The leadership struggle Flashcards
Factors for Trotsky
Organized November revolution Organized and led Red army to victory Key factor in Bolshevik revolution Commissar for war Well-known figure, popular with younger party members Principle source of public inspiration Talented public speaker- always used real life comparisons- speeches held familiarity, people thought he was “one of them” Talented orator and writer
Factors against Trotsky
Not trusted by older party members; worried he would become dictator
Older members doubted his loyalty to Bolsheviks; originally a Menshevik
Older members thought his extreme views would split party at time of need
Didn’t aspire affection the way Lenin did
Arrogant, didn’t have time for people he thought stupid
Refused to get involved in political in-fighting, making alliances and getting people on his side
Factors for Stalin
Was politically cunning, played different groups in Communist party against each other
Stayed in background and built up support
Loyal member to Party for over twenty years
Didn’t hold extreme views that could split up Party.
He was like a lot of the people in Russia- grew up in poor household and came into power, made him appeal
Lots of willpower, very sly, making him a candidate for the position as leader
General Secretary of the Communist Party- could appoint his own supporters into important Party positions.
He expelled from the Party the younger, wilder and more radical elements likely to support Trotsky
Factors against Stalin
Was regarded as dull, mediocre and humourless by Communists
Not an intellectual/ inspiring speaker
Lenin regarded him as someone with great controlling power
Stalin insulted Lenin’s wife
Lenin said Stalin couldn’t use own power with sufficient caution
Lenin recommended Stalin be removed and replaced
The Left wing and their aims
Wanted to end NEP and quicken industrialization using “shock brigades” of workers and force peasants to produce food they needed.
The Right wing and their aims
Bukharin was one of the smartest in party. Believed NEP was the way forward. Thought that if peasants were richer, they’d buy more goods and help industry grow. Wanted to slowly move towards Socialism
How does Stalin try to make Russia strong?
Putting farms together into Collectives. The kulaks (rich peasants) that opposed this were killed.–> more food
Making five year plans to produce more iron, coal and electricity. People did without food and shoes. Workers who didn’t meet targets were shot. → more industry
Getting his secret police (NKVD) to kill anyone who opposed him → terror
Stalin’s aims
Catch up
With Western countries, make Russia less reliant on them for imported goods.
Produce
Increase production. He hoped machinery/ tractors would speed up farming and produce more goods.
Defend
Be able to defend herself from attack. He needed a strong industry capable of producing weaponry.
Why did Stalin want to modernize the USSR?
He believed 5 year plans were the only way to industrialize in a short amount of time and catch up with West. He feared an attack from capitalist countries. E.g the “war scare” in 1927- government claimed Russia under threat of attack from China and Britain. Only a strong industrial economy could produce enough weapons to survive.
He claimed “counter-revolutionary capitalists” in western countries were paying saboteurs to weaken industry and wreck coal mines, so USSR couldn’t defend herself.
USSR surrounded by countries that hated communism.
Thought success of Soviet economy would impress workers around the world and increase appeal of communism.
Inefficient farming methods not producing enough; cannot feed all workers in cities. A surplus of food needed to sell abroad
