The Leadership Struggle Flashcards
Who were the candidates for Party leader?
Stalin, Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Bukharin, Pyatakov, Rykov, Tomsky
Describe Kamenev in terms of him as a potential leader. Pros and cons and stuff like that
He ran the Party in Moscow and worked closely with Lenin. He was Commissar of foreign trade
Described as intellectually superior to Zinoviev and Stalin, but the least likely to act on anything
Had the skills to get things done, but not the initiative
Opposed October (1917) action
Old Bolshevik
Describe Trotsky in terms of him as a potential leader. Pros and cons and stuff like that
Great motivational speaker
One of the most important members of the central committee
Lenin said in the Testament that he was the most capable in the committee
Had been a Menshevik before 1917- always seen as a weakness
Very confident- didn’t see a need to build a powerbase within the party
Member of the elected constituent assembly (that was then disbanded) in 1917
Describe Zinoviev in terms of him as a potential leader. Pros and cons and stuff like that
Very intelligent- well educated
Very good orator
Unpredictable
Vain
Opposed October (1917) action
Inconsistent in his approach to politics
Describe Bukharin in terms of him as a potential leader. Pros and cons and stuff like that
He was more on the right of the party
He had experience as the editor of Pravda
He was younger than the rest of the contenders
Supported the NEP
Was not a practical interpreter of Marxism
What were Stalin’s two nicknames and why?
The ‘Grey Blur’- He had a habit of fading into the background to asses situations before he made his opinions public
‘Comrade Card Index’ - Through his position as General Secretary, he had access to a lot of information on people and could make important decisions for them
Why was the ban on factions significant for Stalin?
He had a lot of power over people in the Party due to his position as General Secretary. This could allow him to sway votes in a system where people couldn’t group against him
What two blows did Stalin deliver to Trotsky at Lenin’s funeral?
He tricked Trotsky into missing the funeral (Trotsky was ill and was told that the funeral was on the Saturday during his recovery time, when in reality it was on the Sunday and he could have made it)
Stalin posed as Lenin’s devoted disciple, when in reality Lenin did not like him. Propaganda made it seem like they were besties though
What happened when the Politburo were given Lenin’s Testament in May 1924?
Zinoviev and Kamenev insisted that the Testament’s contents be kept secret and Trotsky stayed silent on the matter
Which Party Congress was in 1924, and who formed a triumvirate that basically led the party?
13th Party Congress- Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin
What did Trotsky have to say at the 13th Party Congress?
He complained that the party had become more bureaucratic and less democratic than it had been under Lenin
Why was Trotsky defeated at the 13th Party Congress?
His speeches were brilliant, but the Congress was filled with Stalin’s power base. He could have appealed to his supporters, but he believed that this would be too close to factionalism
How did Zinoviev, Kamenev and Trotsky behave towards each other in 1924?
Zinoviev and Kamenev launched a vicious campaign that questioned Trotsky’s loyalties before 1917. Trotsky published ‘Lessons of October’, which criticised Zinoviev and Kamenev’s lack of support for the October Revolution
What did Stalin do while things kicked off in 1924?
He stayed in the background building his power base and filling the party with supporters. He appeared moderate peacemaker
What slightly right-wing policy did Stalin adopt in 1925 and who did this attract?
Socialism in One Country. Bukharin approved of this
