Motives for the Great TerrorSoviet Union leader Vladimir Lenin, head of the Bolshevik party, died in 1924. Stalin had to fight his way to political succession, but ultimately declared himself dictator in 1929.Upon Stalin’s rise to power, some members of the former Bolshevik party began to question his authority. By the mid-1930s, Stalin believed anyone with ties to the Bolsheviks or Lenin’s government was a threat to his leadership and needed to go.The exact motives for the Great Terror are endlessly debated among historians. Some claim the actions of Stalin were prompted by his desire to maintain authority as dictator. Others see it as his way to preserve, enhance and unify the Soviet Communist Party.The rise of Nazi Party power in Germany and militarists in Japan also posed a great danger to the Soviet Union. Many experts believe these threats further encouraged Stalin to carry out his purge in an effort to unite and strengthen his country.Sergei KirovThe first event of the Great Ter...
