chapter 8

Question 1

joseph stalin

Answer 1

• became a bolshevik and took part in over 1k raids after 1902
• exiled 8 times, escaped 7 times
• editor of pravda in 1917
• general secretary in 1922

Question 2

stalin’s rivals

Answer 2

• trotsky: lenin’s choice, had support, previous menshevik, wanted to end the nep
• bukharin: liked by lenin, supported nep
• kamanev: wanted to end nep
• rykov: wanted to continue the nep
• zinoviev: head of comintern, wanted to end nep
• tomsky: wanted to continue nep, head of trade union movement

Question 3

stalin’s victory

Answer 3

1. asked central committee to keep lenin’s testament secret because it criticised them
2. appeared as chief mourner at funeral, tricked trotsky who was seen as arrogant
3. worked with kamanev and zinoviev, forced trotsky to resign as commissar of war in 1925, socialism in one country
4. worked with bukharin in 1926, had kamanev, zinoviev and trotsky expelled from the party in 1927
5. turned against bukharin and the right wing in 1928 because they supported nep, bukharin resigned in 1929 and killed in the purges
6. tomsky dismissed in 1929 and committed suicide in 1936 before being arrested, rykov executed in the purges
7. trotsky expelled from soviet union in 1929, assassinated in mexico in 1940

Question 4

strengths of stalin

Answer 4

• general secretary, has support and was able to build up power
• was able to promote members and gain support
• made it seem as if he was close to lenin, forged images
• was able to play his rivals off against each other (k+z feared trotsky)
• promoted socialism in one country, which was popular
• wanted to end the nep

Question 5

weaknesses of trotsky

Answer 5

• seen as an outsider (jewish + former menshevik)
• resigned as commander of red army, was not prepared to canvas support
• promoted permanent revolution, unpopular
• lacked urgency to secure position of leader
• did not like secret alliances, preferred debates/arguments
• underestimated stalin (grey blur’)