Stalin’s Rise to Power

Question 1

Step 1

Answer 1

• Tricked Trotsky into missing Lenin’s funeral
• People think he can’t be bothered to show up

Question 2

Step 2

Answer 2

Leading communists decided not to publish Lenin’s testament as it contained criticisms of them as well as Stalin

Question 3

Step 3

Answer 3

• 1924 Party Congress: Zinoviev and Kamenev join with Stalin to defeat Trotsky (‘Triumvirate’)
• Attempted to show him as against Leninism
• Stalin packs party congress with his supporters
• Trotsky lost vote then soon his job

Question 4

Step 4

Answer 4

• 1926 Stalin turns on Zinoviev and Kamenev, joining forces with Bukharin (right wing)
• Stalin supporters pack the congress
• Kamenev and Zinoviev lose jobs in Politburo

Question 5

Step 5

Answer 5

1927 Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev (United Opposition) expelled from the party

Question 6

Step 6

Answer 6

• Turned on Bukharin and right wing, had them removed from office
• Attacked NEP
• By 1929 Stalin was the undisputed leader of the USSR