1- Stalin Power Flashcards
What extent did Stalin‘s power over the party change from 1928 to 53
P1- a lot, secured his position as leader and established dictatorship. P2- tightened control by quashing opposition. P3- personal limits of Stalin. P4- Already powerful before as General Secretary
It could be argued that eliminating Stalin‘s opponents developed his personal rule and established a dictatorship over the party. P1: power of opponents
Wild by 1928 undisputed leader of the Soviet Union, still concerned his old rivals with conspiring against him or his own supporters challenge his authority.Bukharin Zinoviev Kamenev Rykov all had power bases and a link to Lenin , with Zinoviev being the frontwinner to lead the USSR with influence as party secretary in Leningrad
P1- how STALIN dealt with opponents
Trial of 16 – left 1936 Zin and Kam
 Trial of 21 right- Bukharin and Rykov, Bukharin’s article “notes of an Economist” made clear criticisms of Stalin’s economic policies 1938
P1- analysis
By the end of 1930 Stalin was the only member in the politburo to have survived the power struggle. he was therefore able to create an organisation in which he had a clear monopoly on authority with the Politburo crammed with cronies in agreement with his policies. Forced to conform through fear of meeting the same fate of those who had previously opposed his wishes. He had to say in all important state is decisions with his cronies agreeing to anything he proposed and as a result meant that his leadership over the party was unchallenged so changed as power strengthened
Overall the purges safeguarded Stalin’s position and power led to the emergence of a new generation of Communist Party leaders who owed their position to STALIN and were loyal. P2- opposition to policies before
Party leaders ignored official orders from Moscow during the first five-year plan. in 1932 Ryutin issued a document to members of the central committee that was highly critical of Stalin it accused him of building a personal dictatorship and called upon members to remove him. Another act of defiance against Stalin‘s authority happened at the 17th party Congress in 1934 when Kirov presented criticisms of plans and he received a wave of support and standing ovations matched those received by STALIN. This proves that Stalin’s position was insecure and fraught with potential dangers and threats of usurpation
P2- how did STALIN stop opposition
1937 trial of the 17 purged party officials critical of the plans and in 1937- 38 there were purges in the red Army, most of whom were members of Comm Party. 3/5 marshals and 14/16 army commanders purged. 35,000 officers shot/ imprisoned. This cut down the power of army leaders and forced loyalty and sped up the implementation of the plans that have been critical of. Similarly, there were purges in the secret police with Yezhov Purging 3000 of his own personal and local level where a quarter system was used.
P2- analysis
As a result Stalin was able to strengthen his personal role and impose a firm grip on the party through fear and intimidation creating an environment where opposition was faced with mortal consequences.
P4- already powerful before as general Secretary
Became General Secretary of the Party 1922. This meant he was head of the Party secretariat, which was responsible for the day-to-day running of the Party. This gave STALIN specific powers of influence: head of secret police reported to him regularly, 26,000 personal files on Party members, he was responsible for deciding the agenda of Party meetings so could restrict issues debated. Lenin Enrolment meant new, poorly educated and politically naive workers joined Party who realised that retaining their privileges depended on loyalty to those who had allowed them into the Party (STALIN). As GS, responsible for supervising Lenin Enrolment. Had the right to appoint people to Party positions so tool to promote his own supporters to key positions. When it came to votes on Party issues, STALIN could outvote and outmanoeuvre opponents as Party Congresses became dominated by people who owed their positions and loyalty to STALIN.
P3- Personal limits, was never an all-powerful dictator
impossible for him to survey all the
material necessary to keep on top of events in a country as large
as the Soviet Union. This situation required Stalin to prioritise and
focus on those issues he was most concerned about.
How can you describe change
Fundamental/ partial/ superficial
P3- Limits imposed from within the leadership
After the removal
of the Left and Right Opposition groups during the debate over
industrialisation, it is tempting to see the Politburo of the 1930s as
a collection of Stalin’s cronies. They are often portrayed as dull,
mediocre yes-men. There is undoubtedly a lot of truth in this view.
Molotov remained loyal to Stalin even when his wife was imprisoned
during the purges. However, there is some evidence of the Politburo
opposing Stalin’s actions.
P3- example of Party opposition Ryutin
When Stalin wanted to execute Ryutin, who had denounced
Stalin in 1932, the Politburo refused to agree and Ryutin was
sentenced to ten years in a labour camp.
P3- example, Stalin’s plan targets
Stalin’s ambitious targets for the Second Five-Year Plan were
considered too high by many both inside and outside the
Party. Even members of the Politburo felt the Plan, as it stood
would result in chaos and opposition. Stalin was forced to
accept a hurried redrafting of the Plan with lower targets.
P3- example, Kirov
Kirov, the popular leader of the Party in Leningrad and a
member of the Politburo, may have represented a moderate
faction within the leadership. He had secured more votes than
Stalin in the elections to the Central Committee at the Party
Congress of 1934. Did Kirov represent growing opposition to
Stalin’s policies?
P3- examples, Some members of the Politburo expressed concern over Stalin’s
increasing use of brutality.
Ordzhonikidze, Commissar for Heavy Industry.
raised objections to the use of terror during meetings of the
Politburo.
