Stalin power | davisonhistory

How did Stalin gain control?

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).