What was The Great Purge?

Answer 1

The Great Purge refers to collectively related campaigns of political repressions and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated Joseph Stalin during the 1930's which removed all of remaining opposition of power.

Answer 2

The Great Purges began in 1937 in Russia. Stalin had risen to power in years previous, and then he began to help industrialise the country. Russia needed to catch up to the Western world. Stalin began a series of Five-Year Plans to help modernise the country. After the first Five Year plan he realised that people were opposed to him and the Communist State, and that these people were "enemies". The event to triger the purges was the murder of Kirov. This guy's death was used to accuse people of plotting against the State. Ridiculous allegations were made and 16 people were put on an elaborately staged trial in public view. They were all found guilty and were executed. This murder was a conspiricacy. Did Stalin hire someone to kill Kirov and then point the finger at others. Or was the murder a genuine fued between the Nikolay* and Kirov. After this first show trial, a series of more occured, then more, then more, and in the end 20 million were purged.