The Reign of Joseph Stalin

Overview

Stalin’s reign was characterized by great terror, collectivization, and industrialization. It was essentially a war against his own people, paralyzing society with fear for two decades.

Background

• Lenin’s Death (1924): Led to a power struggle in Soviet Union.
• Joseph Stalin: Used conspiracies and murder to eliminate rivals.
• Trotsky: Forced into exile, allowing Stalin to become the unquestionable ruler by 1929.

Industrialization

• Objective: To overcome Russia’s backwardness and transform it into an industrial power at the expense of agriculture.
• First Five-Year Plan (1928-1932): Aimed to meet industrial goals in four years.
  • Quotas were introduced, statistics often faked.

Collectivization

• Kolkhozes: State-run collective farms introduced in the countryside.
  • People were forced to work.
  • Prosperous farmers (Kulaks) were repressed.
• Great Famine (1932-33): Severe famine due to collectivization policies.
  • Particularly harsh in Ukraine, known as the Holodomor.
  • Death toll: Approximately seven million.

The Great Terror

• Start (1934): Began after the assassination of political rival Sergey Kirov.
• Secret Police: The OGPU and later NKVD organized and executed the purges.
  • Leaders: Genrikh Yagoda, Nikolay Yezhov, Lavrenty Beria.
• Targets: Political rivals, former comrades, intelligentsia, doctors, army officers, and some national minorities.
• Purge Trials: Conducted from 1936.
• Arrests and Executions: 6-8 million arrested, about one million executed.

Results

• Industrialization: Successful in terms of industrial development but unsustainable.
• Death Toll: Total estimated death toll during Stalin’s reign is at least 15 million.