stalins rise to power

stalin at lenins funeral

• stalin tricked Trotsky into not turning up for the funeral severely damaging trotskys reputation

• set himself up as Lenins disciple

may 1924: lenins secret testament

• krupskaya gave lenins secret testament to the central committee just before 13th party congress

• zinoviev and kamaenev urged that it should not become general knowledge- thought stalin presented no real threat

13th party congress 1924

• zinoviev, kamenev and stalin now leading party

• trotsky criticised party for becoming less bureacratic and less democratic

• trotsky easily defeated in votes

• trotsky approved ban on factions in 1921 and was unwilling to cause splits in party

1923: trotsky

• zinoviev and kamenev, viscious campaign against Trotsky

• trotsky critcised their unwillingness to back Lenin in 1917

• stalin continued to build powerbase, allowed Stalin to bring more supporters

1925: “socialism in one country”

• stalins policy of “socialism in one country” was popular

• new alliance between Stalin and Bukharin, supporting NEP and co-operation with peasants

1925: 14h party congress

• zinoviec and kamanev attacked stalin, calling for a vote of no confidence

• zinoviev and kamenev lost every vote because Stalin had control of delegates

1926-27: united opposition

• joined trotsky to form a “united opposition” and made appeal to party masses

• accused of factionalism- all 3 lost power and expelled from party

1928: the right

• stalin turned against NEP and attacked right of party

• now advocated rapid industrialisation and use of force against peasants

• 1929: bukharin outvoted in congress by Stalins supporters

• bukharin, ryokov, tomosky removed from politburo

dec 1929

stalin leader of USSR

ideology and politics

• socialism in one country was popular

• creation of NEP and co-operation with peasants gained him support

• later discarded NEP and used force against peasants

Stalins personal character and skills

• set himself up as lenins disciple

• comrades were content to leave him alone

• stalin was wilful and sly

• always appeared agreeable to majority

weaknesses of opponents

• trotsky had no talent for leadership

• zinoviev and kamanev had constant disputes with trotsky

• “factionalism” led to all losing power

control of party organisation

• control of delgates, right and left

• vote of no confidence