The leadership struggle 1924-29 Flashcards
(29 cards)
Lenin’s testament said Stalin…
Was rude, abused his power and should be removed from power
Lenin’s testament said Bukharin…
Was popular but didn’t fully understand Marxism
Lenin’s testament said Trotsky…
Was brilliant but too arrogant
Lenin’s testament said Zinoviev and Kamenev…
Lost their chance as they didn’t support the 1917 October Revolution
What did the politburo decide to do with Lenin’s testament?
Decided no to publish it, and agreed to share power in a collective leadership
What was the effect for Stalin of the Politburo’s decision on publishing/not publishing Lenin’s testament
Great for Stalin, as it made him look really bad
Kamenev’s background - 4 points
- old Bolshevik 1903
- head of Moscow com party
- close friends with Lenin
- working class upbringing, humble, down to earth
Kamenev’s negatives - 4 points
- opposed the revolution, coward
- bad public speaker
- too cautious + boring
- played little part in the civil war
Zinoviev’s background - 4 points
- old Bolshevik 1903
- head of Comintern
- head of Leningrad communist party
- son of a prosperous farmer, non communist, privileged
Zinoviev’s negatives - 3 points
- opposed revolution, coward
- hid in nice hotels during the civil war, sneaky
- not popular, vain, untalented
Bukharin’s Background - 4 points
- young + popular
- great thinker + writer
- editor of Pravda, could twist + control stories
- called ‘golden boy’ by Lenin, well-liked
Bukharin’s negatives - 2 points
- too young + inexperienced
- disagreed with Lenin on Marxism
Stalin’s strengths - 7 points
- General secretary
- Georgian peasant accent
- Long history as a Bolshevik, robbed banks + imprisoned
- Lenin called him ‘his wonderful Georgian’
- policy of ‘socialism in one country’
- Ran the ‘Lenin enrollment’
- Tough childhood
Why was Stalin’s position as general secretary a good thing?
Boring but could pull strings + Study 26,000 personal files on members/ opposition
Why was Stalin’s accent a good thing?
Seen as straight-talking and very communist
Why was Stalin’s policy a good thing?
The population were fed up of war and wanted to focus on fixing Russia
Why was Stalin running the Lenin Enrollment a good thing?
Thousands of workers joined the party but had to support Stalin to get in
Why was Stalin’s childhood a good thing?
Made him ruthless + a strong political fighter
Stalin’s weaknesses - 4 points
- Not great public speaker
- didn’t take a leading role in the cw or rev
- Lenin’s testament called for his removal
- dull + boring, known as ‘the grey blur’
Trotsky’s strengths - 5 points
- took part in the failed 1905 uprising
- Lenin’s right hand man 1917 to death + planned Oct rev together
- popular amongst younger, radical party members
- war hero, created the red army, helped win civil war
- brilliant organiser, great thinker, inspirational public speaker, member of the politburo
Trotsky’s weaknesses - 6 points
- arrogant, annoyed people
- seen as too western, worldwide rev was unpopular
- feared bc of red army
- under-estimated Stalin, didn’t get involved in dirty politics
- face antisemitism + often ill
- only became a Bolshevik in 1917
Left wing - members + beliefs
Zinoviev, Kamenev, Trotsky
- ending the NEP
- worldwide revolution
- for rapid industrialisation
Right wing - members + beliefs
Bukharin
- supported the NEP
- supported Stalin’s socialism in one country
- slow industrialisation of Russia
Stalin’s wing - members + beliefs
Stalin
- keep the NEP as long as it works
- wanted to industrialise quicker than the right, but slower than the left
- policy of ‘socialism in one country’
