Leadership | davisonhistory

January 1924: Lenin died after a series of strokes. Petrograd was renamed Leningrad in his honour. There were no clear instructions left by Lenin for how long NEP was to last or who the new leader of the Communists and Russia should be.

Stalin's Advantages

His role as Party Secretary meant he could hire his supporters to important posts and fire his enemies.
Used propaganda to make himself look like Lenin’s successor.
Ruthless politician; he changed his mind and switched policies to gain power.
Policy of keeping communism in one country (Russia) was more popular.
He was from a peasant family-people could relate to him.
Lied about Lenin’s funeral date.

Stalin's Disadvantages

Lenin didn’t like him – thought he was too rude and powerful.
Lenin criticised him the most in his last testament.

Trotsky's Advantages

A brilliant speaker.
Leader of the Red Army.
Planned the 1917 revolution.
Good organiser.
Lenin’s right hand man.
A hero of the Civil War.
Negotiated peace with Germany at the end of WW1.
Seemed like the natural successor to Lenin.
Highly intelligent.

Trotsky's Disadvantages

Only a Bolshevik since 1917 (previously a Menshevik).
People thought he was arrogant.
Underestimated Stalin.
He missed Lenin’s funeral, because Stalin told him the wrong date.
He did not make an effort to build up support.
His idea of spreading communism across the world was unpopular – may cause war.
He was middle class and very clever, but many Russians could not relate to him.

WHY AND HOW DID STALIN BECOME THE NEXT LEADER OF THE USSR?

Stalin becomes Party Secretary/General secretary, which gives him the power to appoint his supporters to positions of power. Lenin writes a letter which becomes known as his final testament. In it he criticises Stalin, Zinoviev, Kamanev and Trotsky, but does not give any direct information about who should replace him as the next leader.
Jan 1924: Lenin died. Stalin told Trotsky the wrong date so he didn’t attend the funeral. Stalin also published Propaganda photos of himself with Lenin.
May 1924: Stalin gets the Central Committee to agree to not publish Lenin’s Testament.
1925: Trotsky is removed from his position as Commissar for War.
Jan 1926: Stalin and Bukharin oppose Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev. Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamanev want to spread Socialism (communism) and end NEP. Stalin and Bukharin want to keep NEP and have Socialism in One Country. Stalin accuses Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamanev of ignoring Lenin’s wishes and of factionalism (splitting the party).
Nov 1927: Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamanev are expelled from the Party, because Stalin has many supporters among the party.
Jan 1928: Trotsky is exiled to Siberia.
June 1928: Stalin turns on Bukharin. He accuses him of being a traitor to communism and enemy of the people for wanting to continue NEP for 20 years.
Feb 1929: Trotsky exiled from Russia.
Stalin uses his supporters to have Bukharin expelled from the Politburo (9 most important members of the Communist Party).