STRUGGLES FOR POWER

Question 1

STALIN (weak/strength)

Answer 1

• believed in “socialism in one country”, that USSR would become socialist state on its own
• power to appoint supported to key party jobs
• no extreme views, always respectful to rivals. Kept opinions private
• Lenins testament criticised his rudeness and lust for power
• seen as boring,unlike many rivals

Question 2

TROTSKY

Answer 2

• believed in permanent revolution - communism spread to all countries
• brilliant speaker
• lenis close comrade
  -organisation/leadership key to revolution/civil war
  -arrogant and bossy
• lack of supports outside military

Question 3

ZINOVIEV & KAMINEV

Answer 3

worked closely together
- Zinoviev part boss in Petrograd, Kamenev in Moscow
-worked closely with Stalin to run the party
- only two senior Bolsheviks to oppose Lenin’s plan to seize power

Question 4

BUKHARIN

Answer 4

• very popular within party
• excellent writer (editor of Pravda)
• argued strongly against Treaty of Brest Litovsk, later used against him
• main supporter of NEP, many bols viewed as capitalist

Question 5

WHY STALIN EMERGED

Answer 5

• made sure he took the lead role at Lenin’s funeral, Trotsky too ill to attend
• worked with Kamenev & Zinoviev to undermine Trotsky. Stalin criticised them for trying to split up the party
• Stalin switched to arguing for rapid industrialisation, and collectivisation of agriculture.