Stalin's Opponents in the Politburo

Question 1

leon…

Answer 1

TROTSKY
- many Bs thought him the obvious successor
- arrogant & not a team player really
- made few attempts to organise himself & supporters, viewing inter-party squabbling as beneath him

Question 2

gregory…

Answer 2

ZINOVIEV
- had worked closely with lenin
- strong power base as party secretary in leningrad
- skilled orator but vain & ineffective in practical stuff

Question 3

lev…

Answer 3

KAMENEV
- weak speaker
- little ambition
- lack of principle
- party secretary in moscow

Question 4

nikolai…

Answer 4

BUKHARIN
- described by lenin as ‘the golden boy’
- quite young & very intelligent
- lacked political experience

Question 5

mikhail…

Answer 5

TOMSKY
- leading figure in the trade union movement but lenin had restricted political power of unions
- their role was now just helping workers within the workplace

Question 6

alexei…

Answer 6

RYKOV
- succeeded lenin as chair of the sovnarkom
- outspoken approach upset fellow Bs
- his effectiveness was hampered by his alcoholism