«The riddle of 1937» in novelties of domestic publicism

Article is devoted the review of recent publications in which the question on the reasons of mass reprisals of 1937-1938. Using achievements of professional historians, modern publicists have in details reproduced events of second half of 1930th years, discredited a number of historical myths about that epoch. They have come to a conclusion that reprisals became a consequence of struggle of different groups in the top management of the USSR, each of which pursued the interests. The method of mass reprisals habitual for the country leaders, left revolution, has been used both for elimination of political opponents, and for control strengthening over a society.