The Stalinist dictatorship and reaction, 1941–1964 (A-level only) key terms

Great Patriotic War

The term used in Russia and other former Soviet republics to describe the Eastern Front of World War II, particularly the conflict against Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945.

Centralization

The concentration of control and decision-making authority in a central organization or government, often seen in Stalin's consolidation of power during and after the war.

Secret Police

State security organizations used by Stalin to enforce loyalty and suppress dissent through surveillance, intimidation, and violence.

Show Trials

Public trials in the Soviet Union during which the outcomes were predetermined, often used to eliminate political opponents and instill fear.

Collectivization

The policy of consolidating individual landholdings and labor into collective farms, implemented by Stalin to increase agricultural productivity.

Cult of Personality

A political system in which a leader uses mass media, propaganda, and other methods to create an idealized and heroic image of themselves.

Collectivization

The policy of consolidating individual landholdings and labor into collective farms, aimed at increasing agricultural productivity.

Censorship

The suppression of speech, public communication, or other information deemed objectionable by the government.

Hardliners

Members of the Communist Party who opposed reforms and sought to maintain strict adherence to traditional Marxist-Leninist principles.

Reformers

Party members who supported changes and modernization within the Communist Party, often advocating for more liberal policies.

Collectivization

The policy of consolidating individual landholdings into collective farms, aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and state control.

Great Purge

A campaign of political repression in the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938, resulting in the execution and imprisonment of millions.