Li Chun Ho (Alvin Li) History Revision: The Purges past paper questions.

June 2003 Question 12 (a) What were the show trials of the 1930s?[5] The show trials that began in the 1930s revolved around the Purges which Stalin first started after the death of Kirov, a high ranking Communist in the party who was shot under suspicious circumstances. Stalin had used this excuse to purge Russia and to set up the show trials. The show trials were trials that were against old enemies of Stalin, such as the Bolsheviks, whom Stalin had hated and defeated in the past that were broadcasted on the radio throughout Russia. The first defendants were Zinoviev, Kamenev and 14 others. The pair of them was political opponents during the election for being the Communist leader after Lenins death. The show trials were shown in public to show that Stalin was following the legal guidelines with the accused. All of them admitted to the ridiculous crimes; however it was important as it showed to the rest of the world that Stalin was being reasonable. (b) Why did Stalin carry out purges in the 1930s?[7] Stalin began to carry out Purges instantly after the death of Kirov, using it as an explanation that the Communist Party, with the rest of the Soviet Union, was under attack. He declared there was a conspiracy for other top communist leaders and he himself to be assassinated. Therefore he used this as an excuse to purge on all classes of Russian society, to get back on people who were against him and held grudges on him. For example, the first few people who were accused and were purged by Stalin were Zinoviev and Kamenev, as they were old Bolshevik enemies since the death of Lenin. Stalin had carried out the purges as he feared that his position as the head of the party would be threatened by his past enemies and those other top leading communist leaders who previously had severe disagreements with him. He did not want others to gain power. He deeply believed that he was the only person capable of transforming Russia in to a powerful, industrial nation. Furthermore, he grew the need and want for people to commend and praise him. Those who didnt were seen as enemies to not only Stalin, but to Russia herself, as he believed these traitors wanted to delay the development process of the industrialisation of Russia.