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
What
did
Stalin
believe?
1. Supported Socialism in One Country in 1924.
2. It appealed to Russian patriotism, portraying Trotsky’s
ideas as out of touch
26
Outcome of the power struggle - Stalin
By December 1929, Stalin secure as leader of the Soviet
Union due to his strong base of supporters and political
manoeuvring
27
Outcome of the power struggle - The left
1. After they were expelled in 1927, Kamenev and
Zinoviev criticised their past actions and were allowed
to re-join the party in 1928.
2. Trotsky refused to do this and was exiled. He moved
around until, in 1940, he was murdered in Mexico on
Stalin’s orders
28
Outcome of the power struggle - The right
Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky were initially allowed to
stay in the Party after admitting their mistakes
29
Outcome of the power struggle - Show trials
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
Jan
1924
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
May
1924
1. Zinoviev & Kamenev urged that Lenin’s
testament is not read out. Trotsky kept quiet
2. Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin form the
Triumvirate against Trotsky.
3. Trotsky accused the party of becoming less
democratic but is outvoted.
32
June
-Dec
1924
1. Zinoviev and Kamenev question Trotsky’s
loyalty; Trotsky retaliates with the Lessons
of October.
2. Stalin stayed in the background, appearing
to be the moderate. He brought more of his
followers into the party.
33
Over
1925
Stalin’s policy of socialism in one country proved
popular with many, including the Rights.
A Duumvirate formed between Stalin and
Bukharin.
34
Dec
1924
1. Kamenev and Zinoviev attack Stalin calling
for a vote of no confidence but Stalin’s
supporters protected him.
2. Kamenev and Zinoviev joined with Trotsky,
and were accused of factionalism when
trying to appeal to the masses.
35
By
1927
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky lost their positions
in the party
36
1928
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky lost their positions
in the party
37
1929
Bukharin, Tomsky and Rykov were removed from
positions
38
What was the great turn?
1. A radical change in economic policy that
rejected the NEP
2. It committed to rapid industrialisation under
state control and the collectivisation of
agriculture
3. 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
Why did
Stalin
introduce
the Great
Turn?
1. He knew that a country that was not
industrialised was a weak country.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. He believed that socialism could only be
created in a highly industrialised state where
the majority of the population were workers.
5. To prove he was the successor and equal of
Lenin.
6. To catch up with the West, not just in military
terms, but also in the standard of living that
people enjoyed
40
The First Five Year Plan - central planning
1. Gosplan would set targets for different industrial
sectors
2. A command economy would bring a centralised
approach to managing the economy
41
The First Five Year Plan - Rapid industrial growth
1. Overall industrial production was planned to increase
by 300% between 1928 and 1932
2. Heavy industry (coal, iron, steel, oil & machinery) was
prioritised
3. Light industry (house hold products & chemicals),
although a lower priority were still expected to
increase production by 100%
42
The First Five Year Plan - Investment in infrastructure
1. The plan called for huge increase in the supply of
electrical power in order to transform the economy
and society.
2. There was significant investment In infrastructure,
especially rail
43
The First Five Year Plan - New industrial centres
1. Thousands of new industrial centres were planned
2. E.g. Magnitogorsk was build into a settlement of
175,000 with steel production at its heart
44
The First Five Year Plan - Propaganda & discipline
1. Propaganda was the driving force behind the plan
2. Boards outside the factories showed worker output
levels and targets
3. Threat of punishment motivated workers and
managers to meet the targets
45
The First Five Year Plan - Foreign Experts
1. Industrial experts were brought in to build the new
complexes and train workers
46
How did the party react to industrialisation?
Many party members were pleased to see a commitment to radical social change
47
How did the people react to the Five Year Plan?
1. Propaganda had a huge effect – urban workers hoped for better employment and living standards
2. Many poor and ‘middle’ peasants were led to hope they would benefit from further land reform and modern methods
3. Some worried that higher wages of skilled workers would create class differences
4. Many of those managing industrial production were already critical of the adverse impact of central planning
48
How did Stalin use collectivisation?
1. Bukharin was an opponent of Stalin’s hard methods In the Urals and Siberia and of accelerated collectivisation
2. However in 1928, the drive for accelerated collectivisation became more popular in the party
3. This led to Bukharin’s political position weakening and in April 1928 he was outvoted on agricultural policy in the
Politburo
4. In November 1928, Stalin attacked Bukharin directly, accusing him of not being Marxist enough.
5. In November 1929 Bukharin was removed from the party
49
Why did collectivisation happen?
1. 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
2. Private farming was not socialist. It
created petty-bourgeois attitudes that
were selfish and capitalistic
3. An important trigger for the acceleration
of collectivisation was the grain
procurement crisis of 1927-28
4. 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
5. 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
What were the features of collectivisation?
1. 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.
2. The target for collectivisation under the
first five year plan was 15% of the USSRs
farms.
3. 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
Bureaucratic
centralism
1. Under Stalin, the government was
centrally controlled.
2. The Party leadership controlled the
appointment of all key bureaucratic
positions, even at local levels
52
Divide and
Rule
1. If a party member grew too powerful
Stalin encouraged their rivals to bring
them down.
2. In this way, no one was ever powerful
enough to challenge him
53
Continuing
Lenin’s
Legacy
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
Fear
1. The role of the OGPU became more
universal under Stalin
2. Fear ran through the imposition of all
Stalin’s policies, e.g. collectivisation
55
Loyal
supporters
1. As General Secretary, Stalin influenced
the appointment of Party officials .
2. The Politburo, filled with Stalin’s
supporters, made decisions that the
Central Committee approved without
question
56
Why was propaganda important?
. Stalin relied heavily on propaganda to
launch campaigns and boost enthusiasm
for his grand plans – e.g. the Five Year
Plans
57
What were the features of his propaganda?
1. Stalin’s image was developed as the ‘Great
Helmsman’, steering the country through
all the dangers
2. Stalin used propaganda to position himself
as the ‘Lenin of today’
3. Stalin boosted the cult of Lenin to add to
his own status – if Lenin was a god, then
his heir would be too
58
What were Stalin's foreign policy aims?
1. Stalin’s main aim in foreign affairs was to
keep the USSR safe while concentration on
building socialism in one country
2. Complete isolation was not possible – there
was instability in China, opportunities in
Germany
59
What was the role of foreign ministers?
1. The USSR’s main representative were
Chicherin and Litvinov – they were both seen
as moderates
2. They helped to reassure foreign powers
about doing business with the USSR
60
What was Stalin’s early attitude?
1. Before 1929, the Comintern was low priority
for Stalin as he was focused on socialism in
one country and the power struggle
2. The Comintern was associated with Trotsky)
61
How did this attitude change?
1. After 1929, Stalin declared a new phase for
the Comintern – an all out attack on anticommunist, social democratic parties in
Europe (‘social fascism’)
2. This change in policy may have been a way to
attack Bukharin, or due to his fear of foreign
powers challenging the USSR
62
What did Stalin want the Comintern to do?
1. Ensure all foreign communist parties purged
themselves of weak elements
2. Impose strict party discipline on foreign
communist parties
3. Ensure all communist party followed the USSR
party line
4. Soviet control over the Comintern became
stronger as Stalin appointed ‘yes men’ to lead
it.
63
What was the situation in China?
1. In 1911, the Chinese Revolution had overthrown
the emperor and after the death of the President
in 1925, there was political instability in China
2. The two rival groups were the CCP and the GMD
64
What influenced Stalin’s stance in China?
1. Stalin’s policy towards China was strongly linked
to the power struggle in the USSR
2. Trotsky supported the CCP who wanted to lead a
proletarian revolution in China – this matched
his policy of Permanent Revolution
3. 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
What did Stalin do?
1. Stalin backed a bourgeois revolution led by the
stronger GMD – he urged the CCP to temporarily
join the GMD
2. This alliance failed – the GMD turned on the CCP
and over 1926-1927 the GMD violently
suppressed and massacred the CCP.
3. While the Party Congress of 1927 criticized
Stalin, Trotsky’s accusations of betraying
communism didn’t stick
66
What was the situation in Germany?
. 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
How did the relationship
develop between Germany and Russia?
1. In 1926 the Treaty of Berlin was signed - it built further good relations between the two countries
2. It promised neutrality if either country was attacked
3. It also promised that neither country would get involved in economic boycotts against the other
68
What was the
impact of Germany and Russia's relationship?
1. The USSR benefitted by receiving large financial credits from German banks in June 1926
2. In 1929, with the death of Stresemann, the world economic crisis and the rise of Hitler led to straining relations with Germany
