B. It removed from power any leaders who may have opposed Stalin's policies.
The Great Purge, which occurred in the late 1930s, was a series of political repressions and executions carried out by Joseph Stalin and the Soviet secret police. Its primary goal was to eliminate perceived threats to Stalin's power and authority within the Communist Party and the Soviet government.
During the Great Purge, many high-ranking officials, military leaders, and intellectuals were accused of treason, espionage, and other crimes against the state. These accusations were often based on flimsy or fabricated evidence and were used as a pretext to remove potential rivals and critics of Stalin's policies.
As a result of the Great Purge, many of the most experienced and capable leaders within the Communist Party and the Soviet government were removed from power, leaving a leadership vacuum that was filled by less experienced and less competent officials. This had a long-lasting impact on the Soviet Union, weakening its political and military capabilities and contributing to its eventual collapse in 1991.