28 - Stalin, Political Authority And Opposition Flashcards

1
Q

On what date did Nazi Germany invade the Soviet Union? Who was taken by surprise?

A

22nd June 1941

Stalin

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2
Q

Who was unprepared for war? Why?

A

Stalin’s government

Many senior officers were purged in the 1930s

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3
Q

How many Soviet aircrafts were destroyed in the first 24 hours of war?

A

1,200

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4
Q

How many Russian troops were killed after 3 weeks of war? How many were now living under German rule?

A

A million

20 million

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5
Q

What danger was posed to Stalin’s regime? What was feared?

A

It might collapse in defeat

It would mirror the fall of Tsarism

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6
Q

What happened once the Soviet Union was roused to war? Why?

A

It was ruthless

It was a highly centralised regime

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7
Q

What was an advantage of Stalin’s regime in wartime? What Committee conducted the war?

A

It was a highly effective government

State Defence Committee

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8
Q

Who was in charge of military command? Who did he leave alone to sort out military campaigns?

A

Stalin

Generals

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9
Q

Who did Stalin address in his first wartime speech? What land did Stalin appeal to?

A

“Brothers and sisters”

The “motherland”

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10
Q

What idea did Stalin appeal to over loyalty? What did the war become known as in Russia?

A

Russian nationalism

“Great Patriotic War”

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11
Q

What did Hitler hope that non-Russian national minorities would rise up against? What are 2 examples of national minorities?

A

Stalin’s regime

Ukrainians and Baltics

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12
Q

Who did thousands of national minorities collaborate with after suffering? How did Stalin respond to this?

A

German forces

To transfer a million minorities out of fear of disloyalty

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13
Q

What are 3 examples of national minorities that Stalin transferred East?

A

Ukrainians
Germans
Chechens

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14
Q

What Stalinist procedure continued in wartime? What else was also exploited in wartime?

A

Purges

Terror

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15
Q

What did Stalin order after Stalingrad was on the verge of defeat in 1942? How many people died as a result of these “crimes”?

A

Deserters and “cowards” were to be shot

13,000

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16
Q

Who else came under suspicion for “crimes” in 1945? Why were they feared to be disloyal?

A

Prisoners of war

They had become tainted by Western values in captivity

17
Q

Where were many prisoners of war transferred?

A

Soviet labour camps

18
Q

How did Stalin address the grievances of army officers? What badges did he restore?

A

He reduced the role of political commissars attached to army units
Special badges of rank

19
Q

What were vast numbers of the armed forces encouraged to join? How many members were from the army/navy by the end of the war?

A

Communist Party

Half

20
Q

What was emphasised in wartime propaganda? What did Stalin claim Russia’s victory in war was politically?

A

Nationalism

A victory for communism over fascism

21
Q

What wartime idea was played down? What wartime idea was hailed as a victory?

A

“People’s war”

“Great Patriotic War”

22
Q

What does Historian D. Volkogonov state about Stalin’s wartime rule?

A

“He ruled like an absolute monarch”