Power Vacuum And Power Struggle

Question 1

Lenin’s testament

Answer 1

Criticised almost everyone in the party leadership but was especially critical of Stalin as he had been rude to Lenin’s wife
Didn’t endorse anyone as his successor which could suggest he wanted collective leadership

Question 2

Stalin strengths

Answer 2

Role as general secretary meant he could appoint supporters to key roles in the party
Opponents underestimated him because he was very good at concealing his real thoughts and ambitions
Placed himself close to Lenin

Question 3

Stalin weaknesses

Answer 3

Not very prominent in oct/Nov revolution
Colleagues saw him as ill educated, rude and crude
Although Lenin’s testament was blocked senior Bolsheviks knew Stalin had fallen from Lenin’s favour

Question 4

Trotsky strengths

Answer 4

Recognised as heroes of the oct/nov revolution for his leadership of MRC
Also leadership in civil war
Inspirational speaker and intellectual

Question 5

Weakness of Trotsky

Answer 5

Arrogant and dismissive of people who were not as intellectual as him
Indecisive and inconsistent
Didn’t try to build a power base

Question 6

Zinoviev strengths

Answer 6

Old Bolshevik
Strong power base in Leningrad
One of the party’s best speech makers with a commanding presence

Question 7

Weakness of Zinoviev

Answer 7

Opposed Lenin in oct 1917
Vain and prone to unpredictable mood swings
Underestimated Stalin