Show trials and the great purges
Notes:
- Stalin feared being overthrown or having a counter revolution
- Formed a secret police called the NKVD to remove 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 feared being overthrown, or a counter revolution beginning, so he made changes to prevent this. he formed a secret police called the NKVD to remove threats, and put on "show trials" , which made people admit to something, even if they didn't do it.
Subjective question: If Stalin didn't make these extreme measures, would he be overthrown? If he was, who would take over?
Quote: "Death is the solution to all problems. No man - no problem." - Joseph Stalin
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