rise to power

• Lenin died 1924, he left no successor, for 5 years following there was power struggle.
• Stalin:

  • seen as grey blur, consistently in background
  • Stalin enjoyed paperwork, however meant he could change legislation to benefit him
  • attention to Trotsky
  • Lenin wrote at bottom of his will that Stalin should not take power
  • Stalin declares at Lenin's funeral how close him and Lenin were, Trotsky was not there
• Stalin's position in the Politburo as General secretary which gave him control of party organisation and membership
• Stalin controlled party membership allowing him to get rid of more radical elements, support Trotsky
• Stalin supervised the Lenin enrolment of 1924-5 where party doubled it's membership to 1 million
• New members tended to be young, urban workers who Stalin could put his ideas onto
• Stalin controlled party organisation meaning he could influence selection of delegates sent to annual party congress. He filled congress with his supporters, Hostile reception towards Trotsky from 1924
• Zinoviev and Kamenev sought his support as Stalin was able to deliver votes in congress
• his position in Orgburo as the secretariat gave him control of appointments of responsibility. He was able to put his supporters in key positions.
• Party secretary gave him control of drawing up agendas and papers of what would be discussed in meetings
• Stalin attached himself to the legacy of Lenin and made the oration at Lenin's funeral. Contrast to Trotsky who did not attend
• Stalin removed Lenin's testament and it was never published
• 'ban of factionalism' 1921 meant those who did not follow an official party policy would be banned, easy to accuse someone
• Stalin's policy of socialism in one country was appealing, nationalistic and patriotic; Trotsky's policy was permanent revolution
• Stalin's different positions in the NEP and decision for rapid industrialization gained supporters
• left= Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev
• right= Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky
• 1. 1924 Stalin sides with Kamenev and Zinoviev, against Trotsky who was criticising the party
• 2. Kamenev and Zinoviev attacked Trotsky for previously being a Menshevik, Trotsky retaliates with the 'lessons of October'. Stalin is happy to see left fighting
• 3. 1925 Stalin's socialism in one country policy fits well with ideas of the right to continue with NEP, new alliance is formed between Stalin and Bukharin
• 4. Zinoviev and Kamenev are annoyed by Stalin's switching to the right and call for a vote of no confidence against Stalin, fails
• 5. 1926-7 Zinoviev and Kamenev join back with Trotsky to oppose the polices of Stalin and the Right, however the party is filled with Stalin supporters. They are accused of factionalism and expelled 1927
• 6, 1928 Stalin turns against the NEP and supports idea of rapid industrialisation. Bukharin opposed this idea and outvoted. Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky removed
• 7. in 1928 Stalin becomes the undisputed leader
• Supreme Soviet of the USSR: filled with Soviets
• 1934 NKVD replaced by GPU
• 1934 decree said investigations should not last longer than 10 days