June 2018 – Option 1E : Russia 1917-91 from Lenin to Yeltsin
1) How accurate is it to say that Stalin’s use of terror in the 1930s was fundamentally similar to
Lenin’s use of terror in the years 1918-24? (20 marks)
There is no doubt that terror was used both under Lenin and Stalin and can said to have been
consistently used during the period 1918-1930s.
CRITERIA:
Fundamentally similar can be assessed by whether the aims of the use of terror and the extent of
extremity of terror was the same under each respective leadership.
This essay will ultimately argue that Stalin’s use of terror in the 1930s was similar to Lenin’s use of
terror 1918-24, however not ‘fundamentally similar’ as terror was used with different motives and
was taken to much more significant height under Stalin.
PARA 1:
One way the use of terror under Lenin and Stalin was fundamentally similar was the use of the
secret police to safeguard/ protect the revolution
Lenin’s secret police (Cheka) was created in Dec 1917
Protect areas of communist held power
Closed Constituent Assembly after SRs won majority vote – this allowed Bolshevik assertion
of power in 1917
Chekists were responsible for raiding anarchist organisations, closing down opposition newspapers
and expelling Mensheviks and SRs from the Soviets
1922 trials of SR leaders – killed in August 1922 for plotting overthrow and sabotage
Cheka was willing to torture or kill anyone who communists viewed as a threat e.g. Kremenchuck,
Ukraine – Church leaders impaled on spikes and put on display
Ran concentration camps housing Communist enemies
Stalin also used terror through secret police and expanded its role into the NKVD
Used to safeguard the revolution in the 1930s
In this sense the use of terror under Lenin and Stalin can be seen to be fundamentally similar as the
aims of protecting the regime and revolutions were the same and they were used to similar extents
PARA 2:
However, when considering Lenin and Stalin’s use of terror in purges to remove ‘unreliable
elements’ of the party they can be seen to be similar but not fundamentally similar aims and extent
differed.
While Lenin’s aim was to overthrow counter-revolutionaries, Stalin aimed to purge WITHIN the party
structure – Lenin was against this
1937 the NKVD was purged – removing old agents allowed Stalin to speed up pace of terror
Great Purge launched in 1930s responsible for deaths of 10 million Soviet citizens
Show trials of political opponent
Trial of 16 (1936) – execution of Kamanev and Zinoviev and 14 supporters
1) How accurate is it to say that Stalin’s use of terror in the 1930s was fundamentally similar to
Lenin’s use of terror in the years 1918-24? (20 marks)
There is no doubt that terror was used both under Lenin and Stalin and can said to have been
consistently used during the period 1918-1930s.
CRITERIA:
Fundamentally similar can be assessed by whether the aims of the use of terror and the extent of
extremity of terror was the same under each respective leadership.
This essay will ultimately argue that Stalin’s use of terror in the 1930s was similar to Lenin’s use of
terror 1918-24, however not ‘fundamentally similar’ as terror was used with different motives and
was taken to much more significant height under Stalin.
PARA 1:
One way the use of terror under Lenin and Stalin was fundamentally similar was the use of the
secret police to safeguard/ protect the revolution
Lenin’s secret police (Cheka) was created in Dec 1917
Protect areas of communist held power
Closed Constituent Assembly after SRs won majority vote – this allowed Bolshevik assertion
of power in 1917
Chekists were responsible for raiding anarchist organisations, closing down opposition newspapers
and expelling Mensheviks and SRs from the Soviets
1922 trials of SR leaders – killed in August 1922 for plotting overthrow and sabotage
Cheka was willing to torture or kill anyone who communists viewed as a threat e.g. Kremenchuck,
Ukraine – Church leaders impaled on spikes and put on display
Ran concentration camps housing Communist enemies
Stalin also used terror through secret police and expanded its role into the NKVD
Used to safeguard the revolution in the 1930s
In this sense the use of terror under Lenin and Stalin can be seen to be fundamentally similar as the
aims of protecting the regime and revolutions were the same and they were used to similar extents
PARA 2:
However, when considering Lenin and Stalin’s use of terror in purges to remove ‘unreliable
elements’ of the party they can be seen to be similar but not fundamentally similar aims and extent
differed.
While Lenin’s aim was to overthrow counter-revolutionaries, Stalin aimed to purge WITHIN the party
structure – Lenin was against this
1937 the NKVD was purged – removing old agents allowed Stalin to speed up pace of terror
Great Purge launched in 1930s responsible for deaths of 10 million Soviet citizens
Show trials of political opponent
Trial of 16 (1936) – execution of Kamanev and Zinoviev and 14 supporters
