Why Did Stalin Win?
Why did Stalin win?
Throughout the summer of 1923 it was apparent that Lenin’s reign was coming to an end and this overshadowed the political struggle however in the Politburo and central committee battle lines were forming. They all thought that they were deserving candidates with so thinking that they were untouchable and were destined to lead USSR . Leon Trotsky seemed to have the stronghold as he had a close relationship with Lenin. However in the background there was opposition growing. Stalin was to be Trotsky’s most fierce competitor, but at that time there were others including Lev Kamenev and G.E.Zinoviev who were close to Lenin during the revolution and had aided him greatly so they too were seen as competitors. These three were to form the, ‘troika’ and when Lenin’s death neared they were to jointly attack Trotsky. In 1921 the implementation of the Ban on Factionalism meant that if anyone was to disobey or not comply with official party policy were to be expelled, and this later would play a part in the power struggle.. On January 21, 1924, Lenin died. He was only fifty-three. Trotsky was away in the Caucasus that month, and Stalin telegraphed him and said that the funeral would be held immediately, so there was no point in undertaking the long trip back to Moscow. Thus Stalin forced Trotsky to be absent for the funeral--he knew how to create and use symbols to his advantage. In his final testament he described Trotsky as the ‘most capable man’ however that he ‘displayed excessive self-assurance’ that he was to be the next leader of the USSR. He also mentioned Stalin and said that he wouldn’t be able to use his authority ‘with sufficient caution’ this clearly showing that Lenin didn’t want Stalin to be in control however this testament never was publicly released, another factor in the power struggle
Trotsky’s performance during the power struggle was one that lacked the urgency or necessary incentive to become the leader of the USSR. Trotsky was
Throughout the summer of 1923 it was apparent that Lenin’s reign was coming to an end and this overshadowed the political struggle however in the Politburo and central committee battle lines were forming. They all thought that they were deserving candidates with so thinking that they were untouchable and were destined to lead USSR . Leon Trotsky seemed to have the stronghold as he had a close relationship with Lenin. However in the background there was opposition growing. Stalin was to be Trotsky’s most fierce competitor, but at that time there were others including Lev Kamenev and G.E.Zinoviev who were close to Lenin during the revolution and had aided him greatly so they too were seen as competitors. These three were to form the, ‘troika’ and when Lenin’s death neared they were to jointly attack Trotsky. In 1921 the implementation of the Ban on Factionalism meant that if anyone was to disobey or not comply with official party policy were to be expelled, and this later would play a part in the power struggle.. On January 21, 1924, Lenin died. He was only fifty-three. Trotsky was away in the Caucasus that month, and Stalin telegraphed him and said that the funeral would be held immediately, so there was no point in undertaking the long trip back to Moscow. Thus Stalin forced Trotsky to be absent for the funeral--he knew how to create and use symbols to his advantage. In his final testament he described Trotsky as the ‘most capable man’ however that he ‘displayed excessive self-assurance’ that he was to be the next leader of the USSR. He also mentioned Stalin and said that he wouldn’t be able to use his authority ‘with sufficient caution’ this clearly showing that Lenin didn’t want Stalin to be in control however this testament never was publicly released, another factor in the power struggle
Trotsky’s performance during the power struggle was one that lacked the urgency or necessary incentive to become the leader of the USSR. Trotsky was