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Josef Stalin and the Great Purges
Term Paper # 6617
Josef Stalin and the Great Purges
A discussion on how and why Josef Stalin planned and supervised the terror and purges of the 1930s in the Soviet Union where over 10 million Soviet citizens were destroyed.
1,790 words (approx. 7.2 pages) |
3 sources |
MLA | 2002
Paper Summary:
This essay examines and analyzes the greatest tragedy of 20th century Russia: the show trials, purges, and terror of the 1930s. The essay asks the following question: How did the destruction of over 10 million innocent citizens by their own countrymen ever happen? Recent research proves the Stalin was the mastermind of this insane "witch-hunt," but Stalin was not insane: he had clear and practical motivations behind the slaughter. As unjustified as they are, they do exist and are the focus of discussion and analysis in this paper.From the Paper:
"The Great Purges of the Soviet Union began in 1934 with Kirov's assassination and ended in late 1938. To this day, they remain "the greatest riddle of Stalin's reign." (Radzinsky 319). This self-inflicted mass murder and "witch-hunt" consumed at least 8 million victims, people from all walks of society who were either executed or sent to labor camps where the survival rate was less than ten percent. Beginning with the show trials of old Bolsheviks, the purges moved on through the ranks of industrial managers, military leaders, scientists, artists, cultural figures, and finally well into the mass of common people, thus terrorizing the entire country. The arrests and killings eventually started to paralyze the Soviet Union and were soon in no one's self-interest; they began to drain the USSR physically and economically. Engineers and managers were killed, slowing the economy. So many Red Army officers were killed that the Soviets were largely unprepared for World War II (Hochschild 96). By the end of 1938, the country was no longer ruled by the Party, nor even by Stalin. It was ruled by fear (Radzinsky 356). Only then did Stalin relax the purges and order the execution of the leader of the NKVD, Yezhov."More papers on Josef Stalin and the Great Purges:
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APA Citation:
Josef Stalin and the Great Purges (2012, January 15). Retrieved February 13, 2012, from http://www.academon.com/Term-Paper-Josef-Stalin-and-the-Great-Purges/6617
MLA Citation:
"Josef Stalin and the Great Purges" 15 January 2012. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. <http://www.academon.com/Term-Paper-Josef-Stalin-and-the-Great-Purges/6617>
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Dec 15, 2001 Thank you for looking at my essay. I am from the "old school." I wrote my first term papers and essays back in the 1970s: the days of typewriters, carbon paper, all-night library sessions on No-Doz, and note cards. It was harder than you might imagine, but as a result I learned how to write with focus, excellent grammar and vocabulary, and a clear style. Those are the qualities you will find in all my work here, which are new and written as part of my recent graduate studies. They are certain to help you with your assigned essay or term paper. All are top quality "A" papers and show the kind of creativity and original analysis that university instructors look for.
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