15th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)

The 15th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) (VKP(b)) was held in Moscow from December 2 to December 19, 1927. It was a pivotal event in Soviet history, marking a significant turning point towards collectivization of agriculture and the suppression of internal dissent within the Party.

The Congress addressed a range of critical issues facing the Soviet Union, including the ongoing economic development, the international situation, and the internal struggles within the Party's leadership. The central debate revolved around the future of the New Economic Policy (NEP), which had allowed for a degree of private enterprise in agriculture and trade.

Joseph Stalin and his supporters successfully advocated for a shift away from the NEP towards a policy of rapid industrialization and the collectivization of agriculture. This policy, often referred to as the "Great Turn," aimed to consolidate land into collective farms (kolkhozes) and eliminate the kulaks (wealthier peasants).

The Congress formally condemned the "Left Opposition," led by Leon Trotsky and Grigory Zinoviev, who advocated for a more rapid pace of industrialization and criticized Stalin's policies. They were accused of "fractionalism" and "deviation from the Party line." The 15th Congress marked a significant defeat for the Left Opposition, leading to the expulsion of many of its members from the Party and paving the way for their eventual removal from political life and subsequent persecution.

The Congress also approved the First Five-Year Plan, outlining ambitious goals for industrial production and economic growth. It solidified Stalin's control over the Party and laid the foundation for the forced collectivization and industrialization policies that would define the Soviet Union in the following decade. In effect, the 15th Congress represented the consolidation of Stalin's power and the commencement of a new, more radical phase of Soviet development.