The Rise of the Soviet Union

Monday, March 25, 2013 10:51 AM

Kerensky 1917 Lenin Civil War 1918-1922 Trotsky USSR 1922- 1991 Stalin 1924-1953 Collectivization 1928 Purges 1934 The Rise of the Soviet Union

1917 Czar Nicholas II was forced out Provision govt was run by kerensky Create new democratic place for russia Almost immediately it became unpopular because it tried to keep russia in the war against Germans o Russians were sick of war o Govt were not able to keep up army during war Bolshivick pirate (communist party) Lenin o Given by Germans safe passage to start trouble in russia o When he returns in late 1917 he starts to plan to seize power in russia Came up with program Promised if they came to power they would promise three things to people in russia Peace Land Bread Promised end to WWI Take all land in russia away from owners and land would be owned by the people Promised to ensure that everyone would be able to eat Program helped build popularity among Russians Successful in introverting russian army and russian navy o November 6 and 7, 1917 was days the planned to put plan to action to seize all power Still only represented 1% of population o Believed that as a group of professional revolutionists they must seize power from communists The way they did it was "textbook operation" At this time, petrograd was capital of Russia o Aka st.petersburg o Winter palace (govt building) Night of nov 6, they seized power in petrograd (loyal armies to them instead of provisional govt) o Seize control of railroad station, banks, telographs, then finally attacked provisional govt itself

Kerinsky was cut off from world and could not rally own loyal soldiers or anyone outside because all communications were cut off So they flee and ended in the US o Last chance of democracy prevailed o Bolshevicks took control Moscow was also controlled by them and other large cities in russia because they seized control over the provisional govt Bolshevicks signed peace treaty of breast letask o On terms very favorable to Germans Germans were given a lot of land from Russia Lenin and bolshevick believed that this was the beginning of everything So they didn't think much when they gave up land o Kept promise to russians and gave them peace by pulling them outside of WWI After they were pulled out they were in civil war 1918-1922 for four years The whites- one side Blanket level that is close to communists Bolshevicks AKA the reds Whites were much more numerous than reds Supported by foreign powers who sent help Very disorganized Represented many different elements- Little in common with one another except for their hatred towards bolshevicks Reds were much better organized. Leon Trotsky, 2nd in command of Lenin in army When civil war broke out he was put in charge of army, which became the red army Quickly became the most disciplined and most efficient fighting force Any means necessary were used in war So they used what they call "Red Terror" Eliminating anyone who is fighting against bolshevicks and who were percieved as hostile Executed millions of people who were part of the Red Terror Because of everything Bolshevicks eventually won civil war Guestimated that Russia lost 17million people in WWI and civil war 1922, Bolshevicks won, firmly establishing new communist state 1922 new USSR was officially proclaimed Union of the soviet social republics 1922-1991 lasted o 1922 communist seized power and established govt Hard part was how they were going to run new soviet union Lenin suffered first series of strokes which incapacitated him for the rest of his life 1924 he died Lenin could not provide any leadership o Door was open for Stalin o "MAN OF STEEL" Stalin took control o Early member of bolshevick party

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Unlike others, he never believed in communist party and was only looking for opportunity to gain power Lenin and trotsky and other leaders were great public speakers, but Stalin was always stage/scene-manager Became party secretary He was guy in charge of admitting new members into bolshevick party Only let guys in who were loyal to him Also in charge of bolshevick's secret police party Gave him so much power behind scenes After lenin's death, trotsky was thought to have new leader role, but instead stalin moved quickly and ruthlessly to seize power 1928 trotsky was forced into exhile (mexico) All other opponents against stalin were eliminated Once he was in charge he does what he can to make union more powerful and does what he can to increase his own power 1928 stalin begins first five year plan Designed to industrialize soviet union as fast as possible Main part was known as "collectivization" Soviet state seizes control of ALL farmland in soviet union Refusal lead to disruption and famine in Soviet Union Eliminated anyone who resisted because stalin didn't want resistance Result in this 10milion people died in soviet union Huge farmland was created and food was returned Millions were dead in the end Most people in outside world did not know how bad collectivization was bad but they knew communism was bad. Info was kept from people Purges in 1944 Stalin's way in eliminating any person or any group he believed were a threat to his rule Imprisoned and executed about half of communist party Most of higher archy was eliminated Half of the officers in red army were executed or imprisoned Part of purges stalin raised showtrials Reserved for old Bolshevicks Famous guys who helped bolshevicks seize power back in the beginning Put up in crimes in court but they had never done anything wrong Scared the rest that they would be afraid to be conspired by stalin Created him many scapegoats Also conducted terrorist thing against his own people They would just disappear Stalin did this that they wouldn't know who to trust so that no one would be working against stalin About 20million people died while stalin was in charge Stalin succeeds in bringing industrialization quickly, communism seemed like a liable way People saw how he ran it and thought it was a good way to run the place When soviet union was attacked in WWII it had ability to defend itself