How Did Stalin Succeed Lenin? (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Russia by 1924 - Timeline & Summary
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
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 Tips and Tricks
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:
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
Examiner Tips and Tricks
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 Tips and Tricks
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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