The peasant rebellion against collectivization was the most serious episode in popular resistance experienced by the Soviet state after the Russian Civil War. In 1930, more than two million peasants took part in 13,754 mass disturbances. In 1929 and 1930, the OGPU recorded 22,887 terrorists acts aimed at local officials and peasant activists, more than 1,100 murders.

~ Lynne Viola

Lynne Viola Collectivization Communism N Ussr Soviet Union Stalin

In insisting that peasant activity contrary to Communist policies could be defined as kulak while at the same time maintaining that his approach to the peasantry was based on scientific Marxist class analysis, Lenin provided his successors with conceptualizations that would be used in collectivization when Stalin launched a war against all peasants.

~ Lynne Viola

Lynne Viola Collectvization Communism Lenin Socialism Soviets Stalin Ussr

Pope Pius XI called for a world-wide day of prayer, to be held on 16 March 1930, on behalf of the persecuted believers in Russia. This action led Stalin to suspend temporarily the antireligious campaign, according to Roy Medvedev

~ Lynne Viola

Lynne Viola Communism Pius Xi Pope Stalin Ussr