Stalin’s Rise to Power

Question 1

1 How had
Lenin caused
a power
vacuum?

Answer 1

1. Decisions were supposedly made
   collectively but in practice Lenin had
   dominated
2. His leadership was based on his
   personality and his authority.
3. Instead of encouraging democracy, he
   introduced the ban on factions in 1921
4. He had had created a huge
   bureaucracy carrying out orders from
   superiors.

Question 2

How had a
power
struggle
started
before
Lenin’s
death?

Answer 2

1. Lenin had become unwell towards the
   end of 1921, and in May 1922 he had
   the first of a series of strokes
2. By mid-1923 it was obvious that Lenin
   would never return to government.
3. When Lenin died, there was no
   obvious successor.
4. A collective leadership was therefore
   established to govern Russia.

Question 3

What
happened
when Lenin
died?

Answer 3

1. Lenin’s coffin was displayed in Red
   Square and crowds of people queued
   to pay their respects.
2. The Politburo preserved his body in a
   mausoleum in Red Square

Question 4

How did a
cult of
personality
form?

Answer 4

1. Petrograd was renamed Leningrad,
2. Lenin’s statue was built in every
   Russian city
3. Children were named after the
   Communist leader.

Question 5

What should
have
happened
with
leadership?

Answer 5

1. Marxism suggested that power should
   be shared in a collective leadership
2. The Politburo had emerged as the
   most powerful part of the
   Government.
3. Therefore, gaining a majority on the
   Politburo was the key to power
4. From 1922 to 1929, a relentless
   struggle for supremacy was waged by
   Politburo leaders

Question 6

What was Lenin’s testament?

Answer 6

1. Lenin’s Testament was written a year before his death in 1924.
2. The notes were addressed to the Central Committee and were
   highly critical of the main contenders for power

Question 7

What did Lenin’s testament say?

Answer 7

1. Accused Trotsky of arrogance and being too willing to use
   violence
2. Accused Stalin of impatience and rudeness
3. That Zinoviev and Kamenev had been disloyal to the party
   immediately before the October Revolution
4. That Bukharin did not fully understand Lenin’s ideology.

Question 8

What happened
to the
testament?

Answer 8

1. Lenin’s widow Krupskaya handed the testament to the
   Politburo
2. It was supposed to be published in the Party Congress in May
   1924.
3. Key members of the Central Committee declined to read it
   out.

Question 9

Trotsky

Answer 9

1. Recognised as a hero from the October
   Revolution and Civil War
2. Inspirational speaker and intellectual
3. Known for his political skills and organisational
   ability
4. Known to be arrogant and dismissive of those
   who were not as intellectual as him
5. He failed to build a power base of followers

Question 10

Zinoviev

Answer 10

1. Lenin had once called him his ‘closest and most
   trusted assistant’
2. Strong power base in Leningrad
3. One of the best speechmakers with a
   commanding presence
4. Had opposed Lenin in organising the October
   Revolution
5. Vain and prone to mood swings also
   underestimated Stalin

Question 11

Kamenev

Answer 11

1. Had helped form Party policy and was close to
   Lenin
2. Had a strong power base in Moscow
3. Effective at reaching compromises between
   people.
4. Opposed to Lenin’s April Theses in 1917 and his
   desire to work for a revolution in October 1917.
5. Seen as lacking ambition on his own
6. Underestimated his opponents

Question 12

Bukharin

Answer 12

1. Popular in the party, close to Lenin and Trotsky
2. Widely regarded as the best theoretician in the Party
3. An expert on economics and agriculture
4. He had no party base and wanted to avoid fighting
5. His popularity made him a target
6. Underestimated Stalin

Question 13

Tomsky

Answer 13

1. Had a long history of fighting for the Bolsheviks,
   which meant he was widely respected
2. Strong base of support from being General Secretary
   of trade unions
3. Hatred of Trotsky blinded him to the threat of Stalin
4. His power base in the trade unions made him a clear
   target for Stalin

Question 14

Rykov

Answer 14

1. Had a long history of fighting for the Bolsheviks,
   which meant he was widely respected
2. Good administrator – he had helped implement war
   communism and the NEP
3. Supported by the Sovnarkom
4. His policy of heavy taxation on vodka was very
   unpopular
5. Opposed Lenin over the timing of the revolution
6. Lacked a power base, too moderate

Question 15

Stalin

Answer 15

1. 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.
2. His role as General Secretary meant he could
   appoint supporters to key roles in the party.
3. He had fallen out of favour with Lenin prior to
   his death.
4. Colleagues saw him as ill-educated, rude and
   crude. Lenin had criticised him in the
   Testament

Question 16

How was Stalin
in a good
position?

Answer 16

1. Stalin held key positions within the
   Communist Party.
2. In 1919, Stalin was made head of the Orgburo
3. In 1922 he became Secretary-General, which
   put him in charge of the party organisation.
4. These positions gave Stalin the opportunity
   to appoint lower and middle ranks of the
   party and gave him significant powers of
   patronage

Question 17

How did Stalin
consolidate his
position?

Answer 17

1. In 1924, Stalin initiated the Lenin Enrolment.
2. From May 1924, this enrolment drive allowed
   128,000 people to join the Communist Party.
3. Stalin justified this by arguing that the party
   needed new working-class members.
4. Because they were interested in getting well
   paid party jobs they tended to support Stalin,
   who was able to promote them within the
   party.

Question 18

Why
was the NEP
an
issue?

Answer 18

1. The NEP was criticised for not conforming to
   communist principles
2. 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.
3. By 1925, NEP was causing industrial and agricultural
   concerns as workers’ standards of living declined and
   peasants were hoarding grain rather than selling it.
4. Also Marxism taught that only an industrialised
   economy could make a socialist society work.

Question 19

What
did the
Left
want?

Answer 19

To abandon the NEP in favour of state controlled,
rapid industrialisation funded by ‘squeezing the
peasants’

Question 20

What
did the
Right
want?

Answer 20

1. To continue with the NEP with the peasants
   becoming richer.
2. The state would then use the taxes to fund gradual
   industrialisation

Question 21

What
did
Stalin
want?

Answer 21

1. Inconsistent attitude.
2. Initially opposed the Left when trying to defeat them,
   but turned on the NEP once the Left had been
   eliminated.

Question 22

Why
was - ‘Permanent revolution’ or ‘Socialism in
One Country’
an
issue?

Answer 22

1. All theories of Marxism-Leninism had assumed it was
   impossible for revolution to survive in a single country
   against all the capitalist countries
2. But Marxist theory was contradicted by real-world
   events
3. Revolutions in Germany and Hungary were crushed
4. Defeat in the Russo-Polish War blocked the Revolution
   from extending West
5. The USSR were the only communist country

Question 23

What
did the
Left
believe about ‘Permanent revolution’ or ‘Socialism in
One Country’?

Answer 23

1. All theories of Marxism-Leninism had assumed it was
   impossible for revolution to survive in a single country
   against all the capitalist countries
2. But Marxist theory was contradicted by real-world
   events
3. Revolutions in Germany and Hungary were crushed
4. Defeat in the Russo-Polish War blocked the Revolution
   from extending West
5. The USSR were the only communist country

Question 24

What
did the
Right
believe about ‘Permanent revolution’ or ‘Socialism in
One Country’?

Answer 24

1. Believed in the theory of Socialism in One Country.
2. Thought a world revolution was unlikely
3. Aimed to strengthen the USSR as a workers’ state could
   be created to rival the capitalist powers.

Question 25

What
did
Stalin
believe?

Answer 25

1. Supported Socialism in One Country in 1924.
2. It appealed to Russian patriotism, portraying Trotsky’s
   ideas as out of touch

Question 26

Outcome of the power struggle - Stalin

Answer 26

By December 1929, Stalin secure as leader of the Soviet
Union due to his strong base of supporters and political
manoeuvring

Question 27

Outcome of the power struggle - The left

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Outcome of the power struggle - The right

Answer 28

Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky were initially allowed to
stay in the Party after admitting their mistakes

Question 29

Outcome of the power struggle - Show trials

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Jan
1924

Answer 30

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

Question 31

May
1924

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

June
-Dec
1924

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

Over
1925

Answer 33

Stalin’s policy of socialism in one country proved
popular with many, including the Rights.
A Duumvirate formed between Stalin and
Bukharin.

Question 34

Dec
1924

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

By
1927

Answer 35

Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky lost their positions
in the party

Question 36

1928

Answer 36

Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky lost their positions
in the party

Question 37

1929

Answer 37

Bukharin, Tomsky and Rykov were removed from
positions

Question 38

What was the great turn?

Answer 38

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

Question 39

Why did
Stalin
introduce
the Great
Turn?

Answer 39

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

Question 40

The First Five Year Plan - central planning

Answer 40

1. Gosplan would set targets for different industrial
   sectors
2. A command economy would bring a centralised
   approach to managing the economy

Question 41

The First Five Year Plan - Rapid industrial growth

Answer 41

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%

Question 42

The First Five Year Plan - Investment in infrastructure

Answer 42

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

Question 43

The First Five Year Plan - New industrial centres

Answer 43

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

Question 44

The First Five Year Plan - Propaganda & discipline

Answer 44

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

Question 45

The First Five Year Plan - Foreign Experts

Answer 45

1. Industrial experts were brought in to build the new
   complexes and train workers

Question 46

How did the party react to industrialisation?

Answer 46

Many party members were pleased to see a commitment to radical social change

Question 47

How did the people react to the Five Year Plan?

Answer 47

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

Question 48

How did Stalin use collectivisation?

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Why did collectivisation happen?

Answer 49

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

Question 50

What were the features of collectivisation?

Answer 50

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.

Question 51

Bureaucratic
centralism

Answer 51

1. Under Stalin, the government was
   centrally controlled.
2. The Party leadership controlled the
   appointment of all key bureaucratic
   positions, even at local levels

Question 52

Divide and
Rule

Answer 52

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

Question 53

Continuing
Lenin’s
Legacy

Answer 53

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

Question 54

Fear

Answer 54

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

Question 55

Loyal
supporters

Answer 55

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

Question 56

Why was propaganda important?

Answer 56

. Stalin relied heavily on propaganda to
launch campaigns and boost enthusiasm
for his grand plans – e.g. the Five Year
Plans

Question 57

What were the features of his propaganda?

Answer 57

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

Question 58

What were Stalin’s foreign policy aims?

Answer 58

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

Question 59

What was the role of foreign ministers?

Answer 59

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

Question 60

What was Stalin’s early attitude?

Answer 60

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)

Question 61

How did this attitude change?

Answer 61

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

Question 62

What did Stalin want the Comintern to do?

Answer 62

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.

Question 63

What was the situation in China?

Answer 63

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

Question 64

What influenced Stalin’s stance in China?

Answer 64

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

Question 65

What did Stalin do?

Answer 65

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

Question 66

What was the situation in Germany?

Answer 66

. 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

Question 67

How did the relationship
develop between Germany and Russia?

Answer 67

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

Question 68

What was the
impact of Germany and Russia’s relationship?

Answer 68

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