Great Purges and Show Trials
- Stalin feared being overthrown or having a counter-revolution
- He formed a secret police called the NKVD to remove threats (Stalin's Secret Police)
- Old heroes of the revolution or anyone with popular support charged with treason (Seen as threats by Stalin)
- 1 in 5 officers of the army executed
- Often put on trial “show trials” forced to admit they had done it (under duress)
Since Stalin feared being overthrown or having a counter-revolution, he brought in the NKVD otherwise known as a secret police, and would kill anyone they thought might want to over through their Leader Stalin.