Stalin’s Russia
Stalin or Trotsky
When Lenin died in 1924 there were several leading Communists who were possible
candidates to take his place. Among the contenders were Kamenev and Zinoviev,
leading Bolsheviks who had played important parts in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917,
and Bukharin, a more moderate member of the party who favoured the NEP and
wanted to introduce communism gradually to the USSR. However, the real struggle to
succeed Lenin was between two bitter rivals, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky. The
power struggle went on for some time and it was not until 1929 that Stalin made
himself completely secure as the supreme leader of the USSR. Stalin achieved this
through a combination of political scheming, the mistakes of his opponents and the
clever way in which he built up his power base in the Communist Party.
Lenin’s Testament
As Lenin lay dying in late 1923 Trotsky seemed most likely to win. He was a brilliant
speaker and writer, as well as the party's best political thinker, after Lenin.
Trotsky’s mistakes
➢ Arrogant and high-handed
➢ Offended other senior party members
➢ Failed to take opposition seriously
➢ Made little effort to build up any support in the ranks of the party
➢ Underestimated Stalin
No one saw Stalin as a threat. They were all more concerned with each other. Stalin
kept in the shadows, not taking a clear position and seeming to be the friend and ally
of different groups. This allowed him to become steadily more powerful without the
others realising it.
Trotsky also frightened many people in the USSR. They were worried he might become
a dictator, especially because he had a great deal of support in the army. Trotsky
argued that the future security of the USSR lay in trying to spread permanent
revolution across the globe until the whole world was communist. Many people were
worried that Trotsky would involve the USSR in new conflicts and that his radical
policies might split the party.
, Stalin’s cunning
Stalin Trotsky
Position/ General secretary of the communist - He planned the november revolution
Successes party:
- Could appoint people’s posts and control - His organization of the red army led
membership of the party them to victory of the civil war
- 1922 & 1924 put more of his own
supporters in more important party - Well known figure, popular amongst
positions Red Army and young party members
- Expelled younger, radical elements that
were more likely to support Trotsky
- Other Bolsheviks allowed this because
they didn’t want Trotsky as dictator
Personality Was opposite of Trotsky: - Arrogant and high-handed
- Not very smart and didn't make cool - Offended other senior party members
speeches - Failed to take opposition seriously
But was Cunning: - Made little effort to build up any
support in the ranks of the party
- Played off different party groups
- Underestimated Stalin
against each other
- Happy to stay in background, building
his support
Policies Believed that Russians could build a - to spread permanent revolution across
communist state within the USSR without the globe until the whole world was
other peoples help communist
- “Socialism in one country” - End NEP
- Bring in moresocialist ways of ruling the
country
Support - Loyal to party for over 20 years Older people in the party didn’t trust him:
- Safe, middle road communist with no - Had support of the Red Army
extreme views that would split the - Doubted his loyalty because he only
party joined Bolsheviks in 1917
- Thought his extreme views might
split up the party when unity was
needed.
Stalin or Trotsky
When Lenin died in 1924 there were several leading Communists who were possible
candidates to take his place. Among the contenders were Kamenev and Zinoviev,
leading Bolsheviks who had played important parts in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917,
and Bukharin, a more moderate member of the party who favoured the NEP and
wanted to introduce communism gradually to the USSR. However, the real struggle to
succeed Lenin was between two bitter rivals, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky. The
power struggle went on for some time and it was not until 1929 that Stalin made
himself completely secure as the supreme leader of the USSR. Stalin achieved this
through a combination of political scheming, the mistakes of his opponents and the
clever way in which he built up his power base in the Communist Party.
Lenin’s Testament
As Lenin lay dying in late 1923 Trotsky seemed most likely to win. He was a brilliant
speaker and writer, as well as the party's best political thinker, after Lenin.
Trotsky’s mistakes
➢ Arrogant and high-handed
➢ Offended other senior party members
➢ Failed to take opposition seriously
➢ Made little effort to build up any support in the ranks of the party
➢ Underestimated Stalin
No one saw Stalin as a threat. They were all more concerned with each other. Stalin
kept in the shadows, not taking a clear position and seeming to be the friend and ally
of different groups. This allowed him to become steadily more powerful without the
others realising it.
Trotsky also frightened many people in the USSR. They were worried he might become
a dictator, especially because he had a great deal of support in the army. Trotsky
argued that the future security of the USSR lay in trying to spread permanent
revolution across the globe until the whole world was communist. Many people were
worried that Trotsky would involve the USSR in new conflicts and that his radical
policies might split the party.
, Stalin’s cunning
Stalin Trotsky
Position/ General secretary of the communist - He planned the november revolution
Successes party:
- Could appoint people’s posts and control - His organization of the red army led
membership of the party them to victory of the civil war
- 1922 & 1924 put more of his own
supporters in more important party - Well known figure, popular amongst
positions Red Army and young party members
- Expelled younger, radical elements that
were more likely to support Trotsky
- Other Bolsheviks allowed this because
they didn’t want Trotsky as dictator
Personality Was opposite of Trotsky: - Arrogant and high-handed
- Not very smart and didn't make cool - Offended other senior party members
speeches - Failed to take opposition seriously
But was Cunning: - Made little effort to build up any
support in the ranks of the party
- Played off different party groups
- Underestimated Stalin
against each other
- Happy to stay in background, building
his support
Policies Believed that Russians could build a - to spread permanent revolution across
communist state within the USSR without the globe until the whole world was
other peoples help communist
- “Socialism in one country” - End NEP
- Bring in moresocialist ways of ruling the
country
Support - Loyal to party for over 20 years Older people in the party didn’t trust him:
- Safe, middle road communist with no - Had support of the Red Army
extreme views that would split the - Doubted his loyalty because he only
party joined Bolsheviks in 1917
- Thought his extreme views might
split up the party when unity was
needed.
