At "show" trials during the Great Purge At suspects often
History · High School · Mon Jan 18 2021
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During the Great Purge, suspects at "show trials" were often forced to confess to a wide array of crimes that they didn't commit. These confessions were typically obtained through various means of coercion, which included torture, the threat of harm to family members, and promises of leniency. The trials were named "show trials" because they were a form of public spectacle that had a predetermined outcome: the guilt of the accused. The primary purpose was to demonstrate the power of the state and to serve as a warning to the people. Most of the accused were high-ranking officials of the Communist Party, military leaders, and other perceived enemies of the state. They were charged with a range of crimes, including espionage, sabotage, and conspiring against the government.