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
Why did the Lenin’s Enrolment scheme benefit Stalin?
Many saw it as a means of employment
Keeping this depended on loyalty to Stalin who was the one that allowed them into the Party.
What did Stalin convince Trotsky to not do?
Attend Lenin’s funeral while he was ill
What did Stalin make a speech about at Lenin’s funeral?
Praise for Lenin and promising to continue his plans
Was Lenin’s Testament public or private?
Private
Why did the private nature of Lenin’s Testament benefit Stalin?
Stalin would likely not have become leader as Lenin encouraged the Party to get rid of him
Why was Lenin’s Testament not made public?
It criticised many high ranking Bolsehviks
Trotsky wanted a permanent revolution. What does that mean?
Causing revolutions in other countries.
Who wanted a ‘permanent revolution’
Trotsky
Was the idea of a ‘permanent revolution’ popular?
No
Stalin wanted Socialism in One Country. What did that mean?
He argued it was necessary for the USSR to ignore the outside world and concentrate on creating a strong socialist system instead.
Who wanted ‘Socialism in One Country’?
Stalin
What did the left-wing of the party want?
Rapid industrialisation and an end to the NEP
What did the right-wing of the party want?
Continuation of the NEP and taking longer to implement Communism to benefit the people.
What were the weaknesses and mistakes of Stalin’s opponents?
Trotsky: He was unpopular because he was arrogant. He made huge errors of judgement such as failing to attend Lenin’s funeral.
Zinoviev and Kamenev: Proved to be poor politicians. They miscalculated by entering into an alliance against Trotsky.
Bukharin: Lacked the political skill needed to fight Stalin.
Who joined forces with Stalin in 1924?
Zinoviev and Kamenev
Why did Zinoviev and Kamenev join forces with Stalin?
To remove Trotsky from a position of influence
Who made a speech at the 1924 Party Congress calling for rapid industrialisation?
Trotsky
Why did Trotsky’s motion for rapid industrialisation fail in 1924?
The Party Congress was packed with Stalin’s supporters and so rejected Trotsky’s ideas
In 1925, Trotsky lost his job as the Commissar for War. What did that mean?
He no longer controlled the Red Army and was, therefore, no longer a threat to Stalin
Between 1924 and 1926 who ruled the USSR?
Stalin, Kamenev, and Zinoviev.
Who did Stalin ally with to get rid of Kamenev and Zinoviev?
Bukharin and the right of the party
Who formed the United Opposition in 1927?
Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev
What happened as a result of the forming of the United Opposition?
Kamenev and Zinoviev lost respect for this
Stalin accused them of factionalism (banned in 1921 under the Ban on Factionalism)
Again, Stalin’s supporters packed the conference so won all of the important votes.
Who lost their jobs in the Politburo in 1927?
Kamenev and Zinoviev
Who was expelled from the party in 1927?
Kamenev and Zinoviev
What happened to Trotsky in 1929?
He was expelled from the USSR
How did Stalin defeat Bukharin?
He attacked the NEP and removed Bukharin and right wingers from their government posts.
How did Stalin end cooperation with the peasants?
He gave orders for the violent seizure of grain from the peasants
How did Stalin get away with grain seizures?
There were rumours of an invasion from the west
By what year had Stalin removed all opposition?
1929
What policies could Stalin now put into practice without opposition now that Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev, and Bukharin were gone?
The Five Year Plans and collectivisation
