Death of Lenin and The Power Struggle Flashcards
1
Q
Lenin’s Death
A
- Lenin suffers a series of strokes from 1921 until his death in 1924
- Loses the power of speech by March 1923
- Still remains the undisputed leader despite not being able to take part in the party’s day-to-day running
- Dec 1922 - Writes his testament to the party
2
Q
Lenin’s Funeral
A
- Widespread public grief - 2.3 million people attend the service
- Brain cut up and kept
- Portraits of Lenin are displayed in public and theatres and shops are closed for a week
3
Q
The Cult of Lenin
A
A nationwide propaganda campaign is launched (posters, statues etc.) to display him as a god-like figure
4
Q
The Points of Lenin’s Testaments
A
- Does not name a clear successor
- Accuses Trotsky of arrogance
- Accuses Stalin of impatience and rudeness and also warned of the power General Secretary gave him
- Reminds the Central Committee that Kamenev and Zinovivev had been disloyal to the party by disagreeing with him over the October Revolution
- Argues that Bukharin does not fully understand Lenin’s ideology
5
Q
Strengths of Stalin
A
- Fundraiser (robbed banks in the party’s early days)
- Reputation for being tough ‘man of steel’
- Working-class background
- Originally the editor of “Pravda”
- The crucial position as General Secretary helped him gain the loyalty and trust of many comrades
- Could use his reputation as a “grey blur” to his advantage
6
Q
Weaknesses of Stalin
A
- Antagonises many leading Bolsheviks, such as Trotsky and Sverdlov
- Played little part in the October Revolution
- Had been heavily condemned by Lenin’s Testament
7
Q
Strengths of Trotsky
A
- Brilliant speech-maker, intellectual and theorist
- Had proven his political and strategical abilities in the October Revolution and Civil War
- Had transformed and brought new discipline to the Red Army
- Had strong military support due to his position as Commissar for War
8
Q
Weaknesses of Trotsky
A
- Was originally a Menshevik and did not join the Bolsheviks until 1917
- His colleagues disliked his arrogance and disdain for those he thought less clever than him
- He made no serious attempt to build a powerbase before Lenin’s death
9
Q
Strengths of Kamenev
A
- One of Lenin’s closest aides alongside Zinoviev
- Major contributor to party doctrine
- Party Secretary in Moscow
- Commissar for Foreign Trade
- Moderate political alignment
10
Q
Weaknesses of Kamenev
A
- Opposed the 1917 April Theses
- Opposed Lenin’s plan to speed up the process of Marxism
- Wanted a socialist coalition government
- Believed by Lenin to lack vision
11
Q
Strengths of Zinoviev
A
- Longstanding Bolshevik since 1903
- Close to Lenin - had arrived with him at Petrograd in April 1917
- Party Secretary
- Chairman of the Comintern
- Good orator
12
Q
Weaknesses of Zinoviev
A
- Very similar to those of Kamenev
- Opposed Lenin’s plan to speed up the process of Marxism
- Wanted a socialist coalition government
- Lacked popular support - seen as weak, vain and ambitious
13
Q
Strengths of Bukharin
A
- Appealed to youths
- Had been a major figure of the party before 1917
- Close to Lenin - had been referred to as the “golden boy of the Bolshevik Party”
- Contributor to “Pravda”
- Complimented more so than others in Lenin’s Testament
14
Q
Weaknesses of Bukharin
A
- Led opposition to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
- Criticised Lenin and Trotsky over the trade union debate in 1920 (the role of trade unions)
- Lacked political skills
- Key supporter of the NEP - he could be easily targeted by more left-wing Bolsheviks
15
Q
Strengths of Rykov
A
- Working class background
- Chairman of the Veshenka (economic organisation)
- Chairman of the Sovnarkom
- Strong orator
16
Q
Weaknesses of Rykov
A
- Seen as an alcoholic
- Too outspoken
- Lacked political acumen (awareness)
- Key supporter of the NEP - he could easily be targeted by more left-wing Bolsheviks
17
Q
Strengths of Tomsky
A
- Figure of the trade union movement
- Chairman of the Central Council of Trade Unions
- Working class background
18
Q
Weaknesses of Tomsky
A
- Lacked a senior position within the party
- Opposed Lenin over the trade union debate in 1920
19
Q
Power Struggle - 1924
A
- Lenin dies
- Politburo decide on “collective leadership”
- Lenin’s Testament is not read out to the rest of the party outside of the Politburo, nor published to the public
20
Q
Power Struggle - 1925
A
- Trotsky steps down as Commissar for War, cutting him off from any potential military powerbase
- Kamenev and Zinoviev head “United Opposition” against Stalin, wanting to abandon the NEP
- Stalin makes his aim for Socialism in One Country known - this is very popular with the Communist Party members who wish to put the wishes of Russia before other countries
21
Q
Power Struggle - 1926
A
Trotsky produced the “declaration of the 83” which attacked the policies of the leadership. Stalin called him a traitor. Kamenev and Zinoviev are booed in congress
- Trotsky joins United Opposition and Stalin is then legally able to have them banned as a faction
- Stalin backs the right-wing Bolsheviks (eg. Bukharin) and the continuation of the NEP
22
Q
Power Struggle - 1927
A
- Stalin persuades congress to expel Trotsky and Zinoviev from CSPU (the party)
- The peasants fail to produce enough grain surplus and had refused to hand over grain. The NKVD requisition their grain. Those who resist are murdered
23
Q
Power Struggle - 1928
A
- Trotsky is exiled from the USSR
- Tomsky is replaced as the leader of trade unions and is not re-elected to the Politburo
- Bukharin is forced to resign as editor of Pravda
- Rykov and Bukharin are both expelled from the Central Committee
- Pro-Stalinists such as Molotov and Viroshilov replaced the men
24
Q
Reasons for Stalin’s Success
A
- Used the NEP to oppose both right and left-wing Bolshevik contenders
- Emphasised his belief in “socialism in one country”, thus showing loyalty to Lenin’s ideas
- Doctored photographs to make himself appear as Lenin’s right-hand man
- Keeps Lenin’s Testament suppressed
