Answer:
Nicholas's secret police, also known as the Okhrana, and Stalin's purge, which is commonly referred to as the Great Purge, were two separate events that occurred at different times and under different circumstances. However, there are some connections that can be made between the two.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Okhrana was established in 1881 during the reign of Tsar Alexander III to combat political opposition and maintain order in Russia. The secret police had broad powers to investigate and suppress any groups or individuals deemed a threat to the government, and they were notorious for their use of surveillance, informants, and brutal tactics.
Fast forward to the Stalinist period, which began in the late 1920s and continued until the mid-1950s. During this time, Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union, and his regime carried out purges against political opponents, real or perceived. The purges were a way for Stalin to consolidate power and eliminate any potential threats to his rule. Millions of people were arrested, imprisoned, or executed during the purges.
While the Okhrana and the Stalinist purges were separated by several decades, they both involved the use of state power to suppress dissent and maintain control. The methods employed by the Okhrana, such as surveillance and the use of informants, would later become hallmarks of the Soviet secret police, including the NKVD (which carried out the purges). Additionally, the purges can be seen as a continuation of the tradition of suppressing dissent that began with the Okhrana.
In summary, while the Okhrana and the Stalinist purges did not directly lead to one another, they share some similarities in terms