USSR Power Struggle

Question 1

What was Grigory Zinoviev’s relationship with Lenin?

Answer 1

• Closest friend (spent so much time together his handwriting started to become similar to Lenin’s)
• Supported Lenin since Bolsheviks (1903)
• 1903-1917 Lenin’s right hand man

Question 2

What was Grigory Zinoviev’s association with Lenin’s testament?

Answer 2

• 1923-25 led the Triumvirate alliance (himself, his friend Lev Kamenev and Stalin) to remove Trotsky from power
  
  • Persuaded Central committee to ignore Lenin’s testament
    (held the order to sack Stalin)
• Lenin accused Kammenev and Zinoviev of being disloyal and not supporting the October Revolution

Question 3

What was Grigory Zinoviev’s strengths towards gaining power?

Answer 3

• Made a series of speeches about difference of Leninism and Trotskyism (good orator)
  - Made Trotsky seem not Leninist
• Been with Lenin since 1903
• Had majority in Politburo

Question 4

What was Grigory Zinoviev’s weaknesses against gaining power?

Answer 4

• Blind to Stalin’s plans - only concetrated on Trotsky
• Attacked for being disloyal (resigned from party after disagreement with Lenin 2x)
• Able to persuade central committee to ignore Lenin’s testament (which said to fire Stalin)

Question 5

What was Nikolai Bukharin’s relationship with Lenin?

Answer 5

• Had a father and son relationship
  Joined Bolshevik faction in 1906 at 16 - supported Lenin consistently until Lenin died in 1924
• Lenin entrusted him with important jobs e.g. censorship of Pravda (editor)

Question 6

What was Nikolai Bukharin’s association with Lenin’s testament?

Answer 6

• Argued that Bukharin did not fully understand his ideology

Question 7

What was Nikolai Bukharin’s strengths towards gaining power?

Answer 7

-1925 - early 28, was the most prominent member in the Soviet Government
- 1925 Alliance with Stalin: The Duumvirate gaining them the majority in the Politburo
- Important theorist
- lost of support and allies from junior membership

Question 8

What was Nikolai Bukharin’s weaknesses against gaining power?

Answer 8

• Had disagreements and openly argued with Lenin over many issues:
  -Ending WW2
  
  • 1921 introduction of the NEP
  • Youngest contender of power - though to be too inexperienced

Question 9

What was Leon Trotsky’s relationship with Lenin?

Answer 9

• From late 1917 Lenin’s right hand man and closest political collaborator
  
  • Credited the takeover in the October revolution (planned it)

Question 10

What was Leon Trotsky’s association with Lenin’s testament?

Answer 10

• Accused of arrogance
• In coded language Lenin wrote he was too wiling to use violence

Question 11

What was Leon Trotsky’s strengths towards gaining power?

Answer 11

• Most famous person in government other than Lenin
• Revolutionary hero: Role in the October Revolution and the Civil War
• Lenin’s political collaborator

Question 12

What was Leon Trotsky’s weaknesses against gaining power?

Answer 12

• Not popular within the communist party
  
  • 1903-17 opposed Lenin
  • Joined to gain power - not true Leninist (the Bolshevik’s idea)
  • Originally a Menshevik (1917 joined Bolsheviks)
• Disagreements with Lenin:
  
  • 1917: Timing of the October Revolution
  • 1922: The NEP
• Isolated by the Triumvirate
• Doesn’t turn up to Lenin’s funeral (Stalin’s fault)

Question 13

What was Joseph Stalin’s relationship with Lenin?

Answer 13

• Lenin held Stalin in high regard. From 1903-21 loyal to Lenin.
  
  • “That wonderful Georgian”
• Lenin trusted Stalin with important administrative tasks
• Lenin supported his promotion in 1921 to General Secretary

Question 14

What was Joseph Stalin’s association with Lenin’s testament?

Answer 14

• Accused him of impatience and rudeness
• Instructed Central Committee to sack Stalin

Question 15

What was Joseph Stalin’s strengths towards gaining power?

Answer 15

• Continuously part of the Politburo majority (1923-28)
• Joined Bolsheviks at very beginning (1903)
• 1903-21 loyal to Lenin
• Ambitious - pitted other contends against each other
• Strong claim to true Leninist
• Smart

Question 16

What was Joseph Stalin’s weaknesses against gaining power?

Answer 16

• Played a supporting, not leading role, in the Triumvirate and Duumvirate
• Disloyal to Lenin from 1922. Lenin was too ill to fight back so this was kept a secret
• Lenin’s testament