The First Show Trial: The trial of the Sixteen• Kamenev, Zinoviev and 14 others are put on trial for

killing Kirov and attempting to put Trotsky in charge of the party

• They were accused of organising a terrorist group called the “United Trotskyite-Zinovievite centre” that was plotting against Stalin

• The trial lasts between 19-24 August 1936 and is stage managed with spectators being members of the NKVD and the media reporting that the accused were traitors/terrorists

• Defendants were dressed in old clothes and there was 3 judges overseeing the case

• Defendants freely admitted to the charges against them

• One even admitted killing Kirov even though he was already in prison!

• Kamenev even admitted “For 10 years I waged a struggle against the party and Stalin personally”

• Vyshinsky demanded the death penalty for defendants and got his wish as all were executed for treason

• The newspapers applauded the executions and public opinion largely supported the trial.

• Some demanded further trials of counter-revolutionaries.

The First Show Trial: The trial of the Sixteen