Contenders for power

Question 1

What were the strengths of Stalin?

Answer 1

He could claim to be a true Leninist as he had joined the Bolsheviks at the very beginning in 1903 and had been loyal ever since then
Lenin held Stalin in high regard referring to him as ‘that wonderful Georgian’. He often trusted Stalin with important administrative tasks. and supported his promotion to General Secretary in 1921 (key position)
He had a good position in the party as part of the Triumvirate that dominated the CC
Put himself close to Lenin during his period of illness enabling him to claim he knew what L wanted
Underrated by opponents and good at concealing intentions
Had worked hard to master the theories of Marxism-Leninism
In position of GS was good at gaining the loyalty of trusted subordinates

Question 2

What was a weakness of Stalin?

Answer 2

His background in the Bolshevik party was being an agitator and fundraiser and was sent to Siberia many times for his actions
Most of his colleagues saw him as crude and violent (accentuated by Lenin’s criticisms of him)
Only played a minor role in the 1917 Rev and was over shadowed by others of greater prominence like Trotsky and greater personality like Bukharin
Although the testament wasn’t revealed to the wider Party, Stalin’s colleagues knew that Lenin had turned against him

Question 3

What were the strengths of Trotsky?

Answer 3

He was a talented writer and orator and other than Lenin he was the most famous and powerful member of government He was well known as a revolutionary hero and man of action due to his role in the October revolution and the civil war
From 1917 he had been Lenin’s righthand man and closest political collaborator
Great intellectual and theorist
Formidable political skills, ruthlessness, authority and organisational ability

Question 4

What were Trotsky’s weaknesses?

Answer 4

He was not popular within the communist party due to his arrogance -many feared him(might use his hold over the red army to seize power after L’s death)
He had joined the Bolsheviks mid 1917 and therefore many Bolsheviks believed that he joined to gain power rather than being a true Leninist (had been Menshevik)
He retained his position on the Politburo until 1927 but was unable to influence the direction of policy - he was continually in opposition to the ruling alliances
Made no attempt to build a base of support in the party
Could be indecisive and fell ill at critical moments - made serious errors of judgement e.g. attacking party bureaucracy in 1924 when he needs its support
He was inconsistent and opposed the Triumvirate

Question 5

Who was Tomsky?

Answer 5

Had a background in the trade union movement

Question 6

What are the strengths of Tomsky?

Answer 6

After 1918 he was Chairman of the Central Council of Trade Unions and General secretary of red international of the trade union from 1920 and from 1922 was elected to CC and Politburo = strong position in the party 
Respected for his long record as an old Bolshevik and his working class origins made him popular in he party
Natural ally of moderate leaders like B and Rykov

Question 7

What were the strengths of Bukharin?

Answer 7

He was popular within the party - close with Lenin, friendly Trotsky and respected by Stalin
From 1925-1928 he was the most prominent member figure in the Soviet Government
Could clam to be a true Leninist as he joined in 1906 and was loyal consistently
Lenin and Bukharin were close and Lenin trusted him with important roles like editor of Pravda
Regarded as the best theoretician in the party
Particular expert on economics and agriculture at a time when debates about peasantry were major concern to Bolshevik government

Question 8

What were the weaknesses of Bukharin?

Answer 8

It was widely known that Lenin and him disagreed over a series of issues e.g. over ending the first world war in 1918 and the NEP in 1921
He was the youngest of the contenders so many thought he was too young and inexperienced to be the new leader
Tried to remain on good terms with everyone and avoided factional infighting so had no power base
Underestimated Stalin and was much more popular than him which made him a target of S’s enmity
Tactical mistake, such as leaving it much too late to make an alliance with Z and K
Having supported Stalin against left opposition they developed a close working partnership called the ‘Duumvirate’ but his popularity aroused Stalin’s jealousy and hostility

Question 9

What are the strengths of Kamenev?

Answer 9

He was a committed Bolshevik from 1905 - as an old Bolshevik had helped form party policy and was close to Lenin - had great influence (after 1922 Lenin trusted K with many of his personal papers)
Had a strong power base in Moscow where he ran the local party
Regarded as thoughtful and intelligent - good at smoothing out difficulties amongst colleagues with an ability to get things done

Question 10

What did Kamenev form in 1922 and who with?

Answer 10

A triumvirate with Zinoviev and Stalin to prevent Trotsky becoming more powerful.

Question 11

What were the strengths of Rykov?

Answer 11

He had a long history of fighting for the Bolsheviks (meaning he spent a lot of time in exile)
He was elected to succeed Lenin as the chairman of the Sovnarkom and Prime Minister of the USSR
He supported the NEP
Widely respected as a old Bolshevik
Extensive support from the Sovnarkom who chose him as deputy chairman and then chairman in 1923-24
Had shown administrative ability in implementing war communism during civil war and managing the switch of policy to NEP

Question 12

What was a strength of Zinoviev?

Answer 12

He could claim to be a true Leninist - as he was Lenin’s closest friend and had supported the movement since it began in 1903 - old Bolshevik
Between 1923 and 1925 Zinoviev formed led the triumvirate which formed a majority on the Politburo
Commanded respect from colleagues due to his role in the rev
He was high in Lenin’s favour ‘closest and most trusted assistant’
Role as party boss in Leningrad = strong political powerbase second only to Moscow

Question 13

What did Zinoviev and Kamenev persuade the CC to do?

Answer 13

Ignore Lenin’s testament

Question 14

How did Zinoviev weaken Trotsky?

Answer 14

He made a series of speeches demonstrating the differences between Leninism and Trotskyism aiming to show that Trotsky wasn’t a true Leninist and therefore shouldn’t lead the government.

Question 15

What was Stalin’s character like?

Answer 15

Had gained a reputation of being a man of violence and an immensely hard worker
Many more experienced colleagues regarded Stalin as intellectually inferior but he had loyal supporters in key positions
He was often rude but allies like Bukharin regarded him as reliable
He was jealous of others but also patients, keeping his long term aims hidden

Question 16

What was Trotsky’s character like?

Answer 16

Extraordinary organiser and man of action
Exceptional ideologist and theoretician
Held power and prestige from his achievements in CW and Rev
Arrogant and dismissive of people who he saw having lesser abilities and was unwilling to get involved in boring details of party administration
Prone to illness and inaction - freezing in times of crisis

Question 17

What was Kamenev’s character like?

Answer 17

Capable, intelligent and skilful politician - good at managing people and situations
Closely associated with Zinoviev so often acted as a partnership
Like K and Z he saw himself as a key player in collective leadership buy lacked the ambition or ruthlessness to seek power himself
Gained a reputation for ‘flip-flopping’ or quickly changing sides

Question 18

What were the weaknesses of Kamenev?

Answer 18

While initially close to Lenin he opposed Lenin’s April Theses in 1917 and Lenin’s desire to work for a revolution in October 1917
He was too closely linked with Zinoviev who was more popular than he was
Like Z he gained a reputation for inconsistency and opportunism by opposing Lenin in 1917 and later switching alliances between Stalin and Trotsky
Many regarded him as being too soft and lacking the drive to be a sole leader
Kamenev seriously underestimated him rivals, especially Stalin

Question 19

What was Zinoviev’s character like?

Answer 19

He was intelligent and educated with a wide knowledge of European culture
He was one of the party’s best speechmakers, with a commanding presence e.g. as Chairmen of the Comintern Congresses
Reputation for being vain and inconsistent, prone to mood swings
Like K he was seen as a compromiser without any consistent philosophy - tended to buckle under pressure

Question 20

What were the weaknesses of Zinoviev?

Answer 20

His opposition to Lenin over the timing of the Bolshevik Coup ( and his joint resignation with K and R in November 1917) was held against him
He seriously underestimated rivals and opponents e.g. Stalin
Z and K left it too late before switching their support to Trotsky

Question 21

Who was on the left and the right?

Answer 21

Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev

Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky

Question 22

What was the character of Bukharin?

Answer 22

The rank and file member Bolsheviks regarded Bukharin as impressive and likeable
Brilliant intellectual and theoretician
Highly popular with politburo colleagues and party members
Lenin called him the ‘darling of the party’
He was open, cooperative with friendly relations on the left and right
He could be naïve and lacked the capacity for intrigue making him unsuited for part infighting

Question 23

What was the character of Rykov like?

Answer 23

Moderate wing of the party
Although always Loyal to Lenin frequently disagreed with him and the radicals
In his moderate and conciliatory temperament and in terms of policy he was more aligned to views of B and Tomsky
As chairmen of government he wanted to play a unifying role

Question 24

What were the weaknesses of Rykov?

Answer 24

Conciliator more than a plotter - among the moderates he was overshadowed by Bukharin’s ability and popularity
Held a largely ceremonial position in the collective leadership and lacked a power base
As with K and Z the fact he had argued with Lenin about revolutionary tactics in 1917 was held against him
Underrated Stalin until it was too late
His policy of heavily taxing vodka was socially correct but politically unwise and aroused intense opposition from sections of the Party

Question 25

What was Tomsky’s character like?

Answer 25

Long association with trade unions 
He was one of a few 'old Bolsheviks' from a genuine working class background 
Reputation for plain speaking 
Despite his class origins his political views were moderate

Question 26

What were the weaknesses of Tomsky?

Answer 26

His powerbase in he trade union made him an obvious target for Stalin’s jealousy
His intense hostility to Trotsky blinded him to the danger of Stalin and his alliance of S,R and B purging left wingers from the party in 1926 handed massive potential power to Stalin
His support for the NEP would be used against him when the grain crisis hit the economy in 1927

Question 27

What was Kamenev’s position in the party?

Answer 27

He played an important role in the events of 1917 leading to Bolshevik seizure of power (but clashed with Lenin in Nov 1917 briefly resigning)
1918 became chairman of Moscow soviet and one of first members of Politburo in 1919 and was Lenin’s deputy chairman
Trotsky’s brother-in-law but opposed his ambitions, joining triumvirate against him from 1923

Question 28

What was Zinoviev’s position in the party?

Answer 28

He held important and influential positions in the highest ranks of the party -
Member of the Politburo and the spokesman for the Central Committee at the annual party congress
Head of the Comintern and chairman of the Comintern congress
From 1923 part of triumvirate