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reasons for rise of Stalin - Coggle Diagram
reasons for rise of Stalin
Trotsky's unpopularity in the Politburo
→ Trotsky’s credibility affected in the Party
Trotsky became very ill around Lenin’s death, and was too weak to organise his supporters, chose to remain silent on Lenin’s criticism of Stalin
→ Stalin made sure he had support from Party members (felt that the ideas was realistic) and made it seem Trotsky was moving away from the Party’s decision / ideas
→ Stalin argued for ‘socialism in one country’ (strengthening SU before spreading revolutions)
Trotsky believed ‘permanent revolution’ and tried to spread that idea
often argued w/ Lenin → enemies used material to attack him
e.g.
Trotsky criticised Lenin’s New Economic Policy (NEP) and increasing control of Party → these openly challenged policies and were seen as acts of disloyalty from Trotsky
troika alliance aimed to remove Trotsky from power through discredit
→ couldnt deal with politics hence was excluded from his position
believed Trotsky was the definite successor of Lenin
→ Stalin’s aims achieved
Trotsky was complacent
→ has support of army which led him to victory against Whites , gave him a great deal of power→ seen as biggest threat and unpopular
Stalin’s manipulations
ideological divisions
ideological : system of thinking how politics, social and economic should be organized
Party divided between moderates and radicals
→ moderates : followed Lenin’s leadership
→ radicals : challenged the system and formed new ideas
Stalin was cunning and took advantage of both sides
Allied with Kamenev and Zinoviev (formed troika) to get rid of Trotsky
Broke alliance with Kamenev and Zinoviev
Attacked Bukharin and Rykov (sided radicals to get rid of moderates)
Stalin became supreme leader of SU with his potential opponents removed from power
control over party organisation
Trotsky support decreased : ideas were discredited
→ 1925 : Trotsky forced to resign as head of red army
→ 1927 : Stalin expelled Trotsky from the Party
→ 1940 : Trotsky assassinated by Stalin in Mexico
→ able to replace opponents e.g. Trotsky
→ also gained control over secret police (aka cheka)
Trotsky opposed Stalin through writings and criticised Stalin in parties and his policies
Stalin’s position gave him the authority to appoint and re-assign Party members
pretended to be close to Lenin
Stalin made it seem that he was close to Lenin → Party members were given an impression that Lenin favoured and trusted Stalin
→ Stalin showed that he was deeply sorrowed for his death
Lenin’s death in 1924 : Stalin organised Lenin’s funeral and made it a grand affair → ordered it to be in a mausoleum (large grand stone used to house a tomb)
→ Stalin purposely gave Trotsky the wrong date to Lenin’s funeral
→ gave Russians the idea that Stalin was the natural successor
Stalin slowly gained the good impressions of ppl which led to his rise
non-disclosure of
Lenin’s testament
Since Lenin criticised everyone, it was agreed that his testament would not be publicised and no notes could be made
Trotsky was a larger threat and party members decided to ignore Lenin’s warning
After Lenin’s death (1924), Testament was read out and Lenin’s potential successors were present
Stalin retained his position, testament had no effect, allowed Stalin to rise to power as Secretary-General,
voiced out criticisms on his leading successors and was especially clear in removing Stalin as Secretary-General
allowed Stalin to exploit his plans, established a troika alliance w/ Lev Kamenev and Grigory Zinoviev against Trotsky
Lenin made his views known in his Testament