Stalin’s Rise to Power Flashcards
1
Q
1 How had
Lenin caused
a power
vacuum?
A
- Decisions were supposedly made
collectively but in practice Lenin had
dominated - His leadership was based on his
personality and his authority. - Instead of encouraging democracy, he
introduced the ban on factions in 1921 - He had had created a huge
bureaucracy carrying out orders from
superiors.
2
Q
How had a
power
struggle
started
before
Lenin’s
death?
A
- Lenin had become unwell towards the
end of 1921, and in May 1922 he had
the first of a series of strokes - By mid-1923 it was obvious that Lenin
would never return to government. - When Lenin died, there was no
obvious successor. - A collective leadership was therefore
established to govern Russia.
3
Q
What
happened
when Lenin
died?
A
- Lenin’s coffin was displayed in Red
Square and crowds of people queued
to pay their respects. - The Politburo preserved his body in a
mausoleum in Red Square
4
Q
How did a
cult of
personality
form?
A
- Petrograd was renamed Leningrad,
- Lenin’s statue was built in every
Russian city - Children were named after the
Communist leader.
5
Q
What should
have
happened
with
leadership?
A
- Marxism suggested that power should
be shared in a collective leadership - The Politburo had emerged as the
most powerful part of the
Government. - Therefore, gaining a majority on the
Politburo was the key to power - From 1922 to 1929, a relentless
struggle for supremacy was waged by
Politburo leaders
6
Q
What was Lenin’s testament?
A
- Lenin’s Testament was written a year before his death in 1924.
- The notes were addressed to the Central Committee and were
highly critical of the main contenders for power
7
Q
What did Lenin’s testament say?
A
- Accused Trotsky of arrogance and being too willing to use
violence - Accused Stalin of impatience and rudeness
- That Zinoviev and Kamenev had been disloyal to the party
immediately before the October Revolution - That Bukharin did not fully understand Lenin’s ideology.
8
Q
What happened
to the
testament?
A
- Lenin’s widow Krupskaya handed the testament to the
Politburo - It was supposed to be published in the Party Congress in May
1924. - Key members of the Central Committee declined to read it
out.
9
Q
Trotsky
A
- Recognised as a hero from the October
Revolution and Civil War - Inspirational speaker and intellectual
- Known for his political skills and organisational
ability - Known to be arrogant and dismissive of those
who were not as intellectual as him - He failed to build a power base of followers
10
Q
Zinoviev
A
- Lenin had once called him his ‘closest and most
trusted assistant’ - Strong power base in Leningrad
- One of the best speechmakers with a
commanding presence - Had opposed Lenin in organising the October
Revolution - Vain and prone to mood swings also
underestimated Stalin
11
Q
Kamenev
A
- Had helped form Party policy and was close to
Lenin - Had a strong power base in Moscow
- Effective at reaching compromises between
people. - Opposed to Lenin’s April Theses in 1917 and his
desire to work for a revolution in October 1917. - Seen as lacking ambition on his own
- Underestimated his opponents
12
Q
Bukharin
A
- Popular in the party, close to Lenin and Trotsky
- Widely regarded as the best theoretician in the Party
- An expert on economics and agriculture
- He had no party base and wanted to avoid fighting
- His popularity made him a target
- Underestimated Stalin
13
Q
Tomsky
A
- Had a long history of fighting for the Bolsheviks,
which meant he was widely respected - Strong base of support from being General Secretary
of trade unions - Hatred of Trotsky blinded him to the threat of Stalin
- His power base in the trade unions made him a clear
target for Stalin
14
Q
Rykov
A
- Had a long history of fighting for the Bolsheviks,
which meant he was widely respected - Good administrator – he had helped implement war
communism and the NEP - Supported by the Sovnarkom
- His policy of heavy taxation on vodka was very
unpopular - Opposed Lenin over the timing of the revolution
- Lacked a power base, too moderate
15
Q
Stalin
A
- He could claim to be a true the very
beginning, in 1903, and had been loyal to
Lenin through the whole period from 1903 to
1921. - His role as General Secretary meant he could
appoint supporters to key roles in the party. - He had fallen out of favour with Lenin prior to
his death. - Colleagues saw him as ill-educated, rude and
crude. Lenin had criticised him in the
Testament
16
Q
How was Stalin
in a good
position?
A
- Stalin held key positions within the
Communist Party. - In 1919, Stalin was made head of the Orgburo
- In 1922 he became Secretary-General, which
put him in charge of the party organisation. - These positions gave Stalin the opportunity
to appoint lower and middle ranks of the
party and gave him significant powers of
patronage
17
Q
How did Stalin
consolidate his
position?
A
- In 1924, Stalin initiated the Lenin Enrolment.
- From May 1924, this enrolment drive allowed
128,000 people to join the Communist Party. - Stalin justified this by arguing that the party
needed new working-class members. - Because they were interested in getting well
paid party jobs they tended to support Stalin,
who was able to promote them within the
party.
18
Q
Why
was the NEP
an
issue?
A
- The NEP was criticised for not conforming to
communist principles - Lenin had insisted it was a ‘temporary measure’ to
help Russia recover from the Russian Civil War, so
the was divided on how long they should continue
with the policy. - By 1925, NEP was causing industrial and agricultural
concerns as workers’ standards of living declined and
peasants were hoarding grain rather than selling it. - Also Marxism taught that only an industrialised
economy could make a socialist society work.
19
Q
What
did the
Left
want?
A
To abandon the NEP in favour of state controlled,
rapid industrialisation funded by ‘squeezing the
peasants’
20
Q
What
did the
Right
want?
A
- To continue with the NEP with the peasants
becoming richer. - The state would then use the taxes to fund gradual
industrialisation
21
Q
What
did
Stalin
want?
A
- Inconsistent attitude.
- Initially opposed the Left when trying to defeat them,
but turned on the NEP once the Left had been
eliminated.
22
Q
Why
was - ‘Permanent revolution’ or ‘Socialism in
One Country’
an
issue?
A
- All theories of Marxism-Leninism had assumed it was
impossible for revolution to survive in a single country
against all the capitalist countries - But Marxist theory was contradicted by real-world
events - Revolutions in Germany and Hungary were crushed
- Defeat in the Russo-Polish War blocked the Revolution
from extending West - The USSR were the only communist country
23
Q
What
did the
Left
believe about ‘Permanent revolution’ or ‘Socialism in
One Country’?
A
- All theories of Marxism-Leninism had assumed it was
impossible for revolution to survive in a single country
against all the capitalist countries - But Marxist theory was contradicted by real-world
events - Revolutions in Germany and Hungary were crushed
- Defeat in the Russo-Polish War blocked the Revolution
from extending West - The USSR were the only communist country
24
Q
What
did the
Right
believe about ‘Permanent revolution’ or ‘Socialism in
One Country’?
A
- Believed in the theory of Socialism in One Country.
- Thought a world revolution was unlikely
- Aimed to strengthen the USSR as a workers’ state could
be created to rival the capitalist powers.
25
Q
What
did
Stalin
believe?
A
- Supported Socialism in One Country in 1924.
- It appealed to Russian patriotism, portraying Trotsky’s
ideas as out of touch
26
Q
Outcome of the power struggle - Stalin
A
By December 1929, Stalin secure as leader of the Soviet
Union due to his strong base of supporters and political
manoeuvring
27
Q
Outcome of the power struggle - The left
A
- After they were expelled in 1927, Kamenev and
Zinoviev criticised their past actions and were allowed
to re-join the party in 1928. - Trotsky refused to do this and was exiled. He moved
around until, in 1940, he was murdered in Mexico on
Stalin’s orders
28
Q
Outcome of the power struggle - The right
A
Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky were initially allowed to
stay in the Party after admitting their mistakes
29
Q
Outcome of the power struggle - Show trials
A
Bukharin, Rykov, Kamenev and Zinoviev were all
executed after show trials were held against them in
the late 30s.
Tomsky committed suicide before he could be put
through the same ordeal.
30
Q
Jan
1924
A
Stalin supposedly arranged for Trotsky to not turn
up for Lenin’s funeral and uses this chance to set
himself up as Lenin’s disciple
31
Q
May
1924
A
- Zinoviev & Kamenev urged that Lenin’s
testament is not read out. Trotsky kept quiet - Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin form the
Triumvirate against Trotsky. - Trotsky accused the party of becoming less
democratic but is outvoted.
32
Q
June
-Dec
1924
A
- Zinoviev and Kamenev question Trotsky’s
loyalty; Trotsky retaliates with the Lessons
of October. - Stalin stayed in the background, appearing
to be the moderate. He brought more of his
followers into the party.
33
Q
Over
1925
A
Stalin’s policy of socialism in one country proved
popular with many, including the Rights.
A Duumvirate formed between Stalin and
Bukharin.
34
Q
Dec
1924
A
- Kamenev and Zinoviev attack Stalin calling
for a vote of no confidence but Stalin’s
supporters protected him. - Kamenev and Zinoviev joined with Trotsky,
and were accused of factionalism when
trying to appeal to the masses.
35
Q
By
1927
A
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky lost their positions
in the party
36
Q
1928
A
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky lost their positions
in the party
37
Q
1929
A
Bukharin, Tomsky and Rykov were removed from
positions
38
Q
What was the great turn?
A
- A radical change in economic policy that
rejected the NEP - It committed to rapid industrialisation under
state control and the collectivisation of
agriculture - It began in 1925 when the 14th Party Congress
committed to industrialisation and continued
in 1927 with the 15th Party congress
announcing the end of the NEP
39
Q
Why did
Stalin
introduce
the Great
Turn?
A
- He knew that a country that was not
industrialised was a weak country. - To fight a modern war, a country had to have
a well-developed industrial base to
manufacture the huge quantities of weapons
and munitions that would be required. - To make the USSR much less dependent on
Western manufactured goods. To achieve
this, it was especially important to build the
heavy industrial plants that were needed for
industrial production. - He believed that socialism could only be
created in a highly industrialised state where
the majority of the population were workers. - To prove he was the successor and equal of
Lenin. - To catch up with the West, not just in military
terms, but also in the standard of living that
people enjoyed
40
Q
The First Five Year Plan - central planning
A
- Gosplan would set targets for different industrial
sectors - A command economy would bring a centralised
approach to managing the economy
41
Q
The First Five Year Plan - Rapid industrial growth
A
- Overall industrial production was planned to increase
by 300% between 1928 and 1932 - Heavy industry (coal, iron, steel, oil & machinery) was
prioritised - Light industry (house hold products & chemicals),
although a lower priority were still expected to
increase production by 100%
42
Q
The First Five Year Plan - Investment in infrastructure
A
- The plan called for huge increase in the supply of
electrical power in order to transform the economy
and society. - There was significant investment In infrastructure,
especially rail
43
Q
The First Five Year Plan - New industrial centres
A
- Thousands of new industrial centres were planned
- E.g. Magnitogorsk was build into a settlement of
175,000 with steel production at its heart
44
Q
The First Five Year Plan - Propaganda & discipline
A
- Propaganda was the driving force behind the plan
- Boards outside the factories showed worker output
levels and targets - Threat of punishment motivated workers and
managers to meet the targets
45
Q
The First Five Year Plan - Foreign Experts
A
- Industrial experts were brought in to build the new
complexes and train workers
46
Q
How did the party react to industrialisation?
A
Many party members were pleased to see a commitment to radical social change
47
Q
How did the people react to the Five Year Plan?
A
- Propaganda had a huge effect – urban workers hoped for better employment and living standards
- Many poor and ‘middle’ peasants were led to hope they would benefit from further land reform and modern methods
- Some worried that higher wages of skilled workers would create class differences
- Many of those managing industrial production were already critical of the adverse impact of central planning
48
Q
How did Stalin use collectivisation?
A
- Bukharin was an opponent of Stalin’s hard methods In the Urals and Siberia and of accelerated collectivisation
- However in 1928, the drive for accelerated collectivisation became more popular in the party
- This led to Bukharin’s political position weakening and in April 1928 he was outvoted on agricultural policy in the
Politburo - In November 1928, Stalin attacked Bukharin directly, accusing him of not being Marxist enough.
- In November 1929 Bukharin was removed from the party
49
Q
Why did collectivisation happen?
A
- The revolution had broken up old
landlord estates and agriculture was now
small-scale which would never produce
enough food to feed a socialised
workforce - Private farming was not socialist. It
created petty-bourgeois attitudes that
were selfish and capitalistic - An important trigger for the acceleration
of collectivisation was the grain
procurement crisis of 1927-28 - Poor harvests had reduced the supply of
grain but the state had still set a low price
for grain – this led to few incentives to sell - In 1928 in the Urals and western Siberia,
the grain procurement was down a third
on the previous year – Stalin became
convinces that the kulaks were hoarding
grain
50
Q
What were the features of collectivisation?
A
- There were two main types of collective
farms: Kolkhoz and Sovkhoz. The
difference between the two was that the
state owned and ran the Sovkhoz. - The target for collectivisation under the
first five year plan was 15% of the USSRs
farms. - Although collectivisation was officially
voluntary, the Central Committee send
5,000 industrial workers into the
countryside to promote it. They forced
peasants to collectivise and removed the
kulaks.
51
Q
Bureaucratic
centralism
A
- Under Stalin, the government was
centrally controlled. - The Party leadership controlled the
appointment of all key bureaucratic
positions, even at local levels
52
Q
Divide and
Rule
A
- If a party member grew too powerful
Stalin encouraged their rivals to bring
them down. - In this way, no one was ever powerful
enough to challenge him
53
Q
Continuing
Lenin’s
Legacy
A
By positioning himself as Lenin’s heir and interpreter of Lenin’s wishes, Stalin responded to any challenge by showing how Lenin’s words supported him
54
Q
Fear
A
- The role of the OGPU became more
universal under Stalin - Fear ran through the imposition of all
Stalin’s policies, e.g. collectivisation
55
Q
Loyal
supporters
A
- As General Secretary, Stalin influenced
the appointment of Party officials . - The Politburo, filled with Stalin’s
supporters, made decisions that the
Central Committee approved without
question
56
Q
Why was propaganda important?
A
. Stalin relied heavily on propaganda to
launch campaigns and boost enthusiasm
for his grand plans – e.g. the Five Year
Plans
57
Q
What were the features of his propaganda?
A
- Stalin’s image was developed as the ‘Great
Helmsman’, steering the country through
all the dangers - Stalin used propaganda to position himself
as the ‘Lenin of today’ - Stalin boosted the cult of Lenin to add to
his own status – if Lenin was a god, then
his heir would be too
58
Q
What were Stalin’s foreign policy aims?
A
- Stalin’s main aim in foreign affairs was to
keep the USSR safe while concentration on
building socialism in one country - Complete isolation was not possible – there
was instability in China, opportunities in
Germany
59
Q
What was the role of foreign ministers?
A
- The USSR’s main representative were
Chicherin and Litvinov – they were both seen
as moderates - They helped to reassure foreign powers
about doing business with the USSR
60
Q
What was Stalin’s early attitude?
A
- Before 1929, the Comintern was low priority
for Stalin as he was focused on socialism in
one country and the power struggle - The Comintern was associated with Trotsky)
61
Q
How did this attitude change?
A
- After 1929, Stalin declared a new phase for
the Comintern – an all out attack on anticommunist, social democratic parties in
Europe (‘social fascism’) - This change in policy may have been a way to
attack Bukharin, or due to his fear of foreign
powers challenging the USSR
62
Q
What did Stalin want the Comintern to do?
A
- Ensure all foreign communist parties purged
themselves of weak elements - Impose strict party discipline on foreign
communist parties - Ensure all communist party followed the USSR
party line - Soviet control over the Comintern became
stronger as Stalin appointed ‘yes men’ to lead
it.
63
Q
What was the situation in China?
A
- In 1911, the Chinese Revolution had overthrown
the emperor and after the death of the President
in 1925, there was political instability in China - The two rival groups were the CCP and the GMD
64
Q
What influenced Stalin’s stance in China?
A
- Stalin’s policy towards China was strongly linked
to the power struggle in the USSR - Trotsky supported the CCP who wanted to lead a
proletarian revolution in China – this matched
his policy of Permanent Revolution - Stalin, however, didn’t think the CCP were strong
enough to take control and disagreed with some
of their views. He was also worried that
instability in China would threaten USSR border
65
Q
What did Stalin do?
A
- Stalin backed a bourgeois revolution led by the
stronger GMD – he urged the CCP to temporarily
join the GMD - This alliance failed – the GMD turned on the CCP
and over 1926-1927 the GMD violently
suppressed and massacred the CCP. - While the Party Congress of 1927 criticized
Stalin, Trotsky’s accusations of betraying
communism didn’t stick
66
Q
What was the situation in Germany?
A
. After the 1922 Treaty of Rapallo, the USSR continued to build good relations with Weimar Germany – Chicherin and his
German counterpart (Stresemann) were committed to creating good relations
67
Q
How did the relationship
develop between Germany and Russia?
A
- In 1926 the Treaty of Berlin was signed - it built further good relations between the two countries
- It promised neutrality if either country was attacked
- It also promised that neither country would get involved in economic boycotts against the other
68
Q
What was the
impact of Germany and Russia’s relationship?
A
- The USSR benefitted by receiving large financial credits from German banks in June 1926
- In 1929, with the death of Stresemann, the world economic crisis and the rise of Hitler led to straining relations with Germany
