Stalin And Struggle For Dictatorship Flashcards
Why did Stalin struggle for power?
In December 1923 a month before he died Lenin drafted his first testament
He was worried about the future leadership of the communist party
He wrote about Trotsky exceptional abilities but was critical of his over confidence
However Lenin was more concerned with Stalin as he believed he did not know to two use power with sufficient caution
Lenin was hoping that the leaders could share power
Instead there was a struggle for power
Trotsky vs Stalin
The contest for Lenin successor was between Trotsky and Stalin
Many believed Trotsky would win as he had clear advantages
He commanded the red guards in the red army in the October revolution of 1917
Trotsky created and led the red army during the civil war
Trotsky was an able speaker
Although he was personally arrogant and many feared he would use the army to take over Russia
What was permanent revolution and socialism in one country?
Major battle between Trotsky and Stalin was fought over the future of communism
Trotsky supported the idea of permanent revolution
As part of permanent revolution workers in other countries were encouraged to revolt and set up communist states
He believed communism was weak and could not be developed unless communism spread to other countries
Stalin believed in socialism in one country, he said communism should be developed in Russia first
This was so that Russia could become a modern powerful state
Stalin was supported by zinoviev and kamenev and other politicians who believe Russia had suffered enough through war and revolution
Victory for Stalin
Stalin turned against zinoviev and kamenev
He joined up with bukarin, another politiburo member and editor of Pravda, the main communist newspaper
Zinoviev and kamenev joined forces with Trotsky but it was too late
The three were voted out of the politiburo in 1926
Trotsky and zinoviev were expelled from the party along with 75 supporters
Trotsky was exiled to Siberia before he was eventually banned from the Soviet union in 1931, assassinated in Mexico 1940
By the end of 1929 Stalin had filled all positions in the politiburo with his own supporters, he was in full control of the Soviet union
