Wednesday Seminar Series: Dr. Alexei Zakharov, Yale University
The Anatomy of the Great Terror: A Quantitative Analysis of the 1937-38 Purges in the Red Army
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM EDT
Carow Hall
Abstract:
Elite purges are an instrument of power control in authoritarian regimes. The purges in the Soviet Red Army during the 1937-38 Great Terror were one of the most intensive purges on record. Within two years, almost two thirds of the 1863 Soviet officers holding general-grade military ranks in 1936 were arrested; almost a half were executed. To analyze the patterns of repression among the Soviet high command, we compile a biographical dataset from a large number of open and archival sources sources. Some of our results are familiar to historians: the probability of being repressed was higher for certain ethnic minorities, higher ranks, and those with prior foreign contacts. We also demonstrate that Stalin targeted most competent officers: controlling for other characteristics, including the military rank and party history, probability of repression was much higher for younger cadres. Combined with the results that military promotions in 1941, the first year of World War II on the Soviet territory, were inversely related to age, this is the first systematic evidence that the Great Terror directly impacted the disastrous Red Army performance in the first years of German invasion.
The Wednesday Seminar Series, now over 40 years old, invites scholars from around the world to share their work in a formal lecture, which is followed by a rigorous question and answer session. The Fall 2024 seminars will be hosted by Dr. Mark Koyama and coordinated by Lisa Hill-Corley. All papers made available will be posted on this site for downloading. For more information, call the Center: (703) 993-2316.
In person seminars will be held from 12 - 1:15 PM in Carow Hall, which is on George Mason University's Fairfax campus.
A light lunch for seminar participants will be available at 11:30 AM.
Click here to see a list of our Fall 2024 schedule of speakers.
