Dictatorship and conflict in the USSR,
1924–53
The Soviet Union in 1924:-
- The Soviet Union wanted to be the first communist society.
- 80% of the Soviets were peasants
- After the Bolshevik revolution strict disipline was imposed resulting in a famine in
1921.
- By 1924, some stability returned to the Soviet Union and war communism had been
replaced by the New Economic Policy.
o New Economic Policy- A policy that reversed many radical measures
introduxed during the civil war.
- People could own their own businesses and make money.
- Lenin believed that after the country had recovered, the pace of change could be
increased.
- However, Lenin's health was deteriorating, after an assasination attempt, he started
having strokes that left him paralysed
- Lenin died in January 1924.
Lenin's testament:-
- Lenin wanted the new leadership to be sucessful and rebuild the war-torn
country.
- Lenin wanted his successor to be either Trotsky or Stalin.
o Trotsky was viewed as brilliant but too arrogant.
- Lenin was worried about Stalin’s power as Stalin was general secretary of the
communist party and was abusing this position by filling the party with his own
supporters.
- Stalin also insulted Lenin's wife when she did not let him see Lenin.
o Therefore, Stalin was not considered for this role.
- Lenin also considered other members of the Politburo, but they were rejected for
various reasons.
o Bukharin was popular however he did not fully understand Marscism.
o Zinoviev and Kamenev destroyed their chances as they failed to support
the October revolution.
- After Lenin died, his testament was put t o one side and the 4 candidates said
they woukl share power.
o However, this was a ruse and each of them wanted to dominate the party
leading to a power struggle until 1929.
Stalin as a contender for leadership:
- Joined the Bolshevik party in 1903 and was a tough activist.
- He was arrested frequently and was exiled to Siberia twice but escaped each time.
- In 1918 he was sent to Tsarityn but refused to follow Trotsky's orders.
- Before they fell out, Lenin admired him for his humble orgins, hard work and skill.
, - Stalin was powerful in the party due to his role as General Secretary.
- He believed that the Soviet Union could build a communist state without outside
help.
- Long history as a loyal Bolshevik.
- Lenin liked and respected him because of his loyalty.
- One of Russia's leading politicians.
- Workers had to support stalin to get into the 'Lenin enrolment' party.
- Lenin's testament
- Dull personality- Called the 'grey blur'.
Trotsky as a contender for leadership:-
- Was also arrested and sent to exile in Siberia before he escaped.
- Made his name by leading the uprising against the Tsar in 1905
- Became Lenin’s right-hand man in 1917.
- Created the Red Army and led the Bolsheviks to victory in the civil war as the
Commisar for war in 1918.
- Wanted to promote worldwide revolution to build communism and supported rapid
industrialisation.
The communist party
- The Left wing
• Wanted to build communism as soon as possible → Had to end the NEP.
• Wanted to launch rapid industrialisation and spread worldwide revolution.
- Consisted of Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamanev.
- The Right wing
• Supported the NEP and slow industralisation.
• Also supported Stalin's idea of socialism.
- Stalin was at the centre, he wanted to temporarily keep the NEP and wanted Russia
to steadily industrialise.
Stalin's rise to popularity
- Stalin needed to make sure lenin's testament was buried along with his body, so
Stalin decided to take the lead role in organising his funeral.
o He praised Lenin and said that he wanted to continue his good work.
o He also gave Trotsky the wrong date for the funeral, so Trotsky did not show
up and reinforced his arrogant image
Stalin's rise to power:
Defeat of Trotsky
- Stalin, Kamanev, and Zinoviev formed an Anti - Trotsky alliance
- They supported the NEP and worked together to dominate the party.
- Stalin lacked authority to take on Trotsky alone, Zinoview and Kamanew slowly
destroyed Trotsky's reputation.
o They highlighted previous disagreements Trotsky had with Lenin and claimed
that Trotshy exaggerated his role in the Oct, revolution.
- 1924 Thirteenth Congress- Trotsky made speeches for rapid industrialisation and
greater democracy in the party.
o Stalin made sure that congress was packed with his supporters so that the
majority would reject Trotsky's proposal.
- 1925- Trotsky looses his position as the Red Army leader and then left active politics.
Defeat of the United Opposition -
, - Anti- Trotsky alliance split apart, and Stalin formed an alliance with Bukharin and the
right wing.
- Bukharin supported Stalin's policy of socialism in one country and saw the need to
continue with the NEP.
o These policies were supported by majority of the party.
o Socialism was seen as patriotic, and the NEP was giving the country time to
recover.
- Bukharin had support from the right wing of the party, so the two were able to
dominate the party.
- 1926- Kamenev and Zinoviev put aside their differences with Trotsky and formed the
United Opposition.
o They called for rapid industrialisation, world revolution, and ending the NEP.
o They lost all their respect; it was weird that Kamenev and Zinoviev became
allies with their former enemy.
- Congress was full of stain supporters who frequently insulted the United Opposition.
- 1927 Fifteenth party congress - Stalin accused the UO of factionalism (creating an
opposition group within the communist party) - congress supported Stalin.
o All three were expelled from the party
- Zinoviev and Kamenev were allowed back in after admitting that they were wrong,
however Trotsky refused to back down.
- 1929- Trotsky was expelled from the Soviet Union.
The defeat of Bukharin –
- 1928- Stalin performed a l turn and adopted the policies of the left wing.
o He rejected the NEP and favoured rapid industrialisation.
o He did this because the party was slowly shifting away from the NEP as not
enough grain was reaching the cities.
o There were rumours that the West wanted to invade, so the SU had to
industrialise.
o This gave Stalin a strong image which he had been lacking as the grey blur.
- Bukharin attempted to defend the NEP but was out voted and lost all his important
posts.
- Stalin was now the unchallenged leader of the Soviet Union.
The importance of Stalin's policies.
- The communist party wanted a leader who would deliver an ideal future for the SU.
- Stalin suggested the right policies that aligned with the views of the communist
party.
o Stalin's policy of socialism in one country won him support which contrasted
with Trotsky's call for worldwide revolution.
o Stalin decision to argue for rapid industrialisation was widely supported
because the NEP was unpopular due to food shortages.
Stalin's position as general secretary -
- Stalin was able to control appointments and promotions within the party and he was
able to fill it with his supporters.
- Stalin was always able to count on a majority when it came to voting procedures.
Stalin's political skill + personality.
- Stalin was able to turn his position into a powerful weapon.
- He also was skilled at political plotting as he tools advantage of Lenin's funeral, broke
alliances, and silence his opponents.
- Many people liked Stalin's personaity and thought he was "humble, ordinary, and
straight forward
- The Lenin Enrolment was bringing in thousands of politically basic workers-Stalin was
seen as a 'man of the people'
1924–53
The Soviet Union in 1924:-
- The Soviet Union wanted to be the first communist society.
- 80% of the Soviets were peasants
- After the Bolshevik revolution strict disipline was imposed resulting in a famine in
1921.
- By 1924, some stability returned to the Soviet Union and war communism had been
replaced by the New Economic Policy.
o New Economic Policy- A policy that reversed many radical measures
introduxed during the civil war.
- People could own their own businesses and make money.
- Lenin believed that after the country had recovered, the pace of change could be
increased.
- However, Lenin's health was deteriorating, after an assasination attempt, he started
having strokes that left him paralysed
- Lenin died in January 1924.
Lenin's testament:-
- Lenin wanted the new leadership to be sucessful and rebuild the war-torn
country.
- Lenin wanted his successor to be either Trotsky or Stalin.
o Trotsky was viewed as brilliant but too arrogant.
- Lenin was worried about Stalin’s power as Stalin was general secretary of the
communist party and was abusing this position by filling the party with his own
supporters.
- Stalin also insulted Lenin's wife when she did not let him see Lenin.
o Therefore, Stalin was not considered for this role.
- Lenin also considered other members of the Politburo, but they were rejected for
various reasons.
o Bukharin was popular however he did not fully understand Marscism.
o Zinoviev and Kamenev destroyed their chances as they failed to support
the October revolution.
- After Lenin died, his testament was put t o one side and the 4 candidates said
they woukl share power.
o However, this was a ruse and each of them wanted to dominate the party
leading to a power struggle until 1929.
Stalin as a contender for leadership:
- Joined the Bolshevik party in 1903 and was a tough activist.
- He was arrested frequently and was exiled to Siberia twice but escaped each time.
- In 1918 he was sent to Tsarityn but refused to follow Trotsky's orders.
- Before they fell out, Lenin admired him for his humble orgins, hard work and skill.
, - Stalin was powerful in the party due to his role as General Secretary.
- He believed that the Soviet Union could build a communist state without outside
help.
- Long history as a loyal Bolshevik.
- Lenin liked and respected him because of his loyalty.
- One of Russia's leading politicians.
- Workers had to support stalin to get into the 'Lenin enrolment' party.
- Lenin's testament
- Dull personality- Called the 'grey blur'.
Trotsky as a contender for leadership:-
- Was also arrested and sent to exile in Siberia before he escaped.
- Made his name by leading the uprising against the Tsar in 1905
- Became Lenin’s right-hand man in 1917.
- Created the Red Army and led the Bolsheviks to victory in the civil war as the
Commisar for war in 1918.
- Wanted to promote worldwide revolution to build communism and supported rapid
industrialisation.
The communist party
- The Left wing
• Wanted to build communism as soon as possible → Had to end the NEP.
• Wanted to launch rapid industrialisation and spread worldwide revolution.
- Consisted of Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamanev.
- The Right wing
• Supported the NEP and slow industralisation.
• Also supported Stalin's idea of socialism.
- Stalin was at the centre, he wanted to temporarily keep the NEP and wanted Russia
to steadily industrialise.
Stalin's rise to popularity
- Stalin needed to make sure lenin's testament was buried along with his body, so
Stalin decided to take the lead role in organising his funeral.
o He praised Lenin and said that he wanted to continue his good work.
o He also gave Trotsky the wrong date for the funeral, so Trotsky did not show
up and reinforced his arrogant image
Stalin's rise to power:
Defeat of Trotsky
- Stalin, Kamanev, and Zinoviev formed an Anti - Trotsky alliance
- They supported the NEP and worked together to dominate the party.
- Stalin lacked authority to take on Trotsky alone, Zinoview and Kamanew slowly
destroyed Trotsky's reputation.
o They highlighted previous disagreements Trotsky had with Lenin and claimed
that Trotshy exaggerated his role in the Oct, revolution.
- 1924 Thirteenth Congress- Trotsky made speeches for rapid industrialisation and
greater democracy in the party.
o Stalin made sure that congress was packed with his supporters so that the
majority would reject Trotsky's proposal.
- 1925- Trotsky looses his position as the Red Army leader and then left active politics.
Defeat of the United Opposition -
, - Anti- Trotsky alliance split apart, and Stalin formed an alliance with Bukharin and the
right wing.
- Bukharin supported Stalin's policy of socialism in one country and saw the need to
continue with the NEP.
o These policies were supported by majority of the party.
o Socialism was seen as patriotic, and the NEP was giving the country time to
recover.
- Bukharin had support from the right wing of the party, so the two were able to
dominate the party.
- 1926- Kamenev and Zinoviev put aside their differences with Trotsky and formed the
United Opposition.
o They called for rapid industrialisation, world revolution, and ending the NEP.
o They lost all their respect; it was weird that Kamenev and Zinoviev became
allies with their former enemy.
- Congress was full of stain supporters who frequently insulted the United Opposition.
- 1927 Fifteenth party congress - Stalin accused the UO of factionalism (creating an
opposition group within the communist party) - congress supported Stalin.
o All three were expelled from the party
- Zinoviev and Kamenev were allowed back in after admitting that they were wrong,
however Trotsky refused to back down.
- 1929- Trotsky was expelled from the Soviet Union.
The defeat of Bukharin –
- 1928- Stalin performed a l turn and adopted the policies of the left wing.
o He rejected the NEP and favoured rapid industrialisation.
o He did this because the party was slowly shifting away from the NEP as not
enough grain was reaching the cities.
o There were rumours that the West wanted to invade, so the SU had to
industrialise.
o This gave Stalin a strong image which he had been lacking as the grey blur.
- Bukharin attempted to defend the NEP but was out voted and lost all his important
posts.
- Stalin was now the unchallenged leader of the Soviet Union.
The importance of Stalin's policies.
- The communist party wanted a leader who would deliver an ideal future for the SU.
- Stalin suggested the right policies that aligned with the views of the communist
party.
o Stalin's policy of socialism in one country won him support which contrasted
with Trotsky's call for worldwide revolution.
o Stalin decision to argue for rapid industrialisation was widely supported
because the NEP was unpopular due to food shortages.
Stalin's position as general secretary -
- Stalin was able to control appointments and promotions within the party and he was
able to fill it with his supporters.
- Stalin was always able to count on a majority when it came to voting procedures.
Stalin's political skill + personality.
- Stalin was able to turn his position into a powerful weapon.
- He also was skilled at political plotting as he tools advantage of Lenin's funeral, broke
alliances, and silence his opponents.
- Many people liked Stalin's personaity and thought he was "humble, ordinary, and
straight forward
- The Lenin Enrolment was bringing in thousands of politically basic workers-Stalin was
seen as a 'man of the people'
