Stalin's Rise to Power and Dictatorship (1924-1939) Flashcards
What impaired Lenin’s ability to work after 1922?
A series of strokes.
When did Lenin suffer a series of strokes which impaired his ability to work?
From 1922 onwards
What happen to Lenin in 1922 which affected his ability to work?
A series a strokes.
At which stage in Lenin’s life/career did the Politburo agree to act as a collective leadership?
During his illness and after his death.
What caused the Politburo to act as a collective leadership?
Lenin’s illness (strokes) and death.
When did the Politburo act as a collective leadership over Russia?
During’s Lenin’s sickness and after his death in 1924.
How early did a succession struggle begin?
As early as 1923.
Who formed a triumvirate against Trotsky in 1923?
Stalin, Zinoviev and Kamenev
Who were Stalin, Zinoviev and Kamenev politically positioned against?
Trotsky
Who were the 5 Politburo members who had a reasonable chance of succession?
Trotsky, Stalin, Bukharin, Kamenev, Zinoviev
Who were the two MINOR contenders involved in succeeding Lenin?
Rykov and Tomsky
What 3 things did the contenders believe proved their right to succession?
(1) Their revolutionary record, (2) their relationship with Lenin and (3) appeal within the party.
Who was the obvious candidate for Lenin’s successor?
Trotsky.
Was Stalin the obvious choice for Lenin’s successor?
No.
What were Trotsky’s positive attributes?
An outstanding writer and orator, a war hero, worked closely with Lenin on many policies.
What were Trotsky’s negative attributes?
Arrogant, a Jew, a Menshevik until July 1917 and refused to fight for leadership.
What were Zinoviev’s positive attributes?
A Bolshevik since 1905 and was close to Lenin.
What were Zinoviev’s negative attributes?
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.
What were Kamenev’s positive attributes?
Collaborator of Lenin since 1905. An intellectual who could debate Lenin. Well liked in Politburo and in the Party. Had power base in Moscow.
What were Kamenev’s negative attributes?
Opposed April Thesis and agreed with Zinoviev during Oct ‘17. Given an unwanted position as Party Secretary of Moscow. Lacked strong will.
What were Bukharin’s positive attributes?
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/
What were Bukharin’s negative attributes?
Lacked political cunning. Perhaps too inexperienced. Debated Lenin on Brest-Litovsk Treaty.
What were Rykov’s positive attributes?
High position as Chairman of Sovnarkom.
What were Rykov’s negative attributes?
Not popular.
What were Tomsky’s positive attributes?
Had power base as important figure in the trade union movement.
What did Lenin’s final testament clearly state for successor leadership?
The Soviet Union to be run by a collective leadership.
Was there ever a collective leadership as Lenin wished?
Yes, for a short time. Divisions in Politburo caused alliances to form.
What three main issues divided the Politburo?
(1) Nature of leadership, (2) NEP and Industrialisation and (3) Perm. Revol. VS Socialism
Who stood to the LEFT of the three main issues which divided the Politburo?
Trotsky, Kamenev and ZInoviev
Who stood to the RIGHT of the three main issues which divided the Politburo?
Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky
Between which years were Party congresses held to debate the issues which divided the Politburo (Post-Lenin)?
1924-1929
What did the Party debate between 1924-1929?
(1) Nature of leadership
(2) NEP and industrialisation
(3) Perm. Rev VS Socialism
Who won more votes after speeches in congress? Why?
Stalin, due to his large power base.
At which stage was Stalin’s position at its weakest?
The days after Lenin’s death.
What did Lenin’s testament openly criticise Stalin for?
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’.
Why did Lenin call Stalin ‘too rude’ in an edit of his last testament?
Due to Stalin’s disrespectful call to Lenin’s wife.
What happened to the edit of Lenin’s testament in which he criticises Stalin?
Stalin did not read it to the party.
Who supported Stalin’s disobedience to Lenin’s last wishes? Why?
Kamenev and Zinoviev who Lenin criticised for Oct Rev. opposition
What did Stalin do as orator of Lenin’s funeral?
He exploited the funeral for his own benefit and announced himself successor whilst Trotsky was absent.
Why was Trotsky absent from Lenin’s funeral?
Trotsky was either recovering from sickness and purposefully given the wrong date by Stalin or he made no effort to arrive.
What were Stalin’s positive attributes?
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
What were Stalin’s negative attributes?
A mundane and mediocre reputation of disobedience. Extremely paranoid and trusted no-one.
What mundane jobs did Stalin take on?
(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
What did Stalin do as Head of Rabkrin?
Oversaw all government departments.
When did Stalin become General Secretary (Central Committee)?
1922
Which government position allowed Stalin to rise to power?
His time as General Secretary for the Central Committee from 1922.
Who was the only Orgburo member on the Politburo?
Stalin
As the only member of both the Orgburo and Politburo, what could Stalin do?
Promote friends and dismiss opponents.
What was the Lenin enrolment?
Between ‘23 and ‘25, the party increased number of proletarian members.
How many provincial officials were appointed during 1922?
10,000, most of which were recommended by Stalin himself.
Who was responsible for vetting new members of the party by 1922?
The Secretariat, working directly under Stalin.
What did Stalin do as General Secretary of the Central Committee?
Built personal files on all members of the party. Recorded party policy.
What did the triumvirate do to Trotsky?
Began a smear campaign on the basis of his Jewishness and arrogance, a leader who cared more about Europe than Russia.
When did the Stalin-Trotsky rivalry begin?
During the Russian civil war (1912-‘23) when Stalin disobeyed Trotsky. Trotsky lacked a genuine following and failed to build a power base.
What did Stalin do at the 1925 Party Congress?
Turned against Zinoviev and Kamenev by supporting the Right policy of continuing the NEP. Won the support of Bukharin and the Right.
How was Stalin able to accuse Zinoviev and Kamenev of factionalism?
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.
Who was removed from their positions and expelled from the party in 1927?
Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev
When were Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev expelled from the party?
1927
After jumping to the Right, when did Stalin turn against them and the NEP?
1928
What did Stalin do to the Right in 1928?
Turned against them and advocated for the end of NEP and rapid industrialisation.
Who tried to defend the NEP in a 1929 conference?
Bukharin, who was later outvoted.
What did Bukharin try to do at a 1929 conference?
Defend the NEP, but was outvoted.
How did Stalin emerge as an undisputed leader by 1929?
Turned against and defeated both the Left and the Right and so there was no opposition left.
When was the first national party purge?
1921
What were Party purges?
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.
Who said, “We have internal enemies. We have external enemies. We cannot forget this for a moment”?
Stalin
When did the Ryutin affair take place?
1932
What did former Bolshevik, Ryutin do to cause the Ryutin affair?
Openly criticised Stalin. Him and his supporters were expelled from the party.
Between 1933-34, how many members were expelled for being ‘Ryunites’?
Almost 1 million (1/3 of the party).
Which bodies did Stalin centralise into the NKVD during 1934?
(1) Civilian Police
(2) Secret Police
(3) Labour Camp Commandants/Guards
(4) Border/Security Guards
What was the NKVD?
People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs
When was the NKVD formed?
10 July 1934
Who did the NKVD answer directly to?
Stalin himself.
Who dealt with ‘serious’ crimes within the NKVD? What did they handle?
A special military court. Any ‘anti-revolutionary activity’.
What happened at the 17th Party Congress, Jan 1934?
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.
Why did Stalin’s position seem less secure at the beginning of 1934.
He was outvoted by Kirov on industr. matters.
What happened to Kirov in late 1934.
He was murdered and used as an example for later purges.
Which three major party members were arrested on weak claims?
Bukharin, Zinoviev and Kamenev
What did Bukharin, Zinoviev and Kamenev confess to during their show trials?
(1) Spying for foreign powers
(2) Being counter-revolutionaries
(3) Being complicit in Kirov’s murder
(4) Plotting Stalin’s murder
Who was the only remaining original 1919 politburo member by 1934?
Stalin. All others had been purged.
What period do the ‘Post-Kirov’ purges take place?
1934-1936
When did ‘The Great Purge’ take place?
1936-1939
By which year did Stalin achieve absolute power over the party?
1936
What was ‘The Great Purge’?
A period between ‘36-‘39 when Stalin targeted the party, armed forces and general population. He inflicted mass terror.
What was the damage caused by a mass purge on the army, inflicted by Stalin?
11 war Commissars and 3 of 5 Marshals removed. 75 of 80 in the Supreme Military Council shot.
35,000 officers imprisoned/shot.
By the mid 1930s, how many people had been arrested in these purges.
1 in every 8
