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Stalin & the Communist Party

History: Edexcel IGCSE USSR, 1924-1953, topic 1.1.3

The Communist Party

After Stalin had sidelined his opponents and taken power, he strengthened his hold on the Communist Party.

Stalin's opponents

Stalin's opponents

  • Although the left of the party was united by the end of 1925, it was not able to challenge Stalin.
  • Zinoviev and Trotsky had had too many public disagreements to allow the basic level of agreement between them on economic issues to shine through.
1926 Central Committee plenum

1926 Central Committee plenum

  • At the 1926 Central Committee plenum, the United Opposition (Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev) would not attack the General Secretariat.
  • In 1927, the united Opposition started to attack Stalin's policy of 'Socialism in One Country'.
  • They blamed it for economic failures.
Party expulsions

Party expulsions

  • The United Opposition members were expelled from the party for their opposition.
  • This took place at the Fifteenth Party Congress in December 1927.
Five Year Plans

Five Year Plans

  • Stalin had the Congress reaffirm the New Economic Policy.
  • He also laid the grounds for the Five Year Plans.
  • This was so he could present the Five Year Plans as a gradual change, when it fact they were a radical move away from the New Economic Policy.
Communist Party divisions

Communist Party divisions

  • There was a still a divide between Bukharin and others who believed in the NEP.
  • The majority under Stalin believed that the NEP strayed too far from Marxism.
  • Stalin had now completed his move from a supporter of Lenin's NEP to striking his own path.

Test yourself on Stalin & the Communist Party

  • What happened to Stalin's opponents in 1925?

  • Who were the members of the United Opposition?

  • What happened to the members of the United Opposition?

  • What economic changes did Stalin bring about in the 1920s?

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