1.1.1
Stalin & his Rivals
Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Stalin and his Rivals
Lenin was ill from 1922 and he died in January 1924. This led to a power struggle over who would succeed him. It was not certain that Stalin would be the next leader. Other potential leaders included Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev and Bukharin.
Lenin’s final testament
- Because Lenin had so much power within the government and had no single role, it was hard to find someone to replace him.
- In Lenin’s final testament, he heavily criticised Stalin and other communist leaders, including Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin.
- He feared Stalin’s power, and believed that Stalin didn't have the ability to lead the country.
Joseph Stalin
- Stalin was the General Secretary of the Communist Party when Lenin died.
- This role seemed to be administrative (involving party membership) but it actually gave Stalin a lot of power.
- Stalin was the calmest and most patriotic of the potential successors. His belief in ‘Socialism in One Country’ was particularly important.
- Stalin did not think the spread of revolution internationally was necessary for the USSR’s success.
Leon Trotsky
- Trotsky was a brilliant speaker and was more charismatic than Stalin.
- He had worked very closely with Lenin as commander of the Red Army.
- But his previous membership of the Mensheviks was mentioned in Lenin’s final testament.
- Trotsky was distracted by his desire for ‘Permanent Revolution’ - the need for revolution in more than one country.
- Trotsky was distant and arrogant. He continued to order people around as he had done in the war. This was very unpopular.
Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin
- Zinoviev and Kamenev were insightful communists, and they worked together as party bosses in Petrograd and Moscow respectively.
- Lenin criticised them both for not supporting the Bolshevik seizure of power in October 1917.
- Bukharin was very popular in the party. He was a respected thinker and writer, but he was too sympathetic towards the NEP. This was not a popular view in the Party before 1924.
1The Leadership Struggle, 1924-1929
1.1Struggle for Power 1924-28
2Five Year Plans & Collectivisation
2.1Changes in Industry
2.2Agriculture & Collectivisation
3Purges, Show Trials & The Cult of Stalin
3.1The Use of Terror in the 1930s
3.2Propaganda & Censorship
4Life in the Soviet Union, 1924-1941
4.1Life in the Soviet Union
5The Second World War, 1941-1953
5.1USSR in the War
5.2Stalin & WW2
5.3Post-War Recovery
Jump to other topics
1The Leadership Struggle, 1924-1929
1.1Struggle for Power 1924-28
2Five Year Plans & Collectivisation
2.1Changes in Industry
2.2Agriculture & Collectivisation
3Purges, Show Trials & The Cult of Stalin
3.1The Use of Terror in the 1930s
3.2Propaganda & Censorship
4Life in the Soviet Union, 1924-1941
4.1Life in the Soviet Union
5The Second World War, 1941-1953
5.1USSR in the War
5.2Stalin & WW2
5.3Post-War Recovery
Practice questions on Stalin & his Rivals
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1When did Lenin die?Multiple choice
- 2Who were Stalin's main rivals to succeed Lenin?Fill in the list
- 3Which of the following about Stalin are correct?True / false
- 4Leon Trotsky:Fill in the list
- 5
Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium
Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions
Mini-mock exams based on your study history
Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books