Stalin's Rise to Power: Key Political Maneuvers and Ideological Battles in the USSR

How was Stalin perceived by his colleagues in the early 1920s?

He was often underrated and seen as a 'grey blur' or 'Comrade Card-Index'.

Which position, acquired in April 1922, became the foundation of Stalin's power?

General Secretary.

What was the Triumvirate (Troika), and who were its members?

An alliance formed to block Trotsky's ambitions, consisting of Zinoviev, Kamenev, and Stalin.

What did Lenin suggest about Stalin in his Testament?

Lenin described Stalin as 'too rude' and suggested the party find a way to remove him from the post of General Secretary.

Why was Lenin's Testament not read out to the Thirteenth Party Congress in 1924?

Zinoviev and Kamenev urged it be kept secret because it was unflattering toward them.

How did Stalin use Lenin's funeral to damage Trotsky's reputation?

He gave Trotsky the wrong date for the funeral, causing him to miss it.

What was the Lenin Enrolment (1924-25), and how did it benefit Stalin?

An initiative that nearly doubled party membership, with new members loyal to local party organizers appointed by Stalin.

Define Stalin's policy of 'Socialism in One Country'.

The view that the USSR should build a 'workers' paradise' on its own.

Who formed the United Opposition in 1926?

Trotsky, Zinoviev, and Kamenev.

Which 1921 rule did Stalin use to expel the United Opposition?

The 'Ban on Factions'.

Who were the leaders of the Right Opposition?

Nikolai Bukharin, Alexei Rykov, and Mikhail Tomsky.

What policy shift did Stalin make in 1928 to defeat the Right?

He turned against the NEP and advocated for rapid industrialization and collectivization.

What event gave Stalin the excuse to abandon the NEP and the Right?

A serious food shortage and grain procurement crisis.

By which year was Stalin the undisputed leader of the USSR?

1929.

What was the Nomenklatura system?

A list of 5,500 key party and government posts filled by central party appointees.