USSR Politics (1921-85) Flashcards
When did Lenin die?
1924 following a series of strokes starting in 1921
What was the ‘true leninist’ debate among the CPSU?
Finding someone similar to Lenin to take his place as leader due to the huge cult of personality that surrounded Lenin as the founding father of the USSR
What was Stalin’s role under Lenin and why did it give him a huge advantage during the leadership struggle of 1921-1928
He was General Secretary of the CPSU.
He had the power to choose who was promoted and allowed into the party meaning that he could appoint people into party positions in order to gain popularity within the party. (see Lenin Enrolment)
Was also the one responsible for discipline in the party.
What was the Lenin Enrolment and when was it?
in 1924 Stalin enlisted 128,000 new party members that were mostly workers and were therefore loyal to Stalin as he gave them new opportunities and they were (for the most part) uneducated.
Who were the four main rivals of Stalin during the power struggle?
Trotsky
Zinoviev
Kamenev
Bukharin
Who did Stalin manipulate in order to oust Trotsky from the party?
Zinoviev and Kamenev (1923)
How did Stalin and Bukharin oust Zinoviev and Kamenev in 1924?
Claimed to be in favour of Lenin’s NEP and therefore dubbed the other two as not true Leninists - basically slandering them in order to seize power.
When did Stalin get rid of Bukharin and become sole leader of the USSR?
1928
Who was Kirov and why was his death significant?
He was leader of the local communist party in Leningrad who was becoming more and more popular - getting more votes and more applause then Stalin at party meetings - His death in 1934 was significant as he was assassinated (probs Stalin) and Stalin used his death to begin the following purges and show trials.
When was the ‘Trial of 16’ and who’s execution did it lead to?
1936 - Zinoviev and Kamenev
When was the ‘Trial of 17’ and who’s execution did it lead to?
1937 - Trotsky’s former supporters within the party (dubbed Trostkyites)
When was the ‘Trial of 21’ and who’s execution did it lead to?
1938 - Bukharin
When did Stalin purge higher-ups of the Red Army?
1941 - ensuring total support from military leaders in the Red Army
When and why did the USSR join the second world war?
In June 1941 after Hitler invades - breaking the German-Soviet Nonagression pact
What were the internal political consequences of the USSR joining the second world war
Stalin makes himself head of Sovnarkom (1941) and creates the GKO - which enabled wartime economic planning and acted as a war cabinet.
