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| 1932–33 |
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| Collectivization was completed amid deliberate starvation (especially in Ukraine and the northern Caucasus). Villages and entire regions were surrounded by elite state security troops and deprived of all food reserves, which resulted in the death of more than 10 million people. The government did its utmost to conceal the famine from the world. Eventually, the amount of foodstuffs taken by the state was reduced, and collective farms were permitted to sell at least part of their surplus produce. | 1 |
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| 1932, July 25 |
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| Conclusion of nonaggression pacts with Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Finland, followed by a similar agreement with France (Nov. 29). | 2 |
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| 1933 |
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| Purge of the Communist Party. About one-third of the members (1 million) were expelled for one reason or another. In April a number of British engineers were put on trial for sabotage. The British government protested and put an embargo on Soviet goods. Though convicted, the engineers were permitted to leave the country, but Anglo-Soviet relations continued to be distant. | 3 |
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| Nov. 17 |
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| Recognition of the Soviet government by the United States brought to an end a long period of estrangement. Trade relations were opened, and the Soviet government promised to abstain from propagandizing in the United States. | 4 |
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