Opposition: faction; Red Terror and the purges
Lenin and Stalin crushed opposition inside and outside the Communist Party. They used organised violence — including mass arrests and executions — to silence anyone who challenged their rule.
Real World
The Great Purge's targeting of the Red Army officer corps — including three of five marshals and thousands of senior commanders — left the Soviet military critically weakened when Germany invaded in 1941, directly connecting internal repression to military catastrophe.
Exam Focus
When writing about terror and purges, specify dates and scale; precise details (e.g. 750,000 shot in 1937–38) demonstrate the depth examiners reward.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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