How Did Stalin Succeed Lenin? (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)

Revision Note

Russia by 1924 - Timeline & Summary

A timeline of how Stalin established his control of the USSR by 1929

Under Lenin's leadership, the Bolshevik government had secured control over the Russian Empire. 1922 was a significant year in the Bolshevik consolidation of power. After the Russian Civil War, Lenin established a communist dictatorship. Lenin refused to share power and used repression to eliminate his enemies. As a result, Lenin developed an autocratic and centralised government.

In December 1922, Lenin led the creation of the Soviet Union, or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). This was a formal union between Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia under communist rule. The USSR created a constitution that promised human rights for its people. In reality, the Soviet people did not have these rights.

When Lenin died in 1924 after years of ill health, it left a significant power vacuum in the USSR.

Death of Lenin, 1924

  • From mid-1921, Lenin’s health declined

    • He survived an assassination attempt in 1918

      • Fanya Kaplan, a member of the SRs, shot Lenin twice outside a factory in Moscow

      • One of the lead bullets was lodged in Lenin's head. It was slowly poisoning his brain

    • He suffered a massive stroke in May 1922

  • From then until his death in January 1924, Lenin became increasingly paralysed

    • Another stroke in March 1923 left Lenin unable to speak

    • From this point, he was unable to lead the Bolshevik Party actively

  • Lenin died on 21st January 1924

    • The Bolsheviks embalmed Lenin's body and created a mausoleum

A photograph of Lenin in 1923
A photograph of Lenin in 1923. Strokes had left Lenin paralysed and needing a wheelchair

Lenin's Testament

  • Between late 1922 and early 1923, Lenin dictated his last will

    • It stated Lenin's aims for the Bolshevik Party after his death

    • It would become a controversial document

What did Lenin Say about Trotsky?

"[Trotsky] is personally perhaps the most capable man in the present C.C. [Central Committee], but he has displayed excessive self-assurance and shown excessive preoccupation with the purely administrative side of the work"

What Does this Mean?

  • Lenin believed that Trotsky was a capable member of the party

  • However, he thought Trotsky was:

    • Overconfident and arrogant

    • Too focused on paperwork rather than leading the party

What did Lenin Base his Opinion on?

  • Lenin had given a lot of power to Trotsky

    • Trotsky had proved in the October Revolution and the Russian Civil War that he was a capable member of the Bolshevik Party

  • Trotsky was a gifted orator and writer

    • As a result, many party members believed that Trotsky was arrogant

    • Trotsky believed he was more intelligent and more devoted to communism than many Bolsheviks

  • Trotsky was Jewish

    • Although Trotsky did not practice Judaism, it turned many of the party against him

What did Lenin Say about Stalin?

"Comrade Stalin, having become Secretary-General, has unlimited authority concentrated in his hands, and I am not sure whether he will always be capable of using that authority with sufficient caution"

"Stalin is too rude... That is why I suggest that the comrades think about a way of removing Stalin from that post and appointing another man in his stead who [is] more tolerant, more loyal, more polite and more considerate to the comrades"

What Does this Mean?

  • Lenin believed that Stalin could not be trusted with power

  • Stalin came across as rude, disloyal, unpolite and argumentative with his colleagues

What did Lenin Base his Opinion on?

  • Stalin had risen quickly through the Bolshevik Party

    • Stalin had little to no role in the October Revolution

    • Lenin gave Stalin the position of Commissar for Nationalities in November 1917

    • Stalin made his reputation during the Russian Civil War. Lenin appointed Stalin as a Political Commissar to several generals

    • In 1921, Stalin became General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party

  • Lenin became suspicious of Stalin

    • Stalin built a support base in the party that was loyal to him

    • Lenin viewed Stalin as cruel and uneducated

      • Stalin came from Georgia, which Lenin viewed as an inferior nationality

  • Stalin's anger became a serious issue

    • In March 1923, Lenin discovered that Stalin had shouted at Lenin's wife on the telephone

      • Lenin saw this as an unforgivable act

    • Another stroke left Lenin unable to remove Stalin as General Secretary

Examiner Tip

In an exam question, you do not necessarily have to remember quotes from Lenin's Testament. An examiner would expect you to know Lenin's opinions on Trotsky and Stalin and why he had these opinions.

Contenders by 1924

  • After Lenin's death, the party became divided between the left-wing and the right-wing

Left-wing beliefs

Right-wing beliefs

Believed in War Communism

Believed in the New Economic Policy

Favoured the 'permanent revolution'. This stated that the USSR needed to spread communism across the world. This was unpopular with the party

Favoured 'Socialism in One Country'. This wanted to strengthen communism in the USSR before pursuing global communism. This was popular with the party

  • The main contenders for Lenin's position can be divided in this way:

An illustration showing the political opinions of key members of the Communist Party
An illustration showing the political opinions of key members of the Communist Party
  • Lenin did not name a successor

    • The left and right of the Bolshevik Party fought in a power struggle

    • The result of the power struggle would give the USSR a leader

How did Stalin Become Leader?

  • Stalin played a clever political game to become the leader of the USSR

An illustration showing how Stalin manipulated the party to become the leader of the USSR
An illustration showing how Stalin manipulated the party to become the leader of the USSR

Examiner Tip

Students often find the power struggle between 1924 and 1929 very confusing to understand. Try to remember that Stalin went:

  • To the left of the party to win support and isolate Trotsky

  • To the right of the party to remove the left

  • Back to the centre to remove the right-wing threats of the party

  • By December 1929, Stalin was the undisputed leader of the USSR

Worked Example

‘Trotsky’s personality, rather than Stalin’s abilities, decided the leadership contest after Lenin’s death.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer

10 marks

Partial answer:

Some people would not agree with this statement (1). Stalin’s ability to win support allowed him to win the power struggle after Lenin’s death (1). Stalin had built a support base before Lenin's death. Between 1924 and 1929, Stalin manipulated the left and right of the party to remove his political rivals (1). This ability allowed Stalin to win the leadership contest. This is because he managed to isolate Trotsky, limiting his influence on other party members. Stalin's tactics meant that, by 1927, Trotsky was no longer a threat (1).

Examiner Tip

A strong response for this Paper One question needs to examine both sides of the argument. The next paragraph would explain why Trotsky's personality made him lose the leadership contest. You could use Trotsky's arrogance or his opinions on the 'permanent revolution' to argue this. Continue to use a clear PEE structure as shown above.


You would then need to write a conclusion explaining if Trotsky's personality was key in the leadership contest. Remember to use phrases like ‘fully’ or ‘partially’ to explain your opinion.

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