stalin

• key strengths - genuine working class/peasant background
• key strength - loyal to lenin
• key strength - was commisar for nationalities
• key weakness - disliked trotsky (removed from civil war post for disobedience)
• weakness - mundane was not regarded as very important
• in 1929 he became sole leader of the party
• why could lenin take over with ease - Only contender who was a member of all key groups (e.g. Politburo, Ogboru, Central Committee…) Could use position as GS to expel people from the party. Had these key roles in the establishment of the Bolshevik gov. 
• triumvirate consisted of stalin zinvoviev and kamenev
• how did stalin outmaneuver trotsky - Major speech at Lenin’s funeral (exploited trotsky’s absence)

  -Suppressed Lenin’s testament

  -Forms the Troika against Trotsky

  -Uses the ban on factions to get rid of the united opposition
• stalin was able to rise to power due to his control of party organisation aswell as his personality and personal skill
• stalin used propaganda to promote a cult of personality and the five year plan as well as his policies of collectivisation
• In 1929 Stalin introduced the first of his 5 Year economic plan. With the main aim being to rapidly industrialise the USSR. 
• Megalomania - obsession with power and control. belief that you are more powerful/ important than you are
• paranoia - a thought or delusion that you cannot trust other people/ they are trying to harm you