Stalin's Power Struggle and eliminating opponents

Question 1

1. What was the main reason for Stalin winning the power struggle after Lenin died?
   - Can you name the other 3 reasons?
2. What were the 5 threats to Stalin’s power in 1929?
3. Who released a pamphlet criticising Stalin in 1932?
4. Who won more votes than Stalin at the 1934 Party Congress?
   - Did he take over?
   - What happened to him?

Answer 1

1. His political tactics.
   - Trotsky’s errors, Shifting alliances to remove rivals, control of party machinery.
2. Old Bolsheviks, Red Army, Economic issues, opponents in the party and Stalin’s paranoia.
3. Ryutin.
4. Kirov.
   - No, refused.
   - Assassinated in 1934.

Question 2

1. What event allowed Stalin to consolidate power and eliminate opponents?
   - Between what years was this?
2. Name the 3 show trials that took place in the 1930s, and their years (3)
3. What other trials were there?
   - Who were these directed against?
4. How many officers were purged from the Red Army?

Answer 2

1. The Great Terror.
   - 1934-38.
2. Trial of the 16, 1936.
   Trial of the 17, 1937.
   Trial of the 21, 1938.
3. Secret Trials.
   - 8 senior Red Army generals.
4. Over 37,000.

Question 3

1. Name one consequence of the Great Terror.
2. Who did Stalin launch a purge against in 1949?
   - Why? (2)
3. How many officials were killed and arrested? (2)

Answer 3

1. Any from card.
2. Leningrad Party.
   - They contained old rivals and were gaining independence.
3. 100 killed, 2000 arrested.