Stalin's rise 1924-1928

Question 1

Why was Stalin able to win the leadership struggle in 1929 in Russia?

4

Answer 1

• His rivals made mistakes.
• Stalin was a very clever politician. He used his position as general secretary to undermine his rivals and he switched alliances to benefit his own position.
• He took a pragmatic approach to policy. He supported Lenin’s New Economic Policy between 1924 and 1928, when it appeared to be working, so he could attack the Left Opposition, but he switched to supporting rapid industrialisation in 1928 when NEP was becoming unpopular.
• Stalin’s policy of Socialism in One Country was attractive to many
• Skillfully using the cult of lenin to associate his own name with lenins making him seem to be the natural successor of lenin - Lenin’s funeral -speeches, tricked Trotsky into not coming

Question 2

What mistakes did Stalin’s rivals make in the leadership struggle in Russia?

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Answer 2

• Zinoviev and Kamenev had trusted Stalin and worked with him to keep Trotsky out of power.
• Zinoviev and Kamenev agreed to not publish Lenin’s ‘Testament’, which had severely criticised Stalin.
• Trotsky did not attend Lenin’s funeral, did not insist that Lenin’s ‘Testament’ was published and was not popular with the Party members.
• Some were concerned because he had such an influential role in the Red Army.
• He underestimated Stalin as a politician and was more concerned with the other contenders.
• Other party members did not agree with Trotsky’s idea of permanent revolution

Question 3

Who were Stalin’s rivals in leadership struggle in Russia?

Answer 3

Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev and Bukharin.

Question 4

What did Lenin’s testament say about the individuals involved in the Russian leadership struggle?

Answer 4

❖Trotsky was the most capable, but far too arrogant.
❖Stalin was too powerful, too rude, and he should be dismissed as party secretary.
❖Kamenev had not supported Lenin’s October Revolution, and so should not be trusted.
❖Zinoviev had not supported Lenin’s October Revolution, and so should not be trusted.
❖Bukharin was the favourite of the party members, but Lenin felt he did not fully understand Marxism.

Question 5

What was the split in the Communist Party that Stalin exploited in the leadership struggle in Russia?

Answer 5

• The right wing wanted to continue the New Economic Policy to slowly industrialise and favoured the idea of socialism in one country, ie building communism in the USSR. (bukharain)
• The left wing wanted to abandon the NEP, and have rapid industrialisation and worldwide revolution. (trotsky)

Question 6

How did Stalin eliminate his rivals in the leadership struggle in Russia?

Answer 6

Stalin was very clever. He divided and conquered his rivals in 3 stages:
❖Stage 1: Stalin united with Zinoviev and Kamenev to attack and isolate Trotsky. (1924)
❖Stage 2: Stalin united with Bukharin to attack the United Opposition of Zinoviev, Kamenev and Trotsky. (1927)
❖Stage 3: Stalin turned on Bukharin to attack the Right Opposition. (1928)