Show Trials and the Great Purges
•Stalin feared being overthrown or
having a counter-revolution
•He formed a secret police called
the NKVD to
remove threats
•Old heroes of the revolution or anyone with popular support charged with treason (Seen as threats)
•1 in 5 officers of the army executed
•Often put on trial “show trials” forced to admit they had done it (under duress)
•
•Old heroes of the revolution or anyone with popular support charged with treason (Seen as threats)
•1 in 5 officers of the army executed
•Often put on trial “show trials” forced to admit they had done it (under duress)
•
Summary
Stalin was incredibly powerful, when he wanted people dead for one reason or another they would be killed. Stalin would kill anyone who he thought was a threat to his Russia, even someone who was just popular.
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