Great Purge

Definition

The Great Purge was a campaign of political repression and persecution that took place in the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938, orchestrated by Joseph Stalin. It involved the systematic elimination of perceived threats to Stalin's power, including members of the Communist Party, military leaders, and ordinary citizens, leading to widespread arrests, executions, and imprisonment in labor camps. This period significantly impacted various aspects of Soviet society, including culture and the arts, especially avant-garde theatre.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Purge led to the execution of hundreds of thousands of people, with estimates ranging from 600,000 to over a million killed.
2. During this period, many prominent figures in the Communist Party and Red Army were removed or executed, which severely weakened Soviet leadership.
3. The cultural climate became stifling as artists, writers, and performers faced censorship or persecution for not aligning with state ideologies.
4. Avant-garde theatre practitioners like Vsevolod Meyerhold found themselves in danger as their innovative styles clashed with the demands for socialist realism.
5. The Great Purge left a lasting legacy on Soviet society, instilling fear and suspicion among citizens and altering the course of Soviet history.

Review Questions

• How did the Great Purge influence the landscape of avant-garde theatre in the Soviet Union?
  • The Great Purge had a profound effect on avant-garde theatre by creating an environment of fear that stifled artistic innovation. Many avant-garde artists faced persecution for their non-conformist styles and themes that did not align with state-mandated socialist realism. Vsevolod Meyerhold, a leading figure in avant-garde theatre, was arrested during this period, highlighting how repression directly impacted creative expression in the arts.
• Discuss the role of the NKVD during the Great Purge and its impact on Soviet society.
  • The NKVD played a crucial role during the Great Purge by executing Stalin's policies of repression. As the secret police force responsible for enforcing state security, they conducted mass arrests and carried out executions without due process. This created a climate of terror within Soviet society, where people were afraid to express dissent or oppose Stalin's regime, leading to widespread distrust among citizens.
• Evaluate how the Great Purge shaped not only political structures but also cultural expressions within the Soviet Union.
  • The Great Purge fundamentally reshaped both political and cultural structures in the Soviet Union. Politically, it eliminated many potential rivals to Stalin's power and led to an atmosphere where loyalty to the regime was paramount. Culturally, it suppressed avant-garde movements while promoting socialist realism as the only acceptable art form. The consequences were far-reaching; artists were forced to conform or face dire consequences, effectively stunting creative growth and leading to a culture dominated by propaganda.

Related terms

Stalinism: A political system characterized by the centralization of power under Joseph Stalin, marked by authoritarianism, state control of the economy, and widespread repression.

Show Trials: Public trials held in the Soviet Union during the Great Purge that aimed to showcase the alleged crimes of political opponents, often resulting in forced confessions and death sentences.

NKVD: The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs, the Soviet secret police responsible for carrying out the arrests and executions during the Great Purge.