3. Replacing Lenin Use of Terror in 1930s Kirov’s Murder + Ye
Kirov was the party boss in Leningrad and Sta
Lenin fell ill in 1922/23 and eventually died in January 1924. Reasons for Purges: and criticised him. Kirov was killed in Decem
During this time there was a struggle among senior communists for Eliminate potential rivals and dissent within the party Nikolayev was arrested as the murderer. Ho
leadership over the Communist party. and consolidate Stalin's power and establish his suspicious as police officers investigating w
dictatorship. conveniently Kirov’s bodyguard wasn’t with
Strengths of Stalin and His Rivals: Nature and Consequences of the Purges: killed. Nikolayev was executed without a
Stalin: Known for his organisational skills, manipulation of Widespread arrests, executions, and forced Historians believe Stalin was behind the
bureaucracy, and strategic alliances. confessions.
Trotsky: A brilliant theorist and speaker. He had also worked The Purges also extended beyond party members to Yezhov was head of the NVKD and the tim
closely with Lenin and helped with the Civil War. military officers, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens. It (1937-38) was a time of mass arre
Kamenev and Zinoviev: Party Bosses in Moscow and Created an atmosphere of fear and paranoia, stifling
Petrograd. They had reputations as insightful communist dissent and creativity.
thinkers. Role of NKVD:
Bukharin: Brilliant thinker + Political writer. He was very The Secret police who were responsible for carrying
popular in the party. out arrests, interrogations, and executions. 1.3 million
Weaknesses of Stalin and His Rivals:
Stalin: He had been criticised in Lenin’s testament badly and
were arrested between 1937-38 + 700,000 were
executed.
They established labor camps (Gulags) for political
STALIN’S RI
had a reputation for being boring.
Trotsky: Was considered arrogant, didn’t join the party until
prisoners.
Show Trials of 1936–1938:
TO POWER
DICTATORSH
1917 so didn’t have a strong network of friends. His belief in Used to justify purges and eliminate perceived enemies
“Permanent revolution” made him seem unpatriotic. of the state. Public spectacles were designed to instil
Kamenev and Zinoviev: Both opposed Lenin’s October plans. fear and demonstrate Stalin's power. For example,
Bukharin: Advocate of gradual industrialisation and NEP, which
lacked Communist ideals. He also lacked experience.
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Bukharin
, 1924-41
Stalin’s rise to Power
1923 Lenin’s views on Stalin in his testament- Lenin stated that he
Purge reasons
thought Stalin was rude and abused his position of power and
leadership should go to Trotsky. Stalin managed to persuade other
party members to keep this a secret.
1924 Lenin’s Funeral- Stalin organised the funeral and made it to -Cover Up problems in Economy
look like a loyal follower to gain support of Lenin supporters. Accidents in poorly run mines such as Kemerovo min
Kirov was the party boss in Leningrad and Sta
Lenin fell ill in 1922/23 and eventually died in January 1924. Reasons for Purges: and criticised him. Kirov was killed in Decem
During this time there was a struggle among senior communists for Eliminate potential rivals and dissent within the party Nikolayev was arrested as the murderer. Ho
leadership over the Communist party. and consolidate Stalin's power and establish his suspicious as police officers investigating w
dictatorship. conveniently Kirov’s bodyguard wasn’t with
Strengths of Stalin and His Rivals: Nature and Consequences of the Purges: killed. Nikolayev was executed without a
Stalin: Known for his organisational skills, manipulation of Widespread arrests, executions, and forced Historians believe Stalin was behind the
bureaucracy, and strategic alliances. confessions.
Trotsky: A brilliant theorist and speaker. He had also worked The Purges also extended beyond party members to Yezhov was head of the NVKD and the tim
closely with Lenin and helped with the Civil War. military officers, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens. It (1937-38) was a time of mass arre
Kamenev and Zinoviev: Party Bosses in Moscow and Created an atmosphere of fear and paranoia, stifling
Petrograd. They had reputations as insightful communist dissent and creativity.
thinkers. Role of NKVD:
Bukharin: Brilliant thinker + Political writer. He was very The Secret police who were responsible for carrying
popular in the party. out arrests, interrogations, and executions. 1.3 million
Weaknesses of Stalin and His Rivals:
Stalin: He had been criticised in Lenin’s testament badly and
were arrested between 1937-38 + 700,000 were
executed.
They established labor camps (Gulags) for political
STALIN’S RI
had a reputation for being boring.
Trotsky: Was considered arrogant, didn’t join the party until
prisoners.
Show Trials of 1936–1938:
TO POWER
DICTATORSH
1917 so didn’t have a strong network of friends. His belief in Used to justify purges and eliminate perceived enemies
“Permanent revolution” made him seem unpatriotic. of the state. Public spectacles were designed to instil
Kamenev and Zinoviev: Both opposed Lenin’s October plans. fear and demonstrate Stalin's power. For example,
Bukharin: Advocate of gradual industrialisation and NEP, which
lacked Communist ideals. He also lacked experience.
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Bukharin
, 1924-41
Stalin’s rise to Power
1923 Lenin’s views on Stalin in his testament- Lenin stated that he
Purge reasons
thought Stalin was rude and abused his position of power and
leadership should go to Trotsky. Stalin managed to persuade other
party members to keep this a secret.
1924 Lenin’s Funeral- Stalin organised the funeral and made it to -Cover Up problems in Economy
look like a loyal follower to gain support of Lenin supporters. Accidents in poorly run mines such as Kemerovo min
