Stalin's rise to Power

Question 1

How the Nation is before Stalin

Answer 1

Problems with Tsar Nicholas II (lack of reforms, loss in war, emergence of parties, rise of Lenin)

The Great War (loss, shortages, Nicholas’ decisions, homefront issues – Alexandria, etc)

Bolshevik Revolution and Challenge to Rule (Civil War, Rise of Opposition)

Creation of Single Party State (Precedent set by Lenin – War Communism, Censorship, one Party)

Rise of the NEP and Factionalism within the Party (Leftists and Rightists)

Lenin’s illness – suffering from strokes and unable to oversee conditions within party

Question 2

3 factors that helped Stalin rise to power

Answer 2

Personal Background and Abilities

Political Opportunism/Death of Lenin

Political Craftiness (Political Alignment)

Question 3

Personal Background of Stalin

Answer 3

Born in 1878 in Georgia – humble beginnings

Went to study at seminary to be priest – kicked out for violence

Rose within ranks of party on his own

Became Bolshevik in 1903 and gained name for himself

Became member of Central Committee in 1912

Built a reputation within the party from 1917 – 1924

Became Commissar for Nationalities in 1917

Was Liason Official between Ogburo and Politburo in 1919

Was General Secretary of Party in 1922* (could appoint members to party)

Individuals owed their position within the party machine to Stalin (patronage)

Was willing to use violence and force within the party (Lenin approved)

Was seen as man of the people within the party (see humble beginnings)

Question 4

Opposition to Stalin

Answer 4

1. The Kulaks (1930)

See resentment over collectivization

Burned livestock, refused collectivization, organized rural distrubance

2. M.N. Ryutin (1932)

A Right Communist who published attack on Stalin

He and his followers would be expelled from Party

3. Sergei Kirov (1934)

Expressed concern over Stalin’s policies with industrialization

Key member of Politburo and leading member in Leningrad Soviet

Would be assassinated and set off a wave of purges

Question 5

Potential Threats

Answer 5

1. Political Dissidents

Those who deemed to be a threat to his power (see
Zinoviev, Kamenev, Bkukarin, Tomsky, etc)

Older members of the Communist party (knew of his power
and background)

2. Others

Military

Church Leaders

Industrialistsv

Question 6

Consolidation of Power
Means and Methods – Fear, Force and Terror

Answer 6

Stalin’s Terror

Stalin believed all Russia had to be united with him as leader – strong

Over time Stalin also became increasingly paranoid about his power

Used Secret Police – OGPU (1922) then NKVD (1934) to spy and remove those who opposed

1930 – 1933 – First Purges – those who opposed industrialization and collectivization (Kulaks)

The Great Terror– 1936-1938 – political opponents first (Kirov, then Kamenev, Zinoviev, Bhukarin, etc)

Use of Show Trials – 1936 – 1938 – made public the persecution of those who opposed

Purged Other groups and members – those that might be threat

A. Th Army - 1937 Commander in Chief of Red Army and other leading generals shot

B. The Church – Religious leaders were imprisoned, churches closed down

C. Ethnic Groups – enforced Russification of all the Soviet Union

D. Ordinary People – denounced and sent to Gulag close to 20 million Russians

Question 7

Leftist and rightist

Answer 7

1. Used factionalism within the party between leftists and rightists to rise in
   ranks – never declared a clear ideology or one side

Leftists – wanted world revolution, abolish NEP and emphasize Industry
(Zinoviev, Kamenev) – force peasants to produce

Rightists – wanted socialism in one country, continue NEP, and emphasize
farming (Bhukarin, Rykov) as means to industry

2. Decline and death of Lenin – ensured last will and testament not read

Ensured that Lenin’s will was not read or underplayed

This supported by Trotsky and other members within party – also discussed

Would deliver the oration at Lenin’s funeral – seen as close to him

Question 8

Political Opportunism and Craftiness

Answer 8

3. Campaign against Trotsky to ensure he would be expelled

Aligned with other leftists to discredit Trostky in campaign - Zinoviev and Kamenev

See weaknesses of Trotsky and how these were used against him

Trotsky would be removed from position of Commissar by 1925

Shortly after expelled and would later go in to exile (1928)

4. Political Craftiness

First aligned with Zinoviev and Kamenev (Triumvirate) to discredit Trotsky

But then ensured Leftists were discredited when he aligned with the Right

Promoted Socialism in One Country, placed supporters within Politburo

Kamenev and Zinoviev then lost their posts as Soviet chairmen – both replaced by Stalin’s allies

He then turned on the Rightists – declared NEP uncommunist, wanted to push collectivization

By 1929 - 50th birthday – he was uncontested ruler of the Soviet Union