Purges, Terror and Show Trials

1.What is the significance of Kirov's murder? (This is what I went over in class.)
The significance of Kirov's murder is that Stalin used it as an excuse to start the Great Purge and purge the USSR of any potential opposition.

2. According to Stalin, who had Nikolayev been working for when he assassinated Kirov? Why is this significant?
According to Stalin, Nikolayev acted under orders of a "Leningrad Opposition Centre." This is significant because it justified Stalin's arrests and purging of old enemies and supporters of the left, including Zinoviev and Kamanev.

3. What is a Trotskyite?
A "Trotskyite" is an enemy of Stalin, and therefore the Communist Party. These, among "Zinovievotes" and "counter-revolutionaries," were the people Stalin made the party oppose so he could purge them from the party.

4. There are three major "show trials." List them and a brief description of their significance.
1. "Trial of the Sixteen" - A trial against Zinoviev, Kamanev, and 14 others accusing them of conspiring against the government. They were all shot, eliminating 2 of the Politburo, who could have opposed Stalin.
2. "Trial of the Seventeen" - 17 people were accused of having links with Trotsky and setting up terrorist organizations. All were found guilty and 14 were shot. Made Trotsky an enemy and accused him of being behind terrorist organizations.
3. "Trial of the Twenty-One" - Bukharin, Rykov, and 19 others were accused of and confessed to being in a "Trotskyist-Rightist bloc," wrecking industry, and helping foreign spies. Eliminated Bukharin and Rykov while making Trotsy an enemy.

5. During the Great Terror, there were three stages to the purges, staring with members of the Communist party. What were the next two stages and what type of people were purged?
The purges went second to the armed forces, and many Red Army generals were killed, along with many of the other high ranking soldiers. Finally it spread to everyday citizens, and anyone denounced by another or overheard criticizing Stalin was considered a "Trotskyite" and arrested.