Why did Stalin initiate the Great Purges and what was the outcome?

Answer 1

Stalin initiated the Great Purges because of his psychotic neurosis that people were out to get him and his megalomania for having total power. He was jealous of those who were more popular than him and wished to be rid of him. We see this in how he tried to erase the memories of his enemies from painting or murals and put himself in the position of being in particular locales in which he was not. Even Lenin did not trust him and was hopeful that the Politburo would block him from becoming Commissar. This is when he started his purges to rid himself of his rivals and eventually his better generals he believed was a threat to his power and he eliminated those generals who would been able to fight the Germans . This might be one reason why Stalin signed the non-aggression pact with Germany because he knew his generals were not prepared and inexperienced but he could not overcome his taste for power nor his neurotic behavior. The outcome was the russians suffered a near humiliating defeat at the hands of Finland and eventual defeat a the hands of Germany. the one thing that Stalin could not and this to his dissatisfaction that the US saved the USSR because Of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occured on the same day that the Germans reached their apex into the USSr within 10 miles of Moscow. With the US in the conflict the USSR were included with Britain in a Lend-Lease program and eventual second front to defeat Germany.

Answer 2

Can't really add to the first answer ... it is right on the mark!