Survey 9

1925 – 1930

The Great Purge, The Great Terror, Year of ’37, and the Yezhovschina all used to describe one blood curdling time in the history of USSR where numerous were killed without any reason openly in front of judges, journalists and the common people lawfully.

“A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.”
Joseph stalin

‘The Great Purge’ orchestrated by Joseph Stalin

**Joseph Stalin**
image source: https://www.onthisday.com/people/joseph-stalin

Joseph Stalin was the ruler of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1953 and held rather controversial and extreme views. He got many people killed under suspicion and usually threw many people under the bus to continue his massacre that stretched all the way from common people to higher officials.

**Gulag Labor Camps**
Image source: https://www.history.com/topics/russia/gulag

Historians believe at least 750,000 people were killed during this time, and those that were not shot directly had to endure long torturous days at the Gulag Labor Camps where the inmates were exposed to terrible conditions and usually died without any external intervention.

Architecture during this time was called Stalinist architecture, where there were block buildings and high rises. Some notable buildings include The Red Army Theatre in Moscow, designed in the shape of the Soviet red star, and the Textile Institute, also in Moscow. The Rosenfeld’s twin towers and city gates in Dorogomilovo also were very interesting structures.

The Red Army Theatre in Moscow, designed in a shape of the Soviet red star
image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalinist_architecture

Despite some areas of his rule being very successful and great progress was made with him, I still believe he was one of the most violent rulers in history. He executed 50% of the Red Army and killed numerous people in higher positions. Almost 1 million communist party members were purged during his reign. He attacked minorities and used the term “fifth column” for people that were perceived as a threat, allowing the entire family to take the blame for one person’s crime.

A reign of terror and death, rightly called the ‘The Great Purge’. It’s good to know that times have changed and this kind of terror no longer happens. Russia has come a long way and it now is a stable, safe and developed place.