Stalin Dictatorship

Racial policies like Stalin's were bound to cause concern. Criticism within the party grew because of the human cost of Stalin's policies.
In 1934, Stalin's ally Kirov was murdered. Stalin saw this as evidence of a conspiracy and began a series of political purges. Historians are fairly sure that Stalin planned Kirov's murder to give him an excuse to purge the USSR of opponents, whom Stalin saw as traitors to himself and the USSR.

Cult of Personality.
Stalin expected not just respect and obedience, but also love and worship. He made sure everyone knew about his successes. Huge rallies were held in his honour. Many photographs were publichsed showing him meeting the children and workers. Soviet artists produced paintings showing Stalin opening factories. The Soviet people were told that he could do no wrong. He was described as superman, a genius at everything. Stalin rewrote the history of Russia and the USSR in a way indicatede he was much more important than he really had been before he came to power.

*Stalin used propaganda excessively to flood the Soviets mind with the idea of his great leadership so that he appeared imposing enough to command the unquestioned following of the Soviet Union.



The use of purges was a reason why Stalin had dictatorial powers in the Soviet Union because it made the Soviet people fearful of opposing him.
Stalin used the Soviet secret police, NKVP, to launch a Great Purge to eliminate his opponents and dissenters or anyone who threaened Stalin's leadership by expelling them from the party, banishing them to Gulag labour camps or execution after show trials. In 1937, over 25000 army officers were purged.
The effects however were mixed. Stalin was certainly secure. The NKVD ruled the population with terror. Over 8 million had been killed or sent to labour camps.
Stalin's used of Purges was a reason for Stalin's dictorial powers because he intimidated his opponents with so much fear that it effectively eliminated all forms of opposition against him.