IB Russia 1924-53 Knowledge Quiz - By Dan Guiney
An end of topic knowledge test for History students from www. Flippinghistory. Net
Questions and Answers
- 1.
What was Stalin’s full real name?
- A.
Koba
- B.
Warrenovich
- C.
Josef Bronstein
- D.
Josif Vissarionivich Djugashvili
Correct Answer
D. Josif Vissarionivich DjugashviliExplanation
Joseph Vissarionivich Djugashvili was born in Georgia, the son of an alcoholic. By 1928 however he had become the most powerful man in the largest country on earth.Rate this question:
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- 2.
What had his father’s profession been?
- A.
Customs official
- B.
Cobbler
- C.
Footballer
- D.
Internet programmer
Correct Answer
B. CobblerExplanation
Stalin's father beat him and from this he learned the lessons of power and force.Rate this question:
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- 3.
In 1903 the SRs split. What does SR mean?
- A.
Slippery Rhubarb
- B.
Socialist Revolutionary
- C.
Slovakian Rabbits
- D.
Siberian Rulers
Correct Answer
B. Socialist RevolutionaryExplanation
In 1903 the Socialist Revolutionary Party broke into two – the Bolsheviks (meaning majority) and the Mensheviks (meaning minority) – although in actual fact the names should be reversed! They were a party arguing about how to change government in Russia and who wanted to do away with autocracy and capitalism.Rate this question:
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- 4.
In what month of 1917 had Lenin seized power by storming the Winter Palace?
- A.
January
- B.
May
- C.
October
- D.
December
Correct Answer
C. OctoberExplanation
In October 1917 the Bolshevik Party seized power by storming the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg following the fall of Nicholas II’s Tsarist regime in February.Rate this question:
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- 5.
What word did Marx use to describe the poor population?
- A.
Heroic class
- B.
Middle class
- C.
Proletarian class
- D.
Bourgeois class
Correct Answer
C. Proletarian classExplanation
Marx used the term "Proletarian class" to describe the poor population. This term refers to the working class who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor in order to survive. Marx believed that the proletariat would eventually rise up against the bourgeoisie, the capitalist class, in a revolution to establish a classless society. The term "Proletarian class" reflects Marx's view of the working class as the driving force for social change.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Whose (provisional) government had they overthrown? (clue not the Tsar)
- A.
Putin
- B.
Cheka
- C.
Ivanov
- D.
Kerensky
Correct Answer
D. KerenskyExplanation
The relatively small Bolshevik Party was helped in its successful overthrow of the Kerensky-led Provisional Government by a range of factors. Lenin and the Bolsheviks believed in Marxism, a set of ideas created by German Karl Marx which promoted the inevitability of a government which would rule along the lines of ‘each according to his needs’. For Lenin, the man who led the revolution, however, it was necessary for a party to govern for ‘the people’, by which he meant the proletariat. All land, factories, and businesses (the ‘means of production’) had to be seized by the state and redistributed according to need. This is a very noble concept but in reality the Russian Communists were faced with a number of problems which resulted in a bitter civil war.Rate this question:
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- 7.
During the Civil War Reds fought against whom?
- A.
Blues
- B.
Yellows
- C.
Greens
- D.
Claret and blues
Correct Answer
C. GreensExplanation
The scale of opposition they faced led to widespread terror and short-term economic compromises which were non-Marxist.Rate this question:
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- 8.
During the Civil War which ‘step back’ allowing some private enterprise did Lenin introduce?
- A.
EPN
- B.
NPE
- C.
PEN
- D.
NEP
Correct Answer
D. NEPExplanation
Indeed, some private enterprise was allowed under the New Economic Policy (NEP). This was to prevent the nation from starving to death as many farmers were choosing to destroy their grain and cattle rather than allow it to be requisitioned by the state.Rate this question:
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- 9.
What was the first nickname of Stalin?
- A.
Koba
- B.
Cutie pie
- C.
Sweetchops
- D.
혁명적
Correct Answer
A. KobaExplanation
Koba was a Robin Hood style figure in Georgia.Rate this question:
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- 10.
What kind of a school had he attended in Georgia?
- A.
He did not attend school
- B.
Ballet
- C.
Nord Anglia
- D.
Seminary
Correct Answer
D. SeminaryExplanation
His father ruled the family with violence and the young Stalin went to a church school and later a theological seminary in the hope of becoming a priest. Instead however he became gradually influenced by the ideas of Socialism.Rate this question:
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- 11.
What does the pseudonym ‘Stalin’ actually mean?
- A.
Caped crusader
- B.
Invincible
- C.
Man of steel
- D.
Ice man
Correct Answer
C. Man of steelExplanation
As a young Communist he led daring bank robberies to fund the PartyRate this question:
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- 12.
What was the word to describe the Tsarist secret police?
- A.
NKVD
- B.
Cheka
- C.
Okhrana
- D.
KGB
Correct Answer
C. OkhranaExplanation
Stalin was arrested six times between 1902-13 for revolutionary activityRate this question:
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- 13.
How many times had Stalin been exiled to Siberia?
- A.
Once
- B.
Twice
- C.
Three times
- D.
Eight times
Correct Answer
B. TwiceExplanation
Stalin was exiled (twice) to Siberia where the harsh and freezing conditions taught him the importance of being self-reliant.Rate this question:
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- 14.
Stalin helped set up which Communist newspaper (meaning ‘Truth’)? (Easy question for Sean!)
- A.
Iskra
- B.
Pravda
- C.
Chukra
- D.
Smirnov
Correct Answer
B. PravdaExplanation
Stalin’s organizational skills and ruthlessness brought him to the attention of the Party Leader, Lenin, and as early as 1912 Stalin had become one of the 6 members of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party. He also helped to set up the Party’s newspaper, Pravda (which means ‘Truth’).Rate this question:
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- 15.
During the Civil War Stalin helped to defend which famous city which later took the name Stalingrad in WWII? (Easy question for Cesar!)
- A.
Volgograd
- B.
Cesarland
- C.
Moscow
- D.
Tsaritsyn
Correct Answer
D. TsaritsynExplanation
Stalin took on the role of defending Tsaritsyn (which later became known as Stalingrad) during the Civil War and he was rewarded for his hard work with the post of Commissar for Nationalities after the October Revolution itself.Rate this question:
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- 16.
What was Trotsky’s real name?
- A.
Josif Vissarionivich Djugashvili
- B.
Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov
- C.
Lev Bronstein
- D.
Yakov Smirnov
Correct Answer
C. Lev BronsteinExplanation
Stalin had some apparent major weaknesses to many and when Lenin died in 1924 it was Lev Bronstein, alias Trotsky, who was regarded as the heir apparent to the new RepublicRate this question:
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- 17.
What had Trotsky led during the Civil War?
- A.
Red Army
- B.
The Smurfs
- C.
The Russian national football team
- D.
A life of sin
Correct Answer
A. Red ArmyExplanation
He had been the leader of the Red Army in the Civil War with his famous armoured trainRate this question:
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- 18.
Which policy did Stalin follow?
- A.
Socialism in one country
- B.
Permanent revolution
- C.
New economic policy
- D.
Brexit
Correct Answer
A. Socialism in one countryExplanation
Stalin, despite all his organizational skill had a limited grasp of Marxist ideology and believed Russia should stabilize itself before worrying about other countries – this policy was known as Socialism in One Country. Trotsky on the other hand was an expert and spoke of Permanent Revolution, which was the idea that the whole world would inevitably light up into a Communist fire.Rate this question:
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- 19.
What key role was Stalin given in 1922?
- A.
Chief of Security
- B.
Foriegn Secretary
- C.
General Secretary
- D.
President
Correct Answer
C. General SecretaryExplanation
He had become General Secretary of the Party in 1922. This was seen as a bit of a paperwork job which was not fashionable and which not many people, certainly Trotsky, wanted to do. Stalin however knew he had the perfect organizational skills for the role and immediately went about using the position to gain influence and gather information.Rate this question:
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- 20.
This post gave Stalin access to how many personal files of Party members?
- A.
6,000
- B.
16,000
- C.
26,000
- D.
36,000
Correct Answer
C. 26,000Explanation
He tapped phones, had access to 26,000 personal files of Party members, and even bugged Lenin’s home. He ensured that Felix Dzerzhinsky, head of the secret police, report to him personally.Rate this question:
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- 21.
Using this post Stalin was able to appoint his henchmen to which body?
- A.
Comecon
- B.
Comintern
- C.
Politburo
- D.
Cominform
Correct Answer
C. PolitburoExplanation
Stalin was able to use this position to promote cronies or friends to position of power within the Politburo and so quietly build up a support base. These people included names such as Molotov, Kalinin, and Voroshilov.Rate this question:
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- 22.
Who was made head of the Party in Leningrad?
- A.
Kaganovich
- B.
Ciara-ov (get it?)
- C.
Kirov
- D.
Laviniasky
Correct Answer
C. KirovExplanation
Stalin was able to use this position to promote cronies or friends to position of power within the Politburo and so quietly build up a support base. These people included names such as Molotov, Kalinin, and Voroshilov. Kirov was made Head of the Party in Leningrad. When it came to crucial votes in the Party this meant Stalin could always defeat opponents and is a key reason in his rise to power.Rate this question:
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- 23.
Which illness did Trotsky unfortunately contract during this period?
- A.
Malaria
- B.
Coronavirus
- C.
The common cold
- D.
Pneumonia
Correct Answer
A. MalariaExplanation
He contracted malaria which slowed him down at a time when he should have been working his hardest.Rate this question:
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- 24.
Type 500,000 workers joined the Party between 1923-25 as part of the ‘Lenin ____________’ here. Example: Practice makes you ________
Correct Answer
Enrollment, enrollment, Enrolment, enrolmentExplanation
Stalin was helped through the launching of the ‘Lenin enrollment’ between 1923-25. The aim of this membership drive was to increase the number of industrial workers in the Party and over 500,000 were recruited. The new members were poorly educated and politically naïve and more likely to feel an allegiance to the peasant Stalin than the middle-class Trotsky.Rate this question:
- 25.
Lenin had called Stalin “grubost” in which written work? (his final words effectively)
- A.
How to Be A Right Bolshy Bloke for Beginners Part I
- B.
On War and Imperialism
- C.
April Thesis
- D.
Testament
Correct Answer
D. TestamentExplanation
On Lenin’s death Stalin, the failed Priest (remember?), quickly moved to make himself appear as Lenin’s natural successor. He spoke at the funeral in religious sounding language, thus beginning the cult of personality which made Lenin appear an almost God-like figure. Trotsky on the other hand missed the funeral and later gave the excuse that Stalin had not given him the date. Trotsky made another mistake also in refusing to publish Lenin’s last written work, known as Testament, in which he had described Stalin as ‘grubost’ or rude. This was because Lenin had criticized other members of the Politburo also and Trotsky and others were worried about Party unity.Rate this question:
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- 26.
What was the name of Lenin’s wife, who had been offended by Stalin?
- A.
Brenda
- B.
Deborah
- C.
Krupskaya
- D.
Grace
Correct Answer
C. KrupskayaExplanation
Despite the objections of his wife, Krupskaya, Lenin was embalmed and entombed in a mausoleum in Red Square. His pickled brain was taken away for special examination and deemed to be bigger than a normal brain! Thus began the cult of personalityRate this question:
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- 27.
Lenin was embalmed and kept in a mausoleum in which Moscow square?
- A.
Indigo
- B.
Duck egg blue
- C.
Taupe
- D.
Red
Correct Answer
D. RedExplanation
Lenin was embalmed and entombed in a mausoleum in Red Square.Rate this question:
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- 28.
Name the two members of the Triumvirate along with Stalin?
- A.
Kaganovich and Beria
- B.
Dzerzhinsky and Rykov
- C.
Bukharin and Sukhomlinov
- D.
Zinoviev and Kamenev
Correct Answer
D. Zinoviev and KamenevExplanation
Stalin took sides with two leading Left wing Party members, Zinoviev and Kamenev, in order to isolate Trotsky, accusing him of factionalism. This was known as the Triumvirate and prevented Trotsky forming a larger support base. Trotsky then joined forces with Zinoviev and Kamenev in 1925 arguing against the New Economic Policy and in favour of Permanent Revolution. Stalin as we know opposed this policy and with the support he had built up in the Politburo through his work as General Secretary managed to defeat them at the 15th Party Congress arguing instead that Russia needed to consolidate its gains before promoting revolution abroad (China for example did not become Communist until 1949).Rate this question:
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- 29.
Which region of central Asia was Trotsky at first exiled to?
- A.
Kazakhstan
- B.
Siberia
- C.
Alma Ata
- D.
Uzbekistan
Correct Answer
C. Alma AtaExplanation
Trotsky, sticking to his principles, was exiled to Alma-Ata in Central Asia.Rate this question:
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- 30.
Where did he then move to?
- A.
Mexico
- B.
Spain
- C.
Lichtenstein
- D.
Hungary
Correct Answer
A. MexicoExplanation
He later moved to Mexico where he was killed by an assassin who put an icepick through his head (many believe at Stalin’s request).Rate this question:
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- 31.
Which organization coordinated the Five Year Plans?
- A.
Ecoplan
- B.
Gosplan
- C.
Stakhanoplan
- D.
ECSC
Correct Answer
B. GosplanExplanation
There were three Five Year Plans in industry, all coordinated by Gosplan (the state planning organization set up by Lenin in 1921).Rate this question:
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- 32.
Which economist was the brains behind the Five Year Plans?
- A.
Yevgeny Stavinkovich
- B.
Yevgeny Moneyivich
- C.
Yevgeny Trumpinsky
- D.
Yevgeny Preobazhensky
Correct Answer
D. Yevgeny PreobazhenskyExplanation
The first Five Year Plan concentrated on heavy industry (1928-32). This included coal, steel and iron and used the ideas of economist Evgeny Preobazhensky.Rate this question:
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- 33.
Which engineering project was the most famous achievement of the second Five Year Plan?
- A.
Moscow Underground
- B.
Seven Sisters
- C.
Hotel Ukrainia
- D.
Belomor Canal
Correct Answer
A. Moscow UndergroundExplanation
The second Five Year Plan set higher targets for the production of consumer goods (1933-37) and its most famous achievement was the majestic Moscow underground. The third Five Year Plan (1938-) was geared even more directly towards arms production to counter the threat of Nazi Germany.Rate this question:
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- 34.
Name one large industrial centre which was built
- A.
Kangqiao Bandao
- B.
Stalingrad
- C.
Magnitogorsk
- D.
Petrograd
Correct Answer
C. MagnitogorskExplanation
All three plans set unrealistic targets. Although these were not achieved the results were nevertheless impressive and transformed backwards Russia into a modern economy. Large industrial centres such as Magnitogorsk and Gorki were built from scratch. In 1929 there were only 25 people living in Magnitogorsk. Three years later this number was 250,000 although conditions were notoriously poor.Rate this question:
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- 35.
Why were large industrial centres built east of the Ural Mountains?
- A.
No reason - just luck
- B.
There was a more skilled labour force there
- C.
The land there was cheaper
- D.
To keep them safe from possible Nazi attack
Correct Answer
D. To keep them safe from possible Nazi attackExplanation
Industries such as these were built east of the Ural mountains which meant they were safer from an attack from the West. Overall, the period 1928-1941 saw a four-fold increase in the production of steel and a six-fold increase in coal production. Unemployment became almost zero and women made advances in the world of work (by 1937 women made up 40% of industrial workers compared to 28% ten years earlier).Rate this question:
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- 36.
How many times more than the average amount of coal did Alexei Stakhanov mine in a single shift?
- A.
-6
- B.
6
- C.
14
- D.
26
Correct Answer
C. 14Explanation
Soviet workers were encouraged to work like Alexei Stakhanov, a coalminer from the Donbass region who reportedly mined fourteen times the average amount of coal in a single shift (102 tons of coal - in reality it was an easy pit seam and he had help from two other people).Rate this question:
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- 37.
Which region was he from?
- A.
Kursk
- B.
Donbass
- C.
Urals
- D.
Caucasus
Correct Answer
B. DonbassExplanation
Stakhanov was wheeled around the country and held up as a model Soviet citizen for others to aspire to.Rate this question:
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- 38.
Which award was he given?
- A.
Purple Heart
- B.
OBE
- C.
Iron Cross Second Class
- D.
Hero of Socialist Labour
Correct Answer
D. Hero of Socialist LabourExplanation
There were rewards for such work including a new flat and bigger rations. Education became free and compulsory for all and training schemes in colleges were promoted.Rate this question:
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- 39.
Who then broke his ‘record’?
- A.
Neville Neville
- B.
Ivan Ivanovich
- C.
John Johnson
- D.
Marcus Marcuson
Correct Answer
B. Ivan IvanovichExplanation
Despite these incredible successes however safety was neglected. Machinery was often used without proper training and levels of pay were low. The government ordered factory canteens to keep rabbits to ensure a supply of food! Moreover, a passport system was introduced in 1932 to restrict workers from moving to other jobs and absenteeism became a criminal offence which could lead to imprisonment from 1939. One industrial worker, Tatyana Fyodorova, described how she had to wear size 11 boots in her size 4 feet to construct the Moscow underground. J Scott in his book Behind the Urals writes “Many were completely unfamiliar with industrial tools”Rate this question:
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- 40.
Who wrote A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich?
- A.
Fyodor Dostoevsky
- B.
Vladimir Nabakov
- C.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
- D.
Lev Tolstoy
Correct Answer
C. Alexander SolzhenitsynExplanation
The famous writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote in his wonderful novel A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich how people had to wire themselves into fields so they couldn’t run away!Rate this question:
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- 41.
100,000 workers died building which canal?
- A.
Grand Canal
- B.
Belomor Canal
- C.
Birmingham-Wolverhampton Canal
- D.
Venice Canals
Correct Answer
B. Belomor CanalExplanation
Slackers were held up to ridicule and those accused of sabotage would face show trials.Rate this question:
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- 42.
What phrase is used to describe the fact that the countrside could not provide enough food for the cities? The ___________ crisis.
- A.
Glue
- B.
Scissor
- C.
Paper
- D.
Protractor
Correct Answer
B. ScissorExplanation
The huge growth being experienced in cities was all well and good – but it had to be sustainable. And this could only happen if the new growing cities were well fed by the countryside. Therefore an increase in agricultural productivity was required. This was known as the ‘scissor crisis’.Rate this question:
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- 43.
What does Kulak mean in English?
- A.
Fist
- B.
Punch
- C.
Boxing glove
- D.
Knuckles
Correct Answer
A. FistExplanation
Moreover, Stalin wanted to find a reason politically to crack down on those who had benefitted from some degree of private enterprise under Lenin’s U-turn New Economic Policy (these were known as NEPMEN) and also to attack wealthier farmers (known as Kulaks or ‘fists’). He believed bringing Socialism to the countryside, however, would ensure the long-term survival of the country.Rate this question:
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- 44.
What was a ‘Mir’?
- A.
A space monkey's boat to travel through black holes
- B.
A farm
- C.
A city
- D.
A commune
Correct Answer
D. A communeExplanation
Each rural village was placed under the supervision of a Mir or commune made up of villager eldersRate this question:
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- 45.
What is the Russian word for a collective farm?
- A.
Sputnik
- B.
Mir
- C.
Kolkhoz
- D.
Donaldson's Dairy
Correct Answer
C. KolkhozExplanation
This was where the state would procure grain and livestock and divided 90% of it up amongst the nation (10% remained to feed the kolkhoz).Rate this question:
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- 46.
Many Kulaks were taken away to labour camps. What were these known as?
- A.
Work Zone
- B.
Concentration Camp
- C.
KZ
- D.
Gulag
Correct Answer
D. GulagExplanation
Initially collectivization was a voluntary process but by 1929 the government soon started forcing people into larger collective farms. Many were labelled ‘class enemies’ and taken to gulags (concentration camps) or deported to Siberia. Many people in wealthier areas such as the Caucasus and the Ukraine (nicknamed the ‘bread basket’) opposed this and many set fire to their homes or killed their livestock rather than see it be taken away by the state. These opponents were dealt with harshly by dekulakization squads and the secret police.Rate this question:
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- 47.
Under which law were people deported to Siberia? The Law of the S________
- A.
Spooks
- B.
Spikes
- C.
Spikelets
- D.
Spokes
Correct Answer
C. SpikeletsExplanation
Some troublesome villages were bombed out of existence by the air force and Historians estimate that between 5-10 million were killed as a result.Rate this question:
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- 48.
Stalin backed down after many peasants destroyed their own produce rather than give it away. In which article did he write that it was okay for farmers to have small personal plots? Dizzy with _________.
- A.
Communism
- B.
Success
- C.
Spinning
- D.
Lizzy
Correct Answer
B. SuccessExplanation
Although Stalin did back down a little in 1930 with his article Dizzy with Success (which allowed some to have a small garden plot) by 1932 62% of peasant land had been collectivized, rising to 93% in 1937.Rate this question:
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- 49.
In which country was the 1932-33 Holodomor famine?
- A.
Italy
- B.
Germany
- C.
Ukraine
- D.
UK
Correct Answer
C. UkraineExplanation
Between 1928-33 the number of cattle halved and this loss was not recovered until 1953. Grain production also fell, declining from 73.3 million tons in 1928 to 67.6 million in 1934. The rural population also starved and there was widespread famine in the years 1932-33 especially in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and the Caucasus. If time allows you should really research Holdomor as a human catastrophe. Some even resorted to eating their own children to survive although the government claimed there was no famine (a claim supported by British socialists Sidney and Beatrice Webb).Rate this question:
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- 50.
What would you expect to find in a Stalinist MTS?
- A.
Dead people
- B.
Tractors
- C.
Raisins
- D.
Mr. T
Correct Answer
B. TractorsExplanation
The creation of Motor Tractor Stations (MTS) soon became despised by the peasants as agents of central control.Rate this question:
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Apr 26, 2017Quiz Created by
Daniel Guiney
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