Here are some key aspects of fear and intimidation under Stalin:
1. Mass Arrests and Executions:
- The Great Purge, also known as the Great Terror, was a period of intense political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938.
- During this time, millions of people were arrested, imprisoned, or executed on trumped-up charges of treason or espionage.
- The NKVD, the Soviet secret police, carried out these mass arrests, often without any due process or trial.
2. Gulags and Forced Labor Camps:
- The Soviet Union established a vast network of gulags, or forced labor camps, where political prisoners were sent to work under harsh and often deadly conditions.
- Millions of people perished in these gulags due to malnutrition, disease, exhaustion, or outright execution.
3. Show Trials and Confessions:
- Stalin often used show trials to publicly humiliate and discredit his political opponents.
- In these trials, the accused were forced to confess to crimes they had not committed, and they were sentenced to death or long terms of imprisonment.
4. Atmosphere of Suspicion and Paranoia:
- Stalin encouraged an atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia within society, where people were afraid of speaking out or criticizing the regime.
- Neighbors, friends, and even family members were encouraged to spy on each other and report any sign of dissent.
5. Cult of Personality:
- Stalin created a cult of personality around himself, presenting himself as an infallible leader who could do no wrong.
- Propaganda and censorship were used to glorify Stalin and distort historical facts to paint a favorable picture of his rule.
The climate of fear and intimidation created by Stalin effectively suppressed any political opposition and deterred potential challengers. It allowed him to maintain absolute power and control over the Soviet Union until his death in 1953.