Joseph Stalin initiated the Great Purge (also known as the Great Terror) in the late 1930s for several interconnected reasons:
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Consolidation of Power: Stalin aimed to strengthen his control over the Communist Party and the Soviet state. By eliminating potential rivals and dissenters, he sought to secure his leadership against any challenges.
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Paranoia and Distrust: Stalin became increasingly paranoid about perceived threats, both real and imagined. He feared that disloyal elements within the party or military could undermine his regime.
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Class Enemies: Stalin viewed various groups within Soviet society, including former Bolsheviks, intellectuals, and members of the kulak class (wealthy peasants), as threats to the revolution. He believed that purging these groups would help protect the socialist state.
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Political Show Trials: The Great Purge was characterized by a series of show trials, where former allies and political opponents were accused of treason and conspiracy. These trials served to reinforce the narrative of a conspiracy against Stalin and provided a means to eliminate rivals publicly.
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Ideological Commitment: Stalin was committed to the idea of a Marxist-Leninist state, and he believed that ideological purity was necessary for the success of the revolution. The purge aimed to eliminate those who diverged from this ideology.
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Military Concerns: The purges extended to the Red Army, where many high-ranking officers were executed or imprisoned. Stalin believed that these purges were necessary to eliminate potential coup leaders and ensure loyalty to his regime, especially as tensions were rising in Europe.
Overall, the Great Purge was a combination of Stalin's desire for absolute control, his paranoia about threats within the party, and his belief in the necessity of ideological purity and loyalty within the Soviet state. This period led to widespread repression, suffering, and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
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