The Great Terror 1934–1938

The Great Terror of the mid-1930s was one of the most catastrophic episodes of state violence in modern history. The Soviet state turned on its own people — and, most remarkably, on its own party — in a campaign of mass repression that consumed hundreds of thousands of lives and shattered Soviet society. Understanding why the terror happened, how it functioned, and what it achieved remains one of the central challenges of Soviet historiography.

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The Murder of Kirov (1 December 1934)

The assassination of Sergei Kirov, the popular Leningrad party chief, was the event that triggered the Great Terror.

What Happened?

• Kirov was shot dead in the Smolny Institute by Leonid Nikolaev, a disgruntled former party member
• Stalin arrived in Leningrad personally to supervise the investigation
• On the very day of the murder, Stalin issued a decree ordering accelerated investigation of 'terrorist' cases, with no right of appeal and immediate execution after conviction

Who Was Responsible?