1B: Stalin in Power, 1928-53.

Question 1

Who were Stalin’s key rivals for power following Lenin’s death?

Answer 1

• Gregory Zinoviev: Lenin’s closest friend since the beginnings of the revolution and leader of a triumvirate alliance between himself, Kamenev and Stalin. Helped reduce doubts created by Lenin’s Testament and kept Trotsky from power through a series of anti-Trotsky-ite speeches.
• Nikolai Bukharin: Eventually allied with Stalin in a duumvirate in 1925, Bukharin was a consistent Leninist and had even been entrusted with editing Pravda. The youngest, least experienced contender.
• Trotsky: Known as a hero for his role in the revolution and he Civil War, though mistrusted for his opposition to Lenin before the revolution.

Question 2

Describe the changes to the Communist Party as a result of the post-Lenin leadership struggle.

Answer 2

• Ideological Orthodoxy: commitment to two ideas advocated by Stalin; Socialism in one country (promoted by Bukharin) and Collectivisation and Industrialisation (eventually used to portray Bukharin as an untrue Leninist). This marked a notable decrease in tolerance for opposition.
• The authority and credibility of Stalin’s opponents was knowingly destroyed, each branded as an enemy of Lenin, made to apologise and confess to every mistake and accused of factionalism.
• Increased membership (+128,000) through Lenin Enrolment encouraged a system of patronage, which in turn made the party seem increasing opportunistic, privileged and merely administrative.

Question 3

What were the causes of the Purges of the 1930’s?

Answer 3

• Opposition from the Politburo: Kirov and a group of moderates were successfully able to influence policy, defending Ryutin and his critical document of Stalin and advocating more reasonable economic targets.
• Economic problems: Stalin falsely blamed and purged ‘saboteurs’ in industry and agriculture for economic decline.
• The Congress of Victors: Stalin lost 1225 votes to 927 to Kirov in an election for the new Central Committee; although Kirov refused the position, it was clear Stalin was vulnerable.
• Kirov’s murder itself was used as evidence of an anti-communist conspiracy.

Question 4

What were the consequences of the Great Terror?

Answer 4

• Eliminated Stalin’s rivals, whose reputations and lives were destroyed in show trials; even the Red Army was purged of 8 senior generals ans 37,000 officers.
• Eradication of a generation of Leninist’s.
• Established the practice of terror as a political tool.
• Emphasised the role of the NKVD.

Question 5

Describe the changes in the relationship between Party and State under Stalin.

Answer 5

• During WW2, Stalin became Chair of the Sovnarkom, a leading position in the state, in order to organise a regime crippled by his purges. This encouraged better co-ordination, as did the end of mass terror, growth of state power, the ministerial role of the Politburo and the formation of the State Defence Committee (GKO).
• Following the war, Stalin encouraged competition between the Party and State to secure his own rule; shifting the centre of power and provoking rivalries.
• The continued use of terror, the Leningrad Affair (purge of over 2000 officials in 1949) and the testing of personal loyalties established Stalin as head of both Party and State.