , metro-vickers trial. aware ethnic russian majority may have concerns being ruled georgian, promoted ethnic russians throughout state hierarchy , made russian language compulsory throughout schools , offices, albeit used in tandem local languages in areas non-russian majorities. nationalist sentiment among ethnic minorities suppressed. conservative social policies promoted enhance social discipline , boost population growth; included focus on strong family units , motherhood, re-criminalisation of homosexuality, restrictions placed on abortion , divorce, , abolition of zhenotdel.

stalin desired cultural revolution , entailing both creation of culture masses , wider dissemination of elite culture. oversaw proliferation of schools, newspapers, , libraries, advancement of literacy , numeracy. socialist realism promoted throughout arts, while wooed prominent writers, namely maxim gorky, mikhail sholokhov, , aleksey nikolayevich tolstoy. expressed patronage scientists research fitted within preconceived interpretation of marxism; instance endorsed research of agrobiologist trofim lysenko despite fact rejected majority of scientific peers pseudo-scientific. government s anti-religious campaign re-intensified, increased funding given league of militant atheists. christian, muslim, jewish, , buddhist clergy faced persecution. many religious buildings demolished, notably moscow s cathedral of christ saviour, destroyed in 1931 make way (never completed) palace of soviets. religion retained influence on of population; in 1937 census, 57% of respondents identified religious.

throughout 1920s , beyond, stalin placed high priority on foreign policy. met range of western visitors, including george bernard shaw , h. g. wells, both of whom impressed him. through communist international, stalin s government exerted strong influence on marxist parties elsewhere in world; initially, stalin left running of organisation largely bukharin. @ 6th congress in july 1928, stalin informed delegates main threat socialism came not right non-marxist socialists , social democrats, whom called social fascists ; stalin recognised social democrats marxist-leninists main rivals working-class support in many countries. preoccupation opposing rival leftists concerned bukharin, particularly worried growth of fascism , far right across europe. after bukharin s departure, stalin placed communist international under administration of dmitry manuilsky , osip piatnitsky.

stalin faced problems in family life. in 1929, son yakov unsuccessfully attempted suicide; failure earned stalin s contempt. relationship nadya strained amid arguments , mental health problems. in november 1932, after group dinner in kremlin in stalin flirted other women, nadya shot herself. publicly, claimed nadya died of appendicitis; stalin concealed real cause of death children. stalin s friends noted underwent significant change following suicide, becoming emotionally harder.

famine , great terror: 1932–1939

within soviet union, there widespread civic disgruntlement against stalin s government. social unrest, restricted largely countryside, increasingly evident in urban areas, prompting stalin ease on of economic policies in 1932. in may 1932, introduced system of kolkhoz markets peasants trade surplus produce. @ same time, penal sanctions became more severe; @ stalin s instigation, in august 1932 measure introduced meaning theft of handful of grain capital offense. second five-year plan had production quotas reduced of first, main emphasis being on improving living conditions. therefore emphasised expansion of housing space , production of consumer goods. predecessor, plan repeatedly amended meet changing situations; there instance increasing emphasis placed on armament production after adolf hitler became german chancellor in 1933.

famine in ussr, 1933. areas of intense famine marked black

such policies nevertheless failed stop famine peaked in winter of 1932–33. between 5 , 7 million people died; many resorted cannibalising dead survive. worst affected ukraine , north caucuses, although famine impacted kazakhstan , several russian provinces. 1932 harvest had been poor one, , had followed several years in lower productivity had resulted in gradual decline in output. stalin blamed famine on hostile elements , wreckers within peasantry. according british historian alan bullock, total soviet grain crop no worse of 1931 ... not crop failure excessive demands of state, ruthlessly enforced, cost lives of many 5 million ukrainian peasants. stalin refused release large grain reserves have alleviated famine, while continuing export grain, , strictly enforced new draconian anti-theft laws on collective farm. other historians hold view largely insufficient harvests of 1931 , 1932 caused variety of natural disasters resulted in famine, successful harvest of 1933 ending famine. ukrainian famine referred ukrainian genocide, implying engineered soviet government, targeting ukrainian people in order destroy ukrainian nation both political factor , social entity. existence of famine denied foreign observers.

in 1935–36, stalin oversaw elaboration of new constitution. featured various liberalising features, including introduction of secret ballots during elections. introducing constitution, declared socialism, first phase of communism, has been achieved in country . in 1938, history of communist party of soviet union (bolsheviks), colloquially known short course, released; conquest later referred central text of stalinism . number of authorised stalin biographies published, although stalin wanted portrayed embodiment of communist party rather have life story explored. during later 1930s, stalin placed limits on personality cult developing around him, , sought portray himself humility, instance through use of self-deprecating humour. perhaps pragmatic reasons, recognising appearance of modesty make him more appealing. 1938, stalin s inner circle had gained degree of stability, containing personalities remain there until stalin s death.

seeking improved international relations, in 1934 soviet union secured membership of league of nations, of had been excluded. stalin initiated confidential communications hitler in october 1933, shortly after latter came power in germany. stalin admired hitler, particularly latter s manoeuvres remove rivals within nazi party in night of long knives. nevertheless recognised threat posed fascism , sought establish better links liberal democracies of western europe; in may 1935, soviets signed treaty of mutual assistance france , czechoslovakia. @ communist international s 7th congress, held in july–august 1935, soviet government encouraged marxist-leninists unite other leftists part of popular front against fascism. in turn, anti-communist governments of germany, fascist italy , japan signed anti-comintern pact of 1936. when spanish civil war broke out same year, soviets sent 648 aircraft , 407 tanks left-wing republican faction; these accompanied 3000 soviet troops , 42,000 members of international brigades set communist international. stalin took strong personal involvement in spanish situation. germany , italy backed nationalist faction, victorious in march 1939. stalin give aid chinese after outbreak of second sino-japanese war in july 1937, kmt , communists having formed stalin s desired united front.

the great terror

stalin on building of moscow-volga canal. constructed 1932 1937 gulag prisoners.

regarding state repressions, stalin provided conflicting signals. in may 1933, ordered release of many criminals convicted of minor offenses overcrowded prisons , ordered security services not enact further mass arrests , deportations. in september 1934, ordered politburo establish commission investigate false imprisonments; however, same month called execution of workers @ stalin metallurgical factory accused of spying japan. began change in december 1934, when prominent party member sergey kirov murdered. after murder of kirov, stalin became increasingly attentive of possibility of murder , subsequently improved own personal security, including being heavily guarded @ times , ever going out in public on own.

the killing followed intensification of state repression; stalin issued decree establishing nkvd troikas mete out rulings without involving courts. de-kulakisation policy had sought rid rural areas of anti-government forces, stalin sought same in cities , towns. in 1935, nkvd ordered expel suspected counter-revolutionaries, particularly had been aristocrats, landlords, or businesspeople before october revolution. in months of 1935, on 11,000 people expelled leningrad, live in isolated rural areas. in 1936, nikolai yezhov became head of nkvd , oversaw intensification. stalin instigated intensification of repression, rooted in own psychological compulsions , logic of system had created, 1 prioritised security above other considerations.

stalin orchestrated arrest of many former opponents in communist party: denounced western-backed mercenaries, many imprisoned or exiled internally. first moscow trial took place in august 1936; kamenev , zinoviev among accused of plotting assassinations, found guilty in show trial, , executed. second moscow show trial took place in january 1937, , third in march 1938, in bukharin , rykov accused of involvement in alleged trotskyite-zinovievite terrorist plot , sentenced death. late 1937, remnants of collective leadership gone politburo, controlled entirely stalin. there mass expulsions party, stalin commanding foreign communist parties purge anti-stalinist elements. during 1930s , 1940s, nkvd groups assassinated defectors , opponents abroad; in august 1940, trotsky assassinated in mexico, eliminating last of stalin s opponents among former party leadership. in may, followed arrest of members of military supreme command , mass arrests throughout military, on fabricated charges. these purges replaced of party s old guard younger officials did not remember time before stalin s leadership , regarded more loyal him. party functionaries readily carried out commands , sought ingratiate stalin avoid becoming victim of purge.

repressions further intensified in december 1936 , remained @ high level until november 1938, period known great purge. latter part of 1937, purges had moved beyond party , affecting wider population. in july 1937, politburo ordered purge of anti-soviet elements in society, affecting bolsheviks had opposed stalin, former mensheviks , socialist revolutionaries, priests, former soldiers in white army, , common criminals. month, stalin , yezhov signed order no. 00447, listing 268,950 people arrest, of whom 75,950 executed. initiated national operations , ethnic cleansing of non-soviet ethnic groups—among them poles, germans, latvians, finns, greeks, koreans, , chinese—through internal or external exile. during these years, approximately 1.6 million people arrested. 700,000 shot, , unknown number died under nkvd torture.

stalin initiated of key decisions during terror, directing many of operations , taking interest in details of implementation. motives in doing have been debated historians. personal writings period were—according khlevniuk— unusually convoluted , incoherent , filled claims conspiracies , enemies encircling him. particularly concerned @ success right-wing forces had in overthrowing leftist spanish government, worried domestic anti-stalinist elements become fifth column in event of future war japan , germany. great terror ended when yezhov removed head of nkvd, replaced lavrentiy beria. yezhov arrested in april 1939 , executed in 1940. terror had damaged soviet union s reputation abroad, particularly among sympathetic leftists, , terror wound down, stalin sought deflect responsibility away himself. later claimed terror s excesses , violations of law yezhov s fault.