The Great Purge

The great purge spread out into the middle strata of soviet society, most infamously devouring the cultural intelligencia. Universities and research departments were all placed under constant surveillance by the n k v d. The slightest ping of disloyalty or independent thought merited a knock on the door in the middle of the night. This was all part of stalen's broader campaign to make everything and everyone conformed to stallan's vision of communist society.