How and why Stalin became Party leader and the outcome of contenders (10)

Question 1

When did Stalin establish a central position in the Party leadership?

Answer 1

By 1924

Question 2

What enabled Stalin to entrench his position further?

Answer 2

Lenin’s funeral

Question 3

What was Stalin placed in charge of and what did this mean he did?

Answer 3

The arrangements for the funeral and seized the opportunity to promote the cult of Leninism by making the funeral a state occasion.

Question 4

What did Stalin insist about Lenin’s body and therefore what has this said to be for?

Answer 4

Stalin insisted on Lenin’s body was embalmed and placed on public view, it had been said that Stalin was making Leninism into a religion, with the loyal comrade Stalin as its High Priest.

Question 5

Due to Trotsky’s failure to attend Lenin’s funeral what did this give Stalin?

Answer 5

A political advantage

Question 6

What was it said that Stalin said to Trotsky about Lenin’s funeral?

Answer 6

It was said that Stalin had cunningly arranged Trotsky’s absence by misleading messages.

Question 7

Why did Trotsky not actually go to Lenin’s funeral?

Answer 7

Because he chose to stay at Sukhum as he was ill and a long way away and at the time missing the funeral didn’t seem as important as was later realised.

Question 8

When did the power struggle shift into a new phase?

Answer 8

During 1924 and 1925

Question 9

Until 1924 and 1925 what had people underestimated about Stalin?

Answer 9

His political skills and the importance of Stalin’s bureaucratic power as General Secretary by other, more flamboyant leaders.

Question 10

Why did Stalin’s ambitions go unnoticed?

Answer 10

Because other people thought there was more of an obvious and pressing concern to “stop Trotsky”.

Question 11

What happened began to happen to Trotsky?

Answer 11

His position became weaker and perceptions of Stalin changed and the Triumvirate began to fall apart.

Question 12

When did Stalins’s control of the bureaucratic power as General Secretary begin to be perceived as threats to his rivals?

Answer 12

1924

Question 13

What occasion seemed to offer the perfect time to mive against Stalin?

Answer 13

The Thirteenth Party Congress in May 1924

Question 14

Why was Trotsky hesitant to move against Stalin?

Answer 14

Because he was nervous of being blames for causing a split in the Party, possibly because he thought there were be a better opportunity later.

Question 15

Who did Stalin have support from at the Congress?

Answer 15

He had valuable support from Kamenev and Zinoviev, who protected Stalin from criticisms arising from Lenin’s testament. The Triumvirate seemed strong.

Question 16

What did Trotsky lack?

Answer 16

An instinct for bureaucratic infighting, or the patience needed to mobilise his supporters to win over potential allies.

Question 17

What did Stalin show that Trotsky didn’t?

Answer 17

single-minded focus on building up a personal following of loyal supporters.

Question 18

Name 4 people who Stalin built close relationships with.

Answer 18

1) Vyacheslav Molotov (the Assistant General Secretary)
2) Lazar Kaganovich (first secretary of the Party in Ukraine)
3) Kliment Voroshilov (an ally of Stalin since they had worked together as Political Commissars fighting in the Civil War)
4) Sergei Kirov (a youthful rising star in the Leningrad party leadership, and placing them in key positions)

Question 19

Why did tensions grow within the Triumvirate after the Thirteenth Party Congress in 1924?

Answer 19

Because Kamenev and Zinoviev became frustrated by their failure to control Stalin.

Question 20

Who became an ally of Stalin?

Answer 20

Bukharin

Question 21

Why did Bukharin become and ally of Stalin?

Answer 21

Because this was the time when the debate over “permanent revolution” or “Socialism in One Country” was particularly intense and Bukharin liked Stalin’s idea.

Question 22

Where did Stalin place himself in these shifting alliances and why?

Answer 22

In the “golden middle” avoiding extreme positions.

Question 23

What happened to Trotsky at the Central Committee in January?

Answer 23

Trotsky was forced out of his post as People’s Commissar of war.

Question 24

What did Zinoviev what to do to Trotsky and what did Stalin think of this?

Answer 24

Zinoviev wanted Trotsky expelled from the Party but Stalin, determined to keep his image as a moderate, rejected this.

Question 25

What did Zinoviev and kamenev do to Stalin?

Answer 25

They launched a direct attack however found it very hard to do so effectively, the result was that Kamenev and Zinoviev were being gradually pushed towards joining their former enemy, Trotsky in the Left.

Question 26

When Stalin and Bukharin formed a partnership what was this callled?

Answer 26

The “Duumvirate”

Question 27

What was virually running the country in 1926-1927?

Answer 27

The “Duumvirate”

Question 28

When did kamenev and Zinoviev join Trotsky?

Answer 28

Mid 1926

Question 29

What happened in October 1927?

Answer 29

The Central Committee voted to expel Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev from the CC, in November, Trotsky and Zinoviev were expelled from the Party altogether.

Question 30

What happened at the Fifteenth Party Congress in December 1927?

Answer 30

Dozens of other opponents were expelled also leaving Stalin and Bukharin triumphant.

Question 31

Why did political tensions start tor rise between Bukharin and Stalin?

Answer 31

Because in 1928 Russia was facing a serious food shortage, as Stalin moved to harsh measures in the countryside, divisions between him and Bukarin widened.

Question 32

What was Stalin also preparing in 1928?

Answer 32

For a rapid surge in industrialisation- which later became the fist five year plan.

Question 33

What did Bukharin do in April 1928?

Answer 33

He protested against “excesses” by officials, his numerous speeches and articles in favour of “sensible” policies made little impact. Bukharin was ow isolated and vulnerable to Stalin’s attacks.

Question 34

Who did Bukharin try and make an alliance with in February 1929?

Answer 34

Trotsky, however it did not go through but Stalin knew there was contacts between them.

Question 35

When was Bukharin expelled from the Politburo?

Answer 35

November 1929

Question 36

What was the outcome for Rykov?

Answer 36

He was sacked and replaced by Molotov in 1930, removed from the Central Committee in 1934 and executed after a show trial 1938.

Question 37

What was the outcome for Tomsky?

Answer 37

He was removed from his role with the trade unions 1929, removed from Central Committee 1934 and committed suicide 1936to avoid trial and execution.

Question 38

What was the outcome for Zinoviev?

Answer 38

Submitted to Stalin 1928, expelled from the party 1932 and executed after a show trial 1936.

Question 39

What was the outcome for Kamenev?

Answer 39

Submitted to Stalin 1928, expelled from the party 1932 and executed after a show trial 1936.

Question 40

What was the outcome for Bukharin?

Answer 40

Expelled from the Politburo 1929, rehabilitated 1934 and executed after show trial 1938.

Question 41

What was the outcome for Trotsky?

Answer 41

Expelled from the Party 1927, exiled in 1929 and murdered by one of Stalin’s agents 1940.