Counting the Casualties- The Tragic Toll of Lives Lost in the Great Purge

How many died in the Great Purge? This question remains one of the most haunting and enigmatic aspects of Joseph Stalin’s reign in the Soviet Union. The Great Purge, also known as the Soviet Terror or the Terror of 1937-1938, was a state-led campaign of political repression and mass murder that aimed to eliminate perceived enemies of the Communist Party and the Soviet regime. The exact number of victims is still a subject of debate among historians, but it is widely accepted that the toll was staggering. This article delves into the historical context, the methods used, and the enduring legacy of this dark chapter in Soviet history.