The days of the 1930's were days filled with terror for most Russian citizens. The terror began with the Kulaks (property owning farmers) in 1929 and culminated with the purges of the Red army in the late 30's. It has been documented that between 1929 and 1939 over ten million people were killed in purges of one kind or another. Another twenty million people had been deliberately starved or worked to death in the Gulags.

After the Kulaks, Stalin's Purges began targeting his own political opponents - starting with the popular leader of the Leningrad Communist party, Sergei Kirov. His death allowed Stalin to strike with impunity at any and all members of his party. It was the era of the show trial - public court room spectacles where the defendant was guilty long before he entered the room. Party members were forced to confess to crimes, both real and imagined. Then they were condemned and shot as enemies of the people.

Outside the party the terror grew.  People were encouraged to inform on their friends and relatives. Laws were tightened to an absurd degree. One example was one law in 1935 that made the illegal carrying of a knife punishable by five years in prison and a decree of that same year extending all penalties, including death, down to twelve-year-old children.

In military matters, the uniforms of the Red Army were modernized in 1935. They were designed to be simple and functional. This they were, but they were severely lacking in style. Many new vehicles and weapons were also developed. With the start of the Civil War in Spain these new weapons would soon be tested. Stalin sent 'advisors' and equipment to aid the Spanish Republican forces.