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History Summer Exam - Russian Revolution 1914-1941 > Stalin's Rise to Power and Dictatorship (1924-1939) > Flashcards

Stalin's Rise to Power and Dictatorship (1924-1939) Flashcards

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1
Q

What impaired Lenin’s ability to work after 1922?

A

A series of strokes.

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2
Q

When did Lenin suffer a series of strokes which impaired his ability to work?

A

From 1922 onwards

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3
Q

What happen to Lenin in 1922 which affected his ability to work?

A

A series a strokes.

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4
Q

At which stage in Lenin’s life/career did the Politburo agree to act as a collective leadership?

A

During his illness and after his death.

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5
Q

What caused the Politburo to act as a collective leadership?

A

Lenin’s illness (strokes) and death.

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6
Q

When did the Politburo act as a collective leadership over Russia?

A

During’s Lenin’s sickness and after his death in 1924.

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7
Q

How early did a succession struggle begin?

A

As early as 1923.

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8
Q

Who formed a triumvirate against Trotsky in 1923?

A

Stalin, Zinoviev and Kamenev

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9
Q

Who were Stalin, Zinoviev and Kamenev politically positioned against?

A

Trotsky

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10
Q

Who were the 5 Politburo members who had a reasonable chance of succession?

A

Trotsky, Stalin, Bukharin, Kamenev, Zinoviev

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11
Q

Who were the two MINOR contenders involved in succeeding Lenin?

A

Rykov and Tomsky

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12
Q

What 3 things did the contenders believe proved their right to succession?

A

(1) Their revolutionary record, (2) their relationship with Lenin and (3) appeal within the party.

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13
Q

Who was the obvious candidate for Lenin’s successor?

A

Trotsky.

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14
Q

Was Stalin the obvious choice for Lenin’s successor?

A

No.

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15
Q

What were Trotsky’s positive attributes?

A

An outstanding writer and orator, a war hero, worked closely with Lenin on many policies.

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16
Q

What were Trotsky’s negative attributes?

A

Arrogant, a Jew, a Menshevik until July 1917 and refused to fight for leadership.

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17
Q

What were Zinoviev’s positive attributes?

A

A Bolshevik since 1905 and was close to Lenin.

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18
Q

What were Zinoviev’s negative attributes?

A

Criticised Lenin during the October Revolution and favoured socialist coalition. Given an unwanted position as Party Head in Leningrad. Lacked intellectual credentials and disliked by many.

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19
Q

What were Kamenev’s positive attributes?

A

Collaborator of Lenin since 1905. An intellectual who could debate Lenin. Well liked in Politburo and in the Party. Had power base in Moscow.

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20
Q

What were Kamenev’s negative attributes?

A

Opposed April Thesis and agreed with Zinoviev during Oct ‘17. Given an unwanted position as Party Secretary of Moscow. Lacked strong will.

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21
Q

What were Bukharin’s positive attributes?

A

Great theorist and policy-maker. Thought beyond Marxism. A favourite of Lenin who saw him as the party’s favourite. Very popular. Could debate Lenin/

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22
Q

What were Bukharin’s negative attributes?

A

Lacked political cunning. Perhaps too inexperienced. Debated Lenin on Brest-Litovsk Treaty.

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23
Q

What were Rykov’s positive attributes?

A

High position as Chairman of Sovnarkom.

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24
Q

What were Rykov’s negative attributes?

A

Not popular.

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25
Q

What were Tomsky’s positive attributes?

A

Had power base as important figure in the trade union movement.

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26
Q

What did Lenin’s final testament clearly state for successor leadership?

A

The Soviet Union to be run by a collective leadership.

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27
Q

Was there ever a collective leadership as Lenin wished?

A

Yes, for a short time. Divisions in Politburo caused alliances to form.

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28
Q

What three main issues divided the Politburo?

A

(1) Nature of leadership, (2) NEP and Industrialisation and (3) Perm. Revol. VS Socialism

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29
Q

Who stood to the LEFT of the three main issues which divided the Politburo?

A

Trotsky, Kamenev and ZInoviev

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30
Q

Who stood to the RIGHT of the three main issues which divided the Politburo?

A

Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky

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31
Q

Between which years were Party congresses held to debate the issues which divided the Politburo (Post-Lenin)?

A

1924-1929

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32
Q

What did the Party debate between 1924-1929?

A

(1) Nature of leadership
(2) NEP and industrialisation
(3) Perm. Rev VS Socialism

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33
Q

Who won more votes after speeches in congress? Why?

A

Stalin, due to his large power base.

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34
Q

At which stage was Stalin’s position at its weakest?

A

The days after Lenin’s death.

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35
Q

What did Lenin’s testament openly criticise Stalin for?

A

For being ‘too rude’: an edit he made to his testament after Stalin’s disrespectful call to Lenin’s wife. For him to be removed from his post as General Secretary as he was ‘too powerful’.

36
Q

Why did Lenin call Stalin ‘too rude’ in an edit of his last testament?

A

Due to Stalin’s disrespectful call to Lenin’s wife.

37
Q

What happened to the edit of Lenin’s testament in which he criticises Stalin?

A

Stalin did not read it to the party.

38
Q

Who supported Stalin’s disobedience to Lenin’s last wishes? Why?

A

Kamenev and Zinoviev who Lenin criticised for Oct Rev. opposition

39
Q

What did Stalin do as orator of Lenin’s funeral?

A

He exploited the funeral for his own benefit and announced himself successor whilst Trotsky was absent.

40
Q

Why was Trotsky absent from Lenin’s funeral?

A

Trotsky was either recovering from sickness and purposefully given the wrong date by Stalin or he made no effort to arrive.

41
Q

What were Stalin’s positive attributes?

A

Bolshevik since 1912, member of the original Central Committee. Took on jobs no one wanted - gained power, modest and was relied on by Lenin in his later years

42
Q

What were Stalin’s negative attributes?

A

A mundane and mediocre reputation of disobedience. Extremely paranoid and trusted no-one.

43
Q

What mundane jobs did Stalin take on?

A

(1) Commissar for Nationalities
(2) Liaison Officer of Politburo/Orgburo
(3) Head of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspectorate (Rabkrin)
(4) General Secretary of the Central Committee

44
Q

What did Stalin do as Head of Rabkrin?

A

Oversaw all government departments.

45
Q

When did Stalin become General Secretary (Central Committee)?

A

1922

46
Q

Which government position allowed Stalin to rise to power?

A

His time as General Secretary for the Central Committee from 1922.

47
Q

Who was the only Orgburo member on the Politburo?

A

Stalin

48
Q

As the only member of both the Orgburo and Politburo, what could Stalin do?

A

Promote friends and dismiss opponents.

49
Q

What was the Lenin enrolment?

A

Between ‘23 and ‘25, the party increased number of proletarian members.

50
Q

How many provincial officials were appointed during 1922?

A

10,000, most of which were recommended by Stalin himself.

51
Q

Who was responsible for vetting new members of the party by 1922?

A

The Secretariat, working directly under Stalin.

52
Q

What did Stalin do as General Secretary of the Central Committee?

A

Built personal files on all members of the party. Recorded party policy.

53
Q

What did the triumvirate do to Trotsky?

A

Began a smear campaign on the basis of his Jewishness and arrogance, a leader who cared more about Europe than Russia.

54
Q

When did the Stalin-Trotsky rivalry begin?

A

During the Russian civil war (1912-‘23) when Stalin disobeyed Trotsky. Trotsky lacked a genuine following and failed to build a power base.

55
Q

What did Stalin do at the 1925 Party Congress?

A

Turned against Zinoviev and Kamenev by supporting the Right policy of continuing the NEP. Won the support of Bukharin and the Right.

56
Q

How was Stalin able to accuse Zinoviev and Kamenev of factionalism?

A

In 1925, after Stalin turned against them, Kamenev and Zinoviev asked for Trotsky to promote their Left policies. Appeal to the workers to end NEP failed.

57
Q

Who was removed from their positions and expelled from the party in 1927?

A

Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev

58
Q

When were Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev expelled from the party?

A

1927

59
Q

After jumping to the Right, when did Stalin turn against them and the NEP?

A

1928

60
Q

What did Stalin do to the Right in 1928?

A

Turned against them and advocated for the end of NEP and rapid industrialisation.

61
Q

Who tried to defend the NEP in a 1929 conference?

A

Bukharin, who was later outvoted.

62
Q

What did Bukharin try to do at a 1929 conference?

A

Defend the NEP, but was outvoted.

63
Q

How did Stalin emerge as an undisputed leader by 1929?

A

Turned against and defeated both the Left and the Right and so there was no opposition left.

64
Q

When was the first national party purge?

A

1921

65
Q

What were Party purges?

A

A form of reviews of all party members. A judgement of loyalty, competence, background and connections. If unworthy, a member was expelled from the party.

66
Q

Who said, “We have internal enemies. We have external enemies. We cannot forget this for a moment”?

A

Stalin

67
Q

When did the Ryutin affair take place?

A

1932

68
Q

What did former Bolshevik, Ryutin do to cause the Ryutin affair?

A

Openly criticised Stalin. Him and his supporters were expelled from the party.

69
Q

Between 1933-34, how many members were expelled for being ‘Ryunites’?

A

Almost 1 million (1/3 of the party).

70
Q

Which bodies did Stalin centralise into the NKVD during 1934?

A

(1) Civilian Police
(2) Secret Police
(3) Labour Camp Commandants/Guards
(4) Border/Security Guards

71
Q

What was the NKVD?

A

People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs

72
Q

When was the NKVD formed?

A

10 July 1934

73
Q

Who did the NKVD answer directly to?

A

Stalin himself.

74
Q

Who dealt with ‘serious’ crimes within the NKVD? What did they handle?

A

A special military court. Any ‘anti-revolutionary activity’.

75
Q

What happened at the 17th Party Congress, Jan 1934?

A

A split occurred between leaders. Sergei Kirov wanted to slow down industrialisation and improve worker conditions. Stalin wanted to continue industr. Kirov secured more votes.

76
Q

Why did Stalin’s position seem less secure at the beginning of 1934.

A

He was outvoted by Kirov on industr. matters.

77
Q

What happened to Kirov in late 1934.

A

He was murdered and used as an example for later purges.

78
Q

Which three major party members were arrested on weak claims?

A

Bukharin, Zinoviev and Kamenev

79
Q

What did Bukharin, Zinoviev and Kamenev confess to during their show trials?

A

(1) Spying for foreign powers
(2) Being counter-revolutionaries
(3) Being complicit in Kirov’s murder
(4) Plotting Stalin’s murder

80
Q

Who was the only remaining original 1919 politburo member by 1934?

A

Stalin. All others had been purged.

81
Q

What period do the ‘Post-Kirov’ purges take place?

A

1934-1936

82
Q

When did ‘The Great Purge’ take place?

A

1936-1939

83
Q

By which year did Stalin achieve absolute power over the party?

A

1936

84
Q

What was ‘The Great Purge’?

A

A period between ‘36-‘39 when Stalin targeted the party, armed forces and general population. He inflicted mass terror.

85
Q

What was the damage caused by a mass purge on the army, inflicted by Stalin?

A

11 war Commissars and 3 of 5 Marshals removed. 75 of 80 in the Supreme Military Council shot.
35,000 officers imprisoned/shot.

86
Q

By the mid 1930s, how many people had been arrested in these purges.

A

1 in every 8

History Summer Exam - Russian Revolution 1914-1941 (9 decks)

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