Topic 1: The Leadership Struggle Flashcards
What did Lenin write before his death?
Lenin’s Testament
What did Lenin have to say about Trotsky in his Testament?
He was brilliant but too arrogant
What did Lenin have to say about Stalin in his Testament?
He was abusing his position as General Secretary
He was ‘too rude’
He was ‘unbearable in the office of general secretary’
‘I propose to the comrades to find a way to remove Stalin’
Who was Trotsky?
Born to a wealthy Jewish farming family in Ukraine.
The favourite to succeed Lenin.
Planned the October Revolution and had led the Red Army in the Civil War.
However, he was disliked by many older party members as he was arrogant.
His position as head of the Red Army made people fear he would want to be a dictator.
He only became a Bolshevik in 1917, so people mistrusted this as well.
Who was Stalin?
Born in Georgia and had a tough childhood in poverty.
Stalin was clever at making political allies and enjoyed running government departments.
However, he was known to be rude and aggressive to people he disliked.
He often used ideas of others as his own.
He wanted the USSR to focus on socialism in one country.
He played a minor role in the October Revolution.
By 1928, Stalin had removed all of his opponents and was in complete control.
Who was Kamenev?
Active Bolshevik from 1905.
Major contributor to party doctrine.
He and Zinoviev had opposed the April Theses on ideological grounds.
Supported rapid industrialisation and the ending of the NEP.
Who was Zinoviev?
Active in the Bolshevik Party since 1903.
Good orator but not intellectual.
Opposed the armed uprising of October 1917.
In favour of rapid industrialisation and the end of the NEP.
Not popular, seen as vain, incompetent, and cowardly.
Who was Bukharin?
Joined the party in 1906.
Popular politician.
Described by Lenin as the ‘golden boy’
Convinced the NEP was the way forward.
Was Trotsky on the left, centre, or right of the party?
Left
Was Kamenev on the left, centre, or right of the party?
Left
Was Zinoviev on the left, centre, or right of the party?
Left
Was Stalin the left, centre, or right of the party?
Centre
Was Bukharin on the left, centre, or right of the party?
Right
In 1919, Stalin became the Liaison Officer between what?
The Politburo and Orgburo
What position did Stalin gain in 1922?
General Secretary of the Party
How many files did Stalin have access to as the General Secretary?
26,000
Who did Stalin appoint as the Head of the Secret Police?
Dzerzhinsky
How did Dzerzhinsky becoming the Head of the Secret Police benefit Stalin?
He could give Stalin information that he could use against enemies
What was launched between 1923 and 1925?
Lenin Enrolment
How many workers were recruited into the party under the Lenin’s Enrolment scheme?
500,000