Leon Trotsky Flashcards
Strengths
Brilliant speaker and strong oratory skills
Well-liked by Lenin who was leader of party
Distinguished career within party – led Red Guard in Civil War
Rose through the ranks and believed to be natural successor
Helped organize November Revolution
Helped settle Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Was knowledgable about ideology and Marxist thought
weaknesses
Many thought we was too big-headed and not
man of people
Was ill aware and naïve about the political
challenges he faced – Stalin
Often absent from meetings due to illness and
other factors
Did not appear closest to Lenin at times – did
not attend funeral (wrong date)
Was initially a Menshevik which was used
against him in future
Seen as a threat – he controlled Red Guard
(feared he had too much power)
Was a Jew - Anti-Semitism ingrained in Russia
