The Bolshevik power struggle

Question 1

Give 5 strength for Trotsky at the beginning of the power struggle

Answer 1

1. Lenin’s ‘right-hand’ man
2. Had a national reputation
3. Had support of the Red Army
4. Had support of the workers
5. Lenin’s natural successor

Question 2

Which key mistakes were made by Trotsky, with regard to the Triumvirate

Answer 2

1. Failed to attend a Congress which he was asked to attend, after his bitter attack on the way the affairs of the party were being managed. In his absence the Triumvirate turned on Trotsky and accused him of factionalism.
2. A few months later Trotsky failed to attend Lenin’s funeral.

Question 3

What took place in May 1924 and what significance did it hold, with regard to Trotsky

Answer 3

In May 1924 the Thirteenth Party Congress was held and Zinoviev used it to renew the attack on Trotsky and called on him to refute his earlier claims.

Question 4

How did Trotsky attack Kamenev and Zinoviev, how did the pair respond

Answer 4

In November 1924 Trotsky published Lessons of October, which included blistering attacks on Kamenev and Zinoviev. They responded with a tyrant of abuse, which caused Trotsky to give up his positions as Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs, marking the end of his political influence as he had surrendered his only power base without a fight.

Question 5

When was Lenin’s last will and testament read out to the party

Answer 5

The 12th Party Congress in 1923, however it was not read out to the party as a whole. It was read out in a closed session to the Central Committee, where Stalin was defended by Kamenev and Zinoviev (Triumvirate in action)

Question 6

What form of government did Trotsky aim to create

Answer 6

Trotsky opposed the extension of a Beurocratic government, instead wanting a return to the ideals of the revolution: a broad based government, guided by the wishes of the proletariat.

Question 7

What form of government did Stalin aim to create

Answer 7

Stalin wanted a centralised beuracracy, as he was already General Secretary of the party. This would give him even greater influence/power due to his power base. (The larger the power base=the more votes and support)

Question 8

Was Trotsky or Stalin’s view more aligned with Lenin’s views on revolution

Answer 8

Stalin’s gov aligned more with Lenin’s, which would win him more support than Trotsky.

Question 9

What did Trotsky believe, in terms of revolution

Answer 9

Trotsky believed in worldwide revolution and suggested that other nations would follow the USSR in revolution across Europe. Believed this revolution was inevitable.

Question 10

Name the 3 controversial issues that caused divisions within the party

Answer 10

1. Permanent/ Worldwide Revolution (Trotsky) vs Socialism in one country (Stalin)
2. The role of the peasants and the drive towards rapid industriallisation. NEP
3. Beuracracy or the rule of the Proletariat

Question 11

What did Stalin believe, in terms of revolution

Answer 11

Stalin believed in firmly socialism in the soviet union (socialism in one country), as he believed that once its success was obvious other nations would follow suit.

Question 12

What did Stalin believe/do with regard to peasants and the idea of driving Russia toward rapid industrialisation (6 points)

Answer 12

1.Wanted to press ahead with a programme for rapid industrialisation of the soviet union
2.Argued Russia was surrounded by enemies, a Capitalist world beyond its frontiers. Needed to catch up with them and match their industrial and military might.
3.To achieve this peasants must provide sufficient food to feed the industrial workers in towns and cities.
4.Peasants still enjoyed the benefits of NEP and some, the Kulak class, had become prosperous- this displeased Stalin.
5.Poor grain harvest of 1924 increased food prices, further enriching the peasants.
6.Increased pressure on them to increase output and introduce higher taxes.
Stalin’s view differed from that of many other people.

Question 13

Who formed the United Opposition

Answer 13

Alliance between Zinoviev, Kamenev and Trotsky

Question 14

What was the United Opposition

Answer 14

An anti-Stalanist bloc aimed at oppodsing the policies of the right (in party). Alliance between Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev vs Stalin.

Question 15

When was the United Oppostion formed

Answer 15

Formed in July 1926

Question 16

Who offered support to/ backed the United Oppostion

Answer 16

Lenin’s widow, Krupskaya

Question 17

What was the outcome of the United Opposition

Answer 17

Kamenev and Zinoviev were removed from the Politburo, removing their power and voice in Communist government. They were now forced to take their case to people by adressing public meetings and groups of factory workers.

Question 18

What did other people believe/do with regard to peasants and the idea of driving Russia toward rapid industrialisation

Answer 18

There was a difference in opinion regarding the role of the peasantry and the speed withb which the country needed to industrialise.

Question 19

How was Stalin able to benefit from the Triumvirate

Answer 19

Able to maneuver Kamenev and Zinoviev to his own bebefit. Therefore removing their power and using them to enhance his own power.

Question 20

What happend at the Party Congress of October 1926

Answer 20

Stalin and Bukharin were criticised/ had scorn poured upon them by the United Opposition.

Question 21

What did the last speeches to the Congress of Trotsky and Kamenev and Zinoviev show

Answer 21

Trotsky’s last speech to the Congress was made in silence showing Trotsky still retained some authority and respect in the party. However, when Kamenev and Zinoviev spoke they were booed and jaunted, presenting the loss of respect for the pair, as they no longer had any authority .

Question 22

How did Stalin and his supporters act towards the United Opposition in the Party Congress of October 1926

Answer 22

Stalin and his supporters publicly humiliated their opponents in the Party Congress.

Question 23

How did Stalin and his supporters attack Kamenev in 1926 Party Congress

Answer 23

Kamenev was reminded of his faux pas (mistake/blunder) of 1917, when he sent a letter to congratulate Grand Duke Nicholas on his accession to the throne, after the abdication of Nicholas II. Also reminded of his opposition to the Bolshevik coup in the crucial months of 1917.

Question 24

How did Stalin and his supporters attack Trotsky in 1926 Party Congress

Answer 24

Recalled that Trotsky had once been a Menshevik and later switched sides to join the Bols (many members of party were already suspicious of Trotsky because of this) and that he had frequently disagreed with Lenin (but had also allied with him over foreign policy and restoring discipline to the Red Army) and was described by Lenin as being overly arrogant in his LWaT

Question 25

What position did Zinoviev lose in 1926 and who was given this position instead

Answer 25

Zinoviev lost his position as head of the Cominternnand was replaced by Bukharin.

Question 26

What was t’he document of the 83’ and who produced it

Answer 26

Produced by Trotsky

Attacked the policies of the parties leadership and was severely critical of their failures in foreign policy.

Question 27

How did Stalin retaliate to the document of the 83

Answer 27

Accused Trotsky of being a traitor.

Question 28

Which time frame was difficult for the United Opposition and why was this the case

Answer 28

Summer 1926 was difficult for the United Opposition as they had did not have access to the press and thus had to organise public meetings to put forward their case. However, everywhere they went they were pilloried and abused.

Question 29

When was the Fifthteenth Party Congress

Answer 29

December 1927

Question 30

What happend at the Fifteenth Party Congress

Answer 30

Dec 1527, matters came a head and Stalin came into his own and convinced the Congress of the need to expel Trotsky and Zinoviev from the party. At the same time Kamenev lost his seat in the Central Committee.

Question 31

How did Stalin deal with the United Opposition

Answer 31

Persuaded the Congress of the need to expel Trotsky and Zinoviev.
Kamenev’s seat on Central Committee was lost

Question 32

How did Stalin deal with Trotsky after 1527

Answer 32

Trotsky was first sent to Alma Ata in Kazakhstan close to the Chinese border. In 1929 he was finally deported to Turkey.

Question 33

Why was 1927 a difficult year

Answer 33

Harvest had been reasonable but peasants failed to produce the necessary surpless needed for industrialisation. In many cases they refused to hand over their grain and stockpiled it instead.

Question 34

What was the name of the Stalanist secret police and what organisation did it replace

Answer 34

The OGPU

Replaced the Cheka.

Question 35

How was the OGPU used in 1927 to make peasants give up their grain. What happened to the peasnats that resisted

Answer 35

The OGPU went on a campaign of terror, victimising peasants and requisitioning their grain stocks. Those who resisted were murdered.

Question 36

What did the Right Opposition believe with regard to Stalin’s treatment of the peasantry. How did Stalin react to this

Answer 36

They demanded that the peasants be better treated and that there was a slackening in what they regarded as an unnecessary stampede into industrialisation. The proposals weren’t unsound but Stalin would have none of it and declared that the peasants had to be dealt with once and for all.

Question 37

When and how had the Right Opposition previously helped Stalin and how did he feel about them

Answer 37

The Right Opposition had previously helped Stalin to overthrow the New Opposition, however he felt no loyalty or obligation towards them.

Question 38

How did Stalin deal with the Right Opposition

Answer 38

Demoted and removed them one by one. In 1928 Tomsky was replaced as leader of trade unions and was not re-elected to the Politburo. Bukharin was forced to resign as editor of Pravda and together with Rykov, was expelled from the Central Committee. They were replaced by a group of pro-stalinist men, such as Mikhali Kalinin, Vyacheslav Molotov and Kliment Voroshilov.

Question 39

Who were the Right Opposition

Answer 39

Tomsky, Bukarin and Rykov

Question 40

What did Bukharin say about Stalin during his

time in the Right Opposision

Answer 40

‘Stalin will strangle us. He is an unprincipled schemer who subordinates everything to his lust for power.’

Question 41

Name 5 positions that Stalin held by the time he became leader in 1928

Answer 41

1. General Party Secretary from 1922
2. Commisar of workers and peasants Inspectorate
3. Member of the Orgburo (organising body of the Central Committee)
4. Member of the Secretariat
5. Supervised the ‘Lenin Enrolment’ of 1924 and 1925, in which the party almost doubled its members to 1 milliom.

Question 42

When did Stalin become General Party Secretary

Answer 42

1922

Question 43

How did Stalin’s many positions help him to become party leader by 1928

Answer 43

1. General Party Secretary from 1922. Able to select who was able to attend Congress meetings. He could also ‘deliver the votes’ and could use control of the party machine to gain a majority support in key decisions.
   Given power to investigate and expel those working for the government.
   Increased his power of patronage and ensured that workers who wanted to keep their jobs would be loyla to him and vote for him in the Party Congress.
   2.Commisar of workers and peasants Inspectorate. Allowed him to root out corruption amongst workers.
   3.Member of the Orgburo (organising body of the Central Committee)
   4.Member of the Secretariat. Gave him control of appointments to positions of responsibility within the party.
   5.Supervised the ‘Lenin Enrolment’ of 1924 and 1925, in which the party almost doubled its members to 1 milliom.

Question 44

Which organisation was Trotsky head of and how would this help him during the power struggle

Answer 44

Head of the Red Army. Organised and restored discipline to Red Army. Ensured the loyalty of the Red Army to Trotsky, giving him a strong powerbase.

Question 45

What mistake did Trotsky make during the power struggle and what was its result

Answer 45

Trotsky resigned from his position as Commisar for Military and Naval Affair, surrendouring his power base at the beggining of the power struggle, without fighting to keep it.

Question 46

Which economic policy had Stalin originally backed

Answer 46

NEP as it solved the problems created by War Communism and also helped Russia’s industry to prosper.

Question 47

Where did Stalin’s policy of ‘Socialism in One Country’ gain him support from

Answer 47

Gained support from the right wing of the party and Bukharin as NEP seemed to fit their own route to Socialism.

Question 48

Who was Trotsky’s policy of ‘Permenant Revolution’ opposed by. What was the consequence of this

Answer 48

Unpopular with Peasants as his view of wanting the gov to control the economy and use all wealth generated to develop industry as quickly as possible, also saying that agriculture should be collectivised, as peasants wanted to have control of their own farms. Consequently, Trotsky and the Left opposion were unpopular in the party.

Question 49

What did Stalin do in 1928 which gained him support within the party.

Answer 49

In 1928, Stalin switched his allegiance to support collectivisation, which gained him a lot of support within the party because at this time NEP was seen to be failing.

Question 50

Which years was the Triumvirate in effect

Answer 50

1923-1925

Question 51

In what year were factions banned in the Bols party

Answer 51

In 1921, factions were banned in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Since 1920 Lenin had become concerned about oppositionist groups within the Communist Party.

Question 52

How did the ban on factions affect Trotsky

Answer 52

Make it difficult for Trotsky to gain appeal to supporters inside and outside of the party.

Question 53

Who made up the Duumvirate and who did it oppose

Answer 53

Stalin, Bukharin, Tomsky and Rykov.

Opposed the United Opposition

Question 54

Which Stalin alliance followed the Triumvirate

Answer 54

The Duumvirate

Question 55

Who attacked Stalin in 1925 and how did they attack him

Answer 55

Zinoviev and Kamenev attavked Stalin at the 14th Party Congress in 1925, calling for a vote of no confidence in him, an ending of NEP and tough line against the peasants. They lost every vote because Stalin had control of the delegates.

Question 56

Who did the United Opposition appeal to for support. How did this end up being a mistake

Answer 56

Appealed to the party masses and workers trying to organise demonstrations in Moscow. Was a mistake as they could now be accused of factionalism. Stalin ensured 14th Party Congress was filled with his supporters, whilst Bukarin gave excellent speeches explaining why Kamenev andinoviev were expelled from the party.

Question 57

How did Lenin help Stalin in his rise to power

Answer 57

1. Lenin had created a highly centralised government and had banned all other political parties.
2. Also banned members from creating factions/ opposing party leadership with the 1921 ban on factions.
3. Stalin used this system to remove his rivals from power by accusing them of factionalism.
4. Additionally, Stalin was able to use Lenin’s writings to gain power as they were often vague and seemed to contradict themselves
5. Therefore, Stalin was able to claim that he shared the same ideology as Lenin