STALIN

1917-1921, Consolidation of Bolshevik power and military command:

● 1917, Stalin was appointed People's Commissar for Nationalities' Affairs to win over non-Russian citizens
of the former Russian Empire
● Lenin formed an eight-member Politburo which included Stalin and Trotsky. During the civil war, only
Stalin and Trotsky were allowed to see Lenin without an appointment. This could therefore later be used as
an argument for Stalin to demonstrate his closeness to Lenin.
● In 1918, he formed the “Tsaritsyn group," a loose group of like-minded Bolshevik military leaders and
party members personally loyal to Stalin. By doing this he opposed Tsarist Military Officers. Tsaritsyn later
got called Stalingrad.
● He ordered the killings of many former Tsarist officers in the Red Army. By doing this, he challenged
Trotsky who had hired them for their military expertise. This caused friction between Stalin and Trotsky.
● In the civil war, he proved his worth to the Central Committee, displaying decisiveness, determination, and
willingness to take on responsibility in conflict situations. At the same time, he disregarded orders and
repeatedly threatened to resign when affronted.
● In November 1919, the government nonetheless awarded him the Order of the Red Banner for his wartime
service.
● In late 1919, Lenin and many others wanted to expand the revolution westwards into Europe, starting with
Poland. Stalin argued this was too ambitious and unrealistic. The battles for both Lwów and Warsaw were
lost, and Stalin's actions were held partly to blame. He defended himself in front of the Politburo and
argued that it was the faulty campaign strategy.
● The Polish–Soviet War broke out in early 1920, with the Poles invading Ukraine and taking Kiev on 7 May.
● Lenin believed that the Polish proletariat would rise up to support the Russians against the Polish
government. Stalin had cautioned against this; he believed that nationalism would lead the Polish
working-classes to support their government's war effort.
● Stalin believed the red army were not prepared enough for an offensive war. Stalin lost the argument, after
which he accepted Lenin's decision and supported it.
● At the Politburo meeting in August 1920, Tukhachevsky blamed Stalin for his defeat at the Battle of
Warsaw. In Moscow, Lenin and Trotsky also blamed him for his behaviour in the Polish–Soviet War. Stalin
felt humiliated and under-appreciated.
● At the 9th Bolshevik Conference in late September, Trotsky accused Stalin of "strategic mistakes" in his
handling of the war. Lenin joined Trotsky’s criticism of Stalin. Stalin felt disgraced and his antipathy
toward Trotsky increased.

1921-1923, Lenin’s final years:

● Stalin's native Caucasus posed a particular problem because of its highly multi-ethnic mix.
● After the civil war, workers' strikes and peasant uprisings broke out across Russia, largely in opposition to
Sovnarkom's food requisitioning project; as an antidote, Lenin introduced market-oriented reforms: the
New Economic Policy (NEP).
● There was also internal turmoil in the Communist Party, as Trotsky led a faction calling for abolition of
trade unions; Lenin opposed this, and Stalin helped rally opposition to Trotsky's position.
● Stalin also agreed to supervise the Department of Agitation and Propaganda in the Central Committee
Secretariat.
● At the 11th Party Congress in 1922, Lenin nominated Stalin as the party's new General Secretary. Although
concerns were expressed that adopting this new post on top of his others would overstretch his workload
and give him too much power, Stalin was appointed to the position. For Lenin, it was advantageous to have
a key ally in this crucial post.
● In May 1922, a massive stroke left Lenin partially paralysed.
● Lenin twice asked Stalin to procure poison so that he could commit suicide, but Stalin never did so.
 ● Their differences also became personal; Lenin was particularly angered when Stalin was rude to his wife
Krupskaya during a telephone conversation.In the final years of his life, Krupskaya provided governing
figures with Lenin's Testament, a series of increasingly disparaging notes about Stalin. These criticised
Stalin's rude manners and excessive power, suggesting that Stalin should be removed from the position of
general secretary.

1924-27, succeeding Lenin:

● Stalin took control of Lenin’s funeral, making sure Trotksy didn’t come in order to immediately present
himself as close to Lenin and deserving of succeeding him.
● Stalin renamed Petrograd ‘Leningrad’ to honour Lenin and gave pro-Lenin lectures at the Sverdlov
University
● During the 13th Party Congress in May 1924, Stalin offered his resignation as General Secretary after
Lenin’s testimony was read out. This act of humility saved him, and he was retained in the position.
● In late 1924, Stalin moved against Kamenev and Zinoviev, removing their supporters from key positions.
● In 1925, the two moved into open opposition to Stalin and Bukharin. At the 14th Party Congress in
December, they launched an attack against Stalin's faction, but it was unsuccessful. Stalin in turn accused
Kamenev and Zinoviev of reintroducing factionalism — and thus instability — into the party
● In mid-1926, Kamenev and Zinoviev joined with Trotsky's supporters to form the United Opposition
against Stalin; in October they agreed to stop factional activity under threat of expulsion, and later publicly
recanted their views under Stalin's command.
● The factionalist arguments continued, with Stalin threatening to resign in October and then December 1926
and again in December 1927.
● In October 1927, Zinoviev and Trotsky were removed from the Central Committee; the latter was exiled to
Kazakhstan and later deported from the country in 1929. Some of those United Opposition members who
were repentant were later rehabilitated and returned to government.

Trotsky
Oct. Rev-
➔ Elected to Bolshevik Central Committee after prison release and elected as Chairman of Petrograd Soviet
of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies - supported Lenin's call for a socialist rev.
➔ During Revolution oversaw Soviet Military operations in Petrograd
➔ Took a leading role in directing countermeasures for the Soviets- whilst reassuring the public that his
military only meant to defend the Congress of Soviets
➔ Continued to function as military leader of the revolution when Kerensky attempted to reclaim Petrograd -
organised and supervised troops which defeated Kerensky - 13 November

Govt. -
As foreign commissar 1st change was to implement a program of peace - calling for immediate armistice
negotiations among powers.
Following the conclusion of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, he resigned as foreign commissar - facing the task of building a
new Red Army to defend the communist govt. From threats of civil war and foreign intervention. (architect of Red
army)- foundation are the Red Guards.
Developed a ,initially, small but competent force. Military policy unsuccessfully resisted but vindicated by success
of Red Army v White Armies 1918-1919
Trotsky frequently visited his troops at the front in his famous armoured train so he could never be seen as a military
commander who stayed away from the fighting.
Role in Red army made him have parallels to Napoleon the 1st - runs country as military dictatorship (despite aim
being political leadership)
Outsider - originally a menshevik, also Jewish - in an anti semitic world
Proposed relaxation of the stringent centralisation of War Communism - endeavoured to apply military discipline to
economy
During CW and WC phase of soviet regime - clearly established as No.2 next to Lenin
⅕ initial members of Politburo when CP policy making body established 1919
Took prominent part in launching Comintern 1919 - wrote it’s initial manifesto

Struggle for Succession -

Became obvious candidate due to charismatic qualities and record - prone to arrogance, dismissiveness and sarcasm
- made him unpopular amongst Bolsheviks - fatal when stalin outmanoeuvred him, underestimated Stalin’s ability
Relied on intellectual written didn't like political debate (beneath him)
1922-23 Lenin turned to T in assistance correcting errors of troika - esp. In foreign trade, handling of national
minorities and reform of bureaucracy.
Failure to develop adequate economic planning - T responded with letter of details they should take
Propaganda counterattack against T and supporters on grounds of factionalism and opportunism.
T fell ill - could take no part of the succession struggle- Deceived about the date of funeral - failed to return in time -
scene was left to Stalin.
May 1924, repeated the denunciations of his violations of party discipline, Trotsky vainly professed his belief in the
omnipotence of the party
Denigrating T’s role in revolution, denouncing permanent Rev. as menshevik heresy - had insistence on permanent
revolution

➔ Jan 1925 removed from war commissariat.

➔ Oct 1926 T and zinovyev dropped from the Central Committee - after the 10th anniversary of rev. Expelled
from party
➔ Jan 1928 T and principal follower exiled ti remote parts of Soviet Union - T at Alma-Ata
➔ Jan 1919 T banished from territory of SU

ZINOVIEV
● Jewish family in an anti-Semitic world
● Zinoviev and Lenin soon had a falling out over Zinoviev's opposition to Lenin's call for an open rebellion
against the Provisional Government.
● Oppose Lenin’s idea of Oct Rev.- Zinoviev and Kamenev- only 2 Central Committee member to oppose
armed revolt
● Resigned from the Central Committee when anti-Bolsheviks force from railroad labour union outside
Petrograd collapsed after the Oct Rev
● elected to the Central Committee in March 1918. An outstanding orator, he helped win public support for
the new regime and was put in charge of the Petrograd (Leningrad 1924–91) city and regional government
in 1921- able to influence his people.
● March 1919- became a non-voting member of the ruling Politburo when it was created after the Congress
and became the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Comintern.
● Zinoviev was responsible for Petrograd's defence during two periods of intense clashes with White forces
in 1919. Trotsky, thought little of Zinoviev's leadership, which aggravated their strained relationship.
● In early 1921, when the Communist Party was split into several factions, Zinoviev supported Lenin's
faction. As a result, Zinoviev was made a full member of the Politburo after the Congress on March 1921.
● Zinoviev was one of the most influential figures in the Soviet leadership during Lenin's final years. He
delivered the Central Committee's reports to the Party Congresses in 1923 and 1924.
● He was also considered one of the Communist Party's leading theoreticians.
● Formed Triumvirate with Stalin and Kamenev- managed the intra-party debate and delegate-selection
process in autumn 1923
● (Zinoviev and Kamenev helped Stalin retain his position as General Secretary of the Central Committee at
the XIIIth Party Congress in May–June 1924 during the first Lenin's Testament controversy.)
 ● Within weeks of the Congress in 1925, Stalin wrested control of the Leningrad party organization and
government and had him dismissed from all regional posts, leaving only the Comintern as a possible power
base for Zinoviev.
● During a lull in the intra-party fighting in the spring of 1926, Zinoviev, Kamenev and their supporters
formed an alliance with Trotsky’s supporters within the Communist party- United Opposition
● July 1926- Following Stalin's orders, his supporters accused Zinoviev of the Lashevich Affair and Zinoviev
was dismissed from the Politburo- victim of Stalin’s ‘Great Purge’. Soon the office of the Comintern
Chairman was abolished, and Zinoviev lost his last important post.
● Zinoviev remained in opposition to Stalin throughout 1926 and 1927, resulting in his expulsion from the
Central Committee in October 1927 and was expelled from the Communist Party on 12 November

KAMENEV
POSITIVES:

● 25 March 1917 - after returning to St.Petersburg from exile in Siberia, he took control of Pravda with Stalin
and Matvei Muranov to move it right wing
● 10 November 1917 - three days after Bolshevik seizure of power, and his Bolshevik Central Committee
allies suggested they should negotiate and share power with other socialist parties to avoid railroad strikes
which would erode the government’s ability to fight forces loyal to PG
● 1918 - he became Chairman of the Moscow Soviet and then Lenin’s deputy chairman of the council of
people’s commissars - powerful position
● His relationship with Trotsky was good all throughout 1917 and during the civil war

NEGATIVES:
● Shortly after the PG formed, he created a policy to show them conditional support and reconcile with the
Mensheviks - No capacity to lead men, seen as too soft
● April 1917 - rejected the April Theses but then decided to support Lenin until September
● 10 October 1917 - voted against the armed revolution with Zinoviev and published an anti-rev open letter
● Negotiations ceased after the defeat of anti-Bolshevik forces just outside of Petrograd aided Lenin and
Trotsky’s persuasion of Central Committee, resulting in Kamenev’s resignation from the committee later on
in November
● Relationship with Trotsky lessened after 1920 when he formed the triumvirate with Zinoviev and Stalin and
denounced Trotsky during the 13th Communist Party Conference in 1924
● The 14th Party Conference in 1925, Kamenev and Zinoviev found themselves in a minority when their
motion against Socialism in One Country was rejected and Stalin moved away from the left and more
towards the right forming an alliance with Bukharin - this resulted in the collapse of the triumvirate

Bukarin
- March 1919→ he became a member of the Comintern's executive committee and a candidate
member of the Politburo.
- 1921→ supported the introduction of the New Economic Policy (NEP) and became its chief
theorist and advocate, supporting the party leadership against Trotsky and the Left Opposition.
- 1926 to 1929 → enjoyed power as General Secretary of the Comintern's executive committee.
The Stalin-Bukharin alliance ousted Zinoviev and Kamenev from the Party leadership
- Bukharin certainly was the most prominent leader in Moscow
 - However, following Stalin's decision to proceed with agricultural collectivisation in the Great
Break, Bukharin became the leader of the Right Opposition and was expelled from Pravda and
the party leadership in 1929.

POSITIVES:
- intellectual contributions, made significant contributions to Marxist thoughts - writings helped to
shape the economic policies of early soviet state
- Committed Bolshevik, actively supported the revolution, promoted ideas + organised
workers/peasants
- Strong advocate for spread of socialism beyond borders of Russia- international revolution
- Leading role in Pravda
- Called golden boy of party by Lenin

NEGATIVES
- skeptics of rapid industrialisation,opposed views of Stalin and others in the party
- His views often put him in odds with other members leading to ideological disputes and
factionalism. - created divisions within the party that weakened its cohesion.
- Trade errors in his political manoeuvring - underestimated the threat posed by Stalin, failed to
build a stron coalition to oppose him effectively
- Pro-war and pro-NEP
- Pro-slow industrialisation- ‘enrich yourselves’
- Opposed Brest-Litovsk
- Opposed trade unions

Rykov
- Bolshevik leader who became a prominent Soviet official after the Russian revolution (Oct 1917)
- Rykov returned from Siberia after the February Revolution of 1917 and re-joined the Bolsheviks,
although he remained sceptical of their more radical inclinations.
- At the 6th Congress of the Bolshevik Party in July–August 1917 he was elected to the Central
Committee.
- During the October Revolution of 1917, he was a member of the Military Revolutionary
Committee in Moscow.
- One of Stalin’s major opponents during the late 1920s
- After Lenin was incapacitated by his third stroke in March 1923 Rykov, along with Kamenev, was
elected by the Sovnarkom to serve as deputy chairman to Lenin.
- From 1924 to 1930, Rykov served as Chairman of the council of people's commissars - One of
the most powerful figures in the Soviet government at the time
- As Stalin controlled party membership, he removed Rykov from many of his roles in order to
suppress his power
- As Stalin’s Great Purge intensified in early 1937, Rykov and Bukharin were expelled from the
Communist party and arrested
- In 1938, Ryko and other Soviet officials were found guilty of treason (plotting with Trotsky against
Stalin) and sentenced to death.
- Positives:
Chairman of Vesenka (Economic Council filled with politicians) 1918, only lasted for a short
period of time when replaced by Gosplan 1921(sister organisation filled with economists)
Chairman of Sovnarkom 1924 - Party had become a figure head
A moderate (like Bukharin and Tomsky)
- Negatives:
Put taxes on Vodka - not popular
Overly frank and direct
Supported NEP - not communist enough
Tomsky
Key Roles:
- Chairman of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions
- Trade Union Leader (disliked by Trotsky)
- Old Bolshevik
- Soviet Politician
Ideology:
Became politically radicalised by his work in labour - then became a socialist, in 1904 joined the Russian Social
Democratic Labour Party, and eventually the Bolsheviks.

Key events:
1904 - Joined Social Democratic Labour Party
1909 - Arrested in Russia for political activities
1917 - Released by the Provisional Government (after Feb Rev.)
1917 - Took part in October Revolution
1919 - Elected to the Central Committee chosen to head Central Trade Union Council
1920 - General Secretary of the Red International of the Trade Unions
1922 - Member of the Politburo
1924 - One of the eight pallbearers at Lenin’s funeral
1926 - Joined Stalin, Bukharin and Rykov to begin the purge of the left from the party.
April 1929 - forced to resign expelled from politburo
1931 - Head of the State Publishing House
1934 - Director of the State Publishing House
1936 - Committed suicide after hearing he was put on one of Stalin’s show trials

Information:
● Close ally of Stalin
● Greatly criticised/ extremely hostile against the group led by Trotsky
● 1928 - he joined with Bukharin and Rykov to protest the pace and methods of collectivisation
● Once Stalin moved to the left, Tomsky (along with Bukharin and Rykov) became opposition
● Posed a great threat to Stalin as he was head of the trade union movement - forced to resign; in April 1929,
however remained member of central committee

Kinnairds Notes:
- All about workers rights
- Outmanoeuvred by Trotsky who did not like Trade Unionists Tomsky was chairman of the council of trade
unions
- Elected to the Central Committees Orgburo in 1921 and the Politburo in April 1922
- Tomsky was moderate - Stalin prepared to have radical views (ideology)