Stalin’s power during the 1930’s was based almost entirely on terror. Discuss.

Civil Services Main Examination

General Studies (Paper - 1) : Model Question & Answers


Joseph StalinQuestion: “Stalin’s power during the 1930’s was based almost entirely on terror.” – Discuss.

Answer: Stalin after coming to power with all his tricks and terror wanted to turn U.S.S.R into a great power. Stalin literally means man of steel. He wanted to achieve in USSR in 10 years what had happened in Rest of Europe in past 100 years, in the field of development. In economic reforms he took drastic steps in agriculture and industrialization. The problems of agriculture were dealt with by the process known as ‘collectivization’. The idea was that small farms and holdings belonging to the peasants should be merged to form large collective farms ‘Kolkhoz’ jointly owned by the peasants. The policy was launched in 1929 and had to be carried through by sheer brute force.

Five Year Plans were introduced for industries which proved to be a miracle as the industries blossomed and USSR soon turned into an industrial power. Ordinary workers were ruthlessly disciplined, severely punished for bad workmanship, people were accused of being saboteurs or wreckers when targets were not met, and given spells in forced labour camps.

In the political field, Stalin followed the policy of purge. Opposition of any type was unwelcome and dissidents were routinely sent to labour camps to die and any political protest was not tolerated at all. Due to this the time from 1934-38 was termed as a period of great terror. The brutality of Stalin in this entire time period proved very costly for U.S.S.R. in longer run.

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