Repressions and Punishment Under Stalin: Evidence from the Soviet Archives

Abstract

This chapter explores patterns of repressions and punishment under Stalin using two unique datasets extracted from the Soviet archives. First, I study the profile of the Great terror at one of Soviet industrial ministries, the chief administration of metallurgy. I find that the probability of arrest was higher for party members, high-rank officials, ethnic minorities, and employees with higher education in 1937. Second, my analysis of plan fulfilment by industrial ministries during the postwar years shows that penalties were negatively correlated with production achievements. I discuss these findings in the light of political and economic explanations of Soviet repressive policy.