What did Stalin convince the Central Committee not to publish?
Lenin’s testament - this criticised all potential leaders, particularly Stalin
What role did Stalin play at Lenin’s funeral?
Chief mourner whereby he made a speech praising him.
What did Stalin promote which won him support within the Communist party?
Socialism in One Country
What did Socialism in One Country declare?
That the Soviet Union should focus on securing communism at home rather than supporting revolutions abroad
What role did Stalin hold?
General Secretary of the Communist Party
How did Stalin’s role help him gain popularity?
1) He appointed/promoted officials who supported him
2) He removed officials who supported his rivals
Who did Stalin ally himself with to take out Trotsky?
The left of the party (Kamenev and Zinoviev)
Who did Stalin ally himself with to take out Kamenev and Zinoviev?
The right of the party (Bukharin, Tomsy and Rykov.)
When were Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev expelled from the party?
1927
How did Stalin attack Bukharin, Tomsky and Rykov
He criticised their support of the N.E.P. stating they had moved away from Communism.
What weaknesses did Trotsky have?
1) He was Jewish
2) He was a Menshevik
How did Trotsky’s arrogance hold him back?
1) He failed to see the leadership contest as important - so he didn’t try and gain support (unlike Stalin)
2) He fought the contest thinking his intellect was enough to get him through.
3) He did not like making secret alliances
4) He underestimated Stalin
Why was Trotsky not at Lenin’s funeral?
Stalin gave him the wrong date
What idea did Trotsky support that lost him the support of the Communist Party?
World revolution - he wanted the Soviet Union to support Communist revolutions around the world.
What position did Trotsky step down from which lost him power?
Commissar of War - leader of the Red army.
