Stalin’s scope of power

How many bases of power did Stalin have

Controlled the Orgburo

He was party general secretary

Commissar for nationalities

Seat on the politburo

Describe duties of the Orgburo

He was liaison officer between the orgyburo and the politburo. This allowed Stalin to monitor part personnel and policy

What was the significance of him being commissar of nationalities?

He was given this position after the October Revolution and with an office close to Lenin, he gained Lenin’s trust as a devoted Bolshevik operator. Gave him wide powers of appointment and provided him a key link to non-Russian parties and their votes

What did he do as party general secretary

Set committee agenda

Appointed thousands of officials + demoted.

Kept files on party members

Provided a link to regional secretaries such as kaganivich & turkestan

This post gave him 26000 personal files of party members. A useful source if information he could use against his enemies.

He had dzerzhinsky, the head of the secret police, report to him regularly. Very few politburo members were not under his surveillance. He could appoint people to party positions and promote his own supporters to key positions. As time went on many party officials owed their loyalty to Stalin. He could outvote and outmaneuver his ooppponents. He had the power.

Made him responsible for supervising the Lenin enrollment, this was a membership drive aimed at increasing the number if industrial workers in the party ranks. Over 500000 workers were recruited, doubling the party’s membership. The new members were poorly educated and politically naive. The workers saw the party as a source if employment and other privileges—privileges that demanded the loyalty to those who allowed them in the party. Stalimg was careful to ensure he could identify with the needs and demands of these new members and his humble backgrounds helped him do this