17th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party (b)

The 17th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was held during 26 January - 10 February 1934. Nicknamed "The Congress of the Victors" it was in fact the last clandestine revolted against Stalin from within party ranks. The Soviet Dictator failed to win back a seat on the Central Committee,for in the secret ballot, more than 100 of the nearly 2000 delegates crossed out his name. Only three had crossed out the name of the popular Leningrad party boss, Sergei Kirov. Although this was covered up, there was an attempt to replace him with Kirov, who refused the honor.

In public Stalin was acclaimed, not merely as the leader of the party, but as a towering, universal genius in every human sphere.

The Congress of Victors marked a turning point in the history of the Soviet Union. Stalin no longer trusted the Communist Party, and within three years most of the delegates were either dead or in prison awaiting trial or execution as part of the Great Purge.

At the congress Rabkrin was dissolved and its functions passed to the Sovnarkom's State Control Commission.

It has also been given the name "The Congress of the Condemned", because of 1,996 party members present, 1,108 were arrested, and about two thirds of those executed within three years.

ee also

*Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

References