Who was the Who was the strongest strongest

contender for the contender for the leadership of the leadership of the

Party?Party?

starter activity

One murder is a tragedy, a million is a statistic.

What does this quote tell us about Stalin’s personality?

Your taskYour task

Look at the list on p.135 and choose Look at the list on p.135 and choose 6 that would have been 6 that would have been advantageous to becoming a leader advantageous to becoming a leader of the USSR in 1924. Be prepared to of the USSR in 1924. Be prepared to explain your reasons.explain your reasons.

Your taskYour task

Study the information about Stalin Study the information about Stalin on p.136 and construct a scales on p.136 and construct a scales chart highlighting the successes and chart highlighting the successes and failures in his career or his failures in his career or his character.character.

PlenaryPlenary

On balance do you think Stalin’s On balance do you think Stalin’s weaknesses were outweighed by his weaknesses were outweighed by his strengths? Write a short judgement strengths? Write a short judgement paragraph supporting your answer.paragraph supporting your answer.

Your taskYour task Your teacher will assign you a contender for the Your teacher will assign you a contender for the

party leadership. You will become an expert on party leadership. You will become an expert on the strengths and weaknesses of different the strengths and weaknesses of different contenders for the party leadership. Research contenders for the party leadership. Research your own leader from the list below and then your own leader from the list below and then complete a table your teacher gives you.complete a table your teacher gives you.

StalinStalin TrotskyTrotsky ZinovievZinoviev KamenevKamenev BukharinBukharin RykovRykov TomskyTomsky

Stalin - strengths Genuine working-class Genuine working-class

background (mother a background (mother a seamstress & seamstress & washerwoman/ father a washerwoman/ father a cobbler)cobbler)

Hardworking – won a Hardworking – won a place at place at seminaryseminary

Admired Lenin’s writings Admired Lenin’s writings (as a youth)(as a youth)

Party activistParty activist Fundraiser (raiding Fundraiser (raiding

banks)banks) Reputation for toughness Reputation for toughness

(‘man of steel’)(‘man of steel’)

Editor of PravdaEditor of Pravda Opportunist – 1919, used roll as Opportunist – 1919, used roll as

Head of Peasants’ Inspectorate to Head of Peasants’ Inspectorate to familiarise himself with workings of familiarise himself with workings of govt.govt.

Careerist – rapid promotion to Careerist – rapid promotion to Orgburo, Politburo & General Sec.Orgburo, Politburo & General Sec.

Stalin - strengths

Stalin - weaknessesStalin - weaknesses

October Revolution – played little October Revolution – played little partpart

Antagonised leading Communists, Antagonised leading Communists, e.g. Sverdlov & Trotskye.g. Sverdlov & Trotsky

Reputation for ‘industrious Reputation for ‘industrious mediocrity’, ‘a grey blur which mediocrity’, ‘a grey blur which flickered obscurely but left no trace’ flickered obscurely but left no trace’ (Sukhanov, 1917, died 1940 in a (Sukhanov, 1917, died 1940 in a gulag)gulag)

Trotsky - strengths Rivalled Lenin in Rivalled Lenin in

intellect & charismaintellect & charisma Great oratorGreat orator Popular with youth & Popular with youth &

committed committed CommunistsCommunists

Superb organiser Superb organiser (October Revolution, (October Revolution, Civil War)Civil War)

Commissar for War – Commissar for War – strong military strong military supportsupport

Trotsky - weaknessesTrotsky - weaknesses

Personal weaknesses - arrogant & aloofPersonal weaknesses - arrogant & aloof Lacked political skills – didn’t foster Lacked political skills – didn’t foster

support among fellow Communist leaderssupport among fellow Communist leaders Radical & potentially divisive viewsRadical & potentially divisive views Poor public perception – seen as outsider Poor public perception – seen as outsider

& lacking party loyalty& lacking party loyalty Ill health (possibly malaria) – absent for Ill health (possibly malaria) – absent for

key meetings & events (Lenin’s funeral)key meetings & events (Lenin’s funeral)

Zinoviev - strengths Longstanding Longstanding

Bolshevik – active Bolshevik – active since 1903since 1903

Close to Lenin – Close to Lenin – arrived in Petrograd arrived in Petrograd with Lenin, April 1917with Lenin, April 1917

Party Sec. in St Party Sec. in St Petersburg – able to Petersburg – able to build powerbasebuild powerbase

Chairman of Chairman of CominternComintern Member of Member of PolitburoPolitburo Good oratorGood orator

Zinoviev - weaknessesZinoviev - weaknesses

Opposed armed uprising in Oct. Opposed armed uprising in Oct. 19171917

Disagreed with Lenin about Disagreed with Lenin about formation of new govt. – exclusion of formation of new govt. – exclusion of other socialistsother socialists

Lacked popular appeal – E.H.Carr, Lacked popular appeal – E.H.Carr, ‘weak, vain & ambitious’‘weak, vain & ambitious’

Not an intellectualNot an intellectual

Kamenev - strengths Active member of Active member of

Bolshevik Party since 1905Bolshevik Party since 1905 Worked closely with Lenin Worked closely with Lenin

from 1907-1917from 1907-1917 Major contributor to party Major contributor to party

doctrinedoctrine Party Sec. in MoscowParty Sec. in Moscow Commissar for Foreign Commissar for Foreign

TradeTrade Member of PolitburoMember of Politburo ModerateModerate E.H.Carr, ‘Intellectually E.H.Carr, ‘Intellectually

superior to Stalin & superior to Stalin & Zinoviev’Zinoviev’

Kamenev - weaknesses

Opposed Lenin’s April ThesesOpposed Lenin’s April Theses Opposed armed uprising of October Opposed armed uprising of October

19171917 Wanted socialist Wanted socialist coalition coalition govt.govt. E. H. Carr, ‘lacked vision’E. H. Carr, ‘lacked vision’

Bukharin - strengths Appealed to youthAppealed to youth Major figure in party Major figure in party

before 1917before 1917 Close to Lenin – called Close to Lenin – called

him ‘the golden boy of him ‘the golden boy of the Bolshevik Party’, the Bolshevik Party’, ‘the favourite of the ‘the favourite of the whole Party’whole Party’

Contributor to PravdaContributor to Pravda Member of PolitburoMember of Politburo Intellectual & Intellectual &

epicureanepicurean

Bukharin - weaknessesBukharin - weaknesses

Led opposition to Treaty of Brest-Led opposition to Treaty of Brest-LitovskLitovsk

Criticised Lenin & Trotsky over Criticised Lenin & Trotsky over trade union debatetrade union debate

Lacked political skillsLacked political skills

Rykov - strengths

Working class Working class backgroundbackground

Chairman of Chairman of VesenkhaVesenkha

Chairman of Chairman of SovnakomSovnakom

Strong speakerStrong speaker Supporter of NEP Supporter of NEP

& opponent of War & opponent of War CommunismCommunism

Rykov - weaknessesRykov - weaknesses

Personal weaknesses – alcoholicPersonal weaknesses – alcoholic Too outspokenToo outspoken Lacked political Lacked political acumenacumen

Tomsky - strengths

Important figure in Important figure in trade union trade union movement – active movement – active member of member of metalworkers’ unionmetalworkers’ union

Chairman of Central Chairman of Central Council of Trade Council of Trade UnionsUnions

Working-class Working-class backgroundbackground

Tomsky - weaknessesTomsky - weaknesses

Lacked senior position within partyLacked senior position within party Opposed Lenin over trade union Opposed Lenin over trade union

debate (1920)debate (1920)

Your taskYour task

Ignore what you might know about Ignore what you might know about who succeeded Lenin after his who succeeded Lenin after his death. In 1924 who was the most death. In 1924 who was the most likely candidate. Write a judgement likely candidate. Write a judgement paragraph, using detailed factual paragraph, using detailed factual evidence to support your answer.evidence to support your answer.

Read the soundbites by the Read the soundbites by the leadership contenders and leadership contenders and

decide who is speaking.decide who is speaking.

starter activity

Soundbites

What were the What were the main issues in the main issues in the

leadership leadership struggle?struggle?

Your taskYour task

Read p.139-141. Summarise the key Read p.139-141. Summarise the key issues surrounding the leadership issues surrounding the leadership contest. Use the following headings contest. Use the following headings to help structure your notes:to help structure your notes: Nature of leadershipNature of leadership NEP and industrialisationNEP and industrialisation ‘‘Permanent Revolution’ versus Permanent Revolution’ versus

‘Socialism in One Country’‘Socialism in One Country’

Nature of leadershipNature of leadership Collective leadership Collective leadership

or rule by committeeor rule by committee Reversal of Reversal of

centralisation process centralisation process of Civil Warof Civil War

Fear of dictatorshipFear of dictatorship Fear of Trotsky Fear of Trotsky

(Commander of Red (Commander of Red Army, Commissar for Army, Commissar for War)War)

Need for a Need for a moderatemoderate candidatecandidate

To what extent were Russians justified in thinking there might be a dictatorship?

NEP and NEP and industrialisationindustrialisation

ConsensusConsensus on need to industrialise on need to industrialise Concern over negative effects of NEP – rich Concern over negative effects of NEP – rich

superclass, property dealing, land superclass, property dealing, land speculationspeculation, gambling, prostitution, gambling, prostitution

Arguments over next stage of NEPArguments over next stage of NEP High unemploymentHigh unemployment Wages out of step with price increasesWages out of step with price increases Re-emergence of food shortagesRe-emergence of food shortages Peasants beginning to hoard produce againPeasants beginning to hoard produce again

What do we mean by left and right-

wing politics? How would this apply to

the Communist Party? Who would be on the left and who would be on

the right?

NEP and NEP and industrialisationindustrialisation

Disagreement over when & how to Disagreement over when & how to end NEP experimentend NEP experiment

Trotsky, Zinoviev & Kamenev (left): Trotsky, Zinoviev & Kamenev (left): end NEP, end NEP, militarisation of labourmilitarisation of labour, , forced requistioning of grainforced requistioning of grain

Bukharin, Rykov & Tomsky (right): Bukharin, Rykov & Tomsky (right): continue NEP, develop continue NEP, develop consumer consumer economyeconomy to encourage to encourage manufacturing industrymanufacturing industry

‘‘Permanent Revolution’ Permanent Revolution’ versus ‘Socialism in One versus ‘Socialism in One

Country’Country’ Permanent RevolutionPermanent Revolution Hard-line Communism Hard-line Communism

– militarisation of – militarisation of labour, labour, collective collective farmingfarming etc etc

TrotskyTrotsky Needed international Needed international

support -world support -world Communist revolution Communist revolution requiredrequired

Socialism in one Socialism in one countrycountry

Moderate Moderate Communism – Communism – flexible response flexible response to USSR’s needsto USSR’s needs

StalinStalin Nationalist appealNationalist appeal

Your taskYour task

In the light of your research into the In the light of your research into the key issues of the leadership contest, key issues of the leadership contest, which of the candidates do you now which of the candidates do you now think was most likely to succeed? think was most likely to succeed? Write a short judgement paragraph Write a short judgement paragraph explaining your reasons using explaining your reasons using detailed, factual evidence.detailed, factual evidence.

Your taskYour task

Study chart 9C on p. 142 and list the Study chart 9C on p. 142 and list the ways Stalin built up his power base. ways Stalin built up his power base. Which was the most important?Which was the most important?

Party SecretaryParty Secretary

Controlled business Controlled business of Politburo (policy of Politburo (policy making body of making body of Communist Party)Communist Party)

Controlled agendas Controlled agendas & discussions& discussions

Controlled Controlled information sent out information sent out to party membersto party members

Stalin with his wife Nadya

Positions in Orgburo & Positions in Orgburo & SecretariatSecretariat

Orgburo (Party Orgburo (Party administration administration department)department)

Controlled Controlled appointments within appointments within PartyParty

Placed supporters in Placed supporters in key positionskey positions

Made appointments Made appointments & dispensed favours & dispensed favours to regional party to regional party secretariessecretaries

Control of Party Control of Party OrganisationOrganisation

Controlled selection of Controlled selection of party delegates to annual party delegates to annual congresses where policy congresses where policy decided and Central decided and Central Committee chosenCommittee chosen

Deliberately chose Deliberately chose delegates hostile to delegates hostile to opponents, e.g. Trotsky opponents, e.g. Trotsky (1924 congress)(1924 congress)

Stalin’s position attracted Stalin’s position attracted powerful supporters, e.g. powerful supporters, e.g. Zinoviev & KamenevZinoviev & Kamenev

Control of Party Control of Party MembershipMembership

Purged party of Purged party of radical elements, e.g. radical elements, e.g. students & soldiersstudents & soldiers

Supervised ‘Lenin Supervised ‘Lenin Enrolment’ (1924/5) Enrolment’ (1924/5) doubling membership doubling membership to 1 millionto 1 million

New membership New membership were non-ideological were non-ideological & poorly educated, & poorly educated, drawn to Stalin’s drawn to Stalin’s nationalistnationalist policies policies

How did Stalin How did Stalin actually become actually become

leader?leader?

Your taskYour task

Even today politics is defined by Even today politics is defined by those who are ‘on the right’ and those who are ‘on the right’ and those who are ‘on the left’. What do those who are ‘on the left’. What do these terms mean for politicians these terms mean for politicians today? What do you think they today? What do you think they meant for politicians in Russia after meant for politicians in Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution?the Bolshevik Revolution?The House of

Commons

starter activity

Two wings of Communist Two wings of Communist PartyParty

Zinoviev

Kamenev

Bukharin

Two wings of Communist Two wings of Communist PartyParty

Left WingLeft Wing Individuals like Individuals like

Zinoviev, KamenevZinoviev, Kamenev Liked Trotsky but Liked Trotsky but

didn’t want a didn’t want a dictatorshipdictatorship

Liked traditional Liked traditional Bolshevik idealsBolshevik ideals

Suspicious of NEP & Suspicious of NEP & return of capitalismreturn of capitalism

‘‘Permanent Permanent Revolution’Revolution’

Right WingRight Wing Individuals like Individuals like

BukharinBukharin Liked NEPLiked NEP Liked Liked

industrialisation & industrialisation & expansion of expansion of Russian economyRussian economy

Socialism on one Socialism on one countrycountry

Your taskYour task

Create a timeline showing Create a timeline showing achievements and set backs. Mark achievements and set backs. Mark on the timeline any points at which on the timeline any points at which his career might have been stopped his career might have been stopped when Lenin was alive or during the when Lenin was alive or during the power struggle.power struggle.

Successes

Failures

Stalin’s six steps to Stalin’s six steps to power!power!

1.1. Before Lenin’s funeral Stalin tricks Trotsky Before Lenin’s funeral Stalin tricks Trotsky into not coming. People think Trotsky can’t be into not coming. People think Trotsky can’t be bothered to turn up. Stalin, meanwhile, makes bothered to turn up. Stalin, meanwhile, makes a stirring speech praising Lenin and saying he a stirring speech praising Lenin and saying he was Lenin’s disciple.was Lenin’s disciple.

Why was it so important to be seen at Lenin’s funeral?

2.2. May 1924, just May 1924, just before 13before 13thth Party Party Congress, Central Congress, Central Committee decided Committee decided not to publish not to publish Lenin’s testament, Lenin’s testament, as it contained as it contained criticisms of them as criticisms of them as well as Stalin & may well as Stalin & may have overly have overly favoured Trotskyfavoured Trotsky

What sorts of criticisms do you think Lenin might have

made of Stalin?

33. In 1924, 13. In 1924, 13thth Party Party Congress, Zinoviev & Congress, Zinoviev & Kamenev join forces Kamenev join forces with Stalin to defeat with Stalin to defeat Trotsky. Stalin (party Trotsky. Stalin (party secretary) packs secretary) packs Congress with Congress with supporters. Trotsky lost supporters. Trotsky lost the vote due to his the vote due to his support for ‘ban on support for ‘ban on factions’ and soon his factions’ and soon his job as Commissar for job as Commissar for the War.the War.

Why was Commissar for War such a powerful post

within the Politburo?

4.4.1924, Zinoviev & 1924, Zinoviev & Kamenev attack Kamenev attack Trotsky on his Trotsky on his support for Lenin. support for Lenin. Trotsky publishes Trotsky publishes ‘Lessons of October’ ‘Lessons of October’ challenging their challenging their loyalty to 1917 loyalty to 1917 Revolution. Stalin Revolution. Stalin sits back & watches sits back & watches opponents destroy opponents destroy each other.each other.

Stalin played a very clever political game.

Why didn’t his rivals do the same?

5.5.1926, Stalin turns on 1926, Stalin turns on Zinoviev & Kamenev, Zinoviev & Kamenev, joining forces with joining forces with Bukharin and the right Bukharin and the right of the party attracted of the party attracted by nationalist ‘Socialism by nationalist ‘Socialism in One Country’ policy. in One Country’ policy. Stalin supporters pack Stalin supporters pack the Congress and the Congress and Zinoviev and Kamenev Zinoviev and Kamenev lose vote of no lose vote of no confidence & their jobs confidence & their jobs in the Politburo. in the Politburo. Trotsky, Kamenev & Trotsky, Kamenev & Zinoviev form ‘United Zinoviev form ‘United Opposition’ movement Opposition’ movement and in 1927 expelled and in 1927 expelled from party.from party.

Stalin played a very clever political game.

Why didn’t his rivals do the same?

6.6. 1928, Stalin attacks Bukharin and supporters of 1928, Stalin attacks Bukharin and supporters of the NEP. Proposes rapid industrialisation & the NEP. Proposes rapid industrialisation & militarised labour (views of the left he has militarised labour (views of the left he has smashed!) Bukharin, Rykov & Tomsky out-voted, smashed!) Bukharin, Rykov & Tomsky out-voted, expelled from Politburoexpelled from Politburo

What were the main risks in

expelling these men from the

Communist Party?

By 1929, his 50By 1929, his 50thth birthday, Stalin was birthday, Stalin was undisputed leader of the USSR. undisputed leader of the USSR.

What do you think Stalin’s next steps would be in further securing his position?

What happened What happened to Trotsky?to Trotsky?

DiscussionDiscussion

Do you think Trotsky was partly to Do you think Trotsky was partly to blame for his own death?blame for his own death?

Your taskYour task

Read the sources 9.3-9.10 and identify Read the sources 9.3-9.10 and identify reasons they provide as to why Stalin reasons they provide as to why Stalin eventually became leader. Use the table eventually became leader. Use the table below to guide you.below to guide you.

Importance of control of

party

Policies Stalin’s personal

characteristics

Weaknesses of opponents

Luck

Your taskYour task

List the reasons why Stalin List the reasons why Stalin succeeded to the leadership of the succeeded to the leadership of the party and the reasons why Trotsky party and the reasons why Trotsky failed.failed.

What evidence would you use to What evidence would you use to support these judgements?support these judgements?

Write an essay entitled, ‘Why did Write an essay entitled, ‘Why did Stalin rather than Trotsky emerge as Stalin rather than Trotsky emerge as the leader of the USSR in 1929’.the leader of the USSR in 1929’.