‭ussia and the‬

R
Soviet Union‬
‭
1917-1941‬
‭
Notes YEAR 12‬
‭
‭Key Features‬
‭●‬ ‭Bolshevik ideology in theory and practice‬
‭●‬ ‭Competing visions for the Bolshevik Party and the USSR‬
‭●‬ ‭Bolshevik consolidation of power‬
‭●‬ ‭Political and economic transformation‬
‭●‬ ‭Social and cultural transformation‬
‭●‬ ‭Antrue and impact of Stalinism‬
‭●‬ ‭Aims, nature and effectiveness of Soviet foreign policy‬

‭ istorians‬
H
‭Orlando Figes‬
‭David Christian‬
‭Survey‬
‭●‬ ‭Bolshevik consolidation of power, including:‬
‭-‬ ‭An overview of Bolshevik ideology, the October coup 1917 and early‬
‭Soviet government‬
‭-‬ ‭The Treaty of Brest-litovsk, the Civil War and the introduction of the‬
‭New Economic Policy‬

‭Focus Study‬
‭●‬ ‭The Bolsheviks and the power struggle following the death of Lenin,‬
‭including:‬
‭-‬ ‭The impact of the Bolshevik consolidation of power, including the‬
‭creation of the USSR‬
‭-‬ ‭Power struggle between Stalin, Trotsky and other leading Bolshevik‬
‭figures in the 1920s‬
‭-‬ ‭For the emergence of Stalin as leader of the USSR by the late 1920s‬
‭●‬ ‭The Soviet State under Stalin, including:‬
‭-‬ ‭The nature of Soviet foreign policy 1917-194‬
‭-‬ ‭The nature of the USSR under Stalin, including dictatorship and‬
‭totalitarianism‬
‭-‬ ‭economic transformation under Stalin and its impact on Society‬
‭society, including collectivisation and the five-year plans‬
‭-‬ ‭Political transformation under Stalin: growth of the Party, use of‬
‭terror, show trials, gulags, propoganda and censorship‬
‭-‬ ‭Social and cultural change in the USSR under Stalin‬
‭●‬ ‭Soviet foreign policy, including:‬
‭-‬ ‭The nature of Soviet foreign policy 1917-1941‬
‭-‬ ‭The role of ideology in Soviet foreign policy 1917-1941‬
‭brief overview from 1917‬

‭-‬ I‭n 1898 the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party was formed and split in 1903‬
‭into Lenin’s Bolshevik (majority) group and Julius Martov’s Menshevik (minority)‬
‭group.‬
‭-‬ ‭The different attitudes of the Bolshevik and Mensheviks shaped the revolution of‬
‭March 1917 and the Provisional Government that followed.‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin’s vision was that a small, secret group of revolutionaries would lead and‬
‭inspire workers and peasants to adopt revolutionary socialism. Eventually, Lenin’s‬
‭heavy-handed methods paved the way for Stalin’s more repressive regime.‬
‭-‬ ‭Bolsheviks were a radical communist party who attempted to adapt the political‬
‭philosophy of Karl Marx to the unique circumstances of Russia and the 1900s.‬
‭-‬ ‭The Bolsheviks overall aim was to replace capitalism with a more stable and‬
‭egalitarian system in which the people owned important injustice and had real‬
‭power to influence their workplaces, towns, and nation. Due to opposition they had‬
‭to compromise important aspects of this ideology in order to expand their power‬
‭and rebuild the economy after they took power in 1917.‬

‭-‬ A ‭ fter the coup in October 1917 they had to fight to maintain and expand their‬
‭contour over the former Russian empire. It was not until about 1924 that the‬
‭Bolsheviks were securely in power.‬
‭-‬ ‭There successful consolidation of power include the leadership of key individuals‬
‭such as Lenin and Trotsky, the creation of powerful security institutions such as the‬
‭Red Army and the Cheka (secret army) which aided their victory in the Civil War‬
‭and the implementation of important political, economic and social policies at‬
‭different points throughout the period.‬

‭-‬ F
‭ ollowing the Civil War the Bolsheviks implemented the New Economic Policy‬
‭(1921) which was more relaxed than the earlier approaches such as War‬
‭Communism (1918-21). Stalin’s policies of Collectivisation (agriculture) and‬
‭Industrialisation (through three Five Year Plans) drastically changed almost every‬
‭aspect of the Soviet economy between 1928 and 1941.‬

‭-‬ T
‭ he Bolsheviks in the 1920s women and ethnic minorities were granted greater‬
‭rights, factory workers were given greater control of their workplaces and the‬
‭government built new schools, technical colleges, health facilities and housing.‬

‭-‬ S‭ talinism refers to the ideology, policies and methods that were dominant in the‬
‭USSR during the rule of Stalin.‬
‭Post-Abdication‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin returned to russia and attracted followers as he demanded‬
‭-‬ ‭Caused more Soviets to be formed‬
‭October Revolution of 1917 (October Coup) and Lenins control‬
‭-‬ ‭Government overthrown by Bolsheviks‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin was elected as the head of the new government‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin allowed elections; Social Democratic Parties (not as radical) won over‬
‭Bolsheviks; but Lenin ignored the election results‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin enforced a Dictatorship of the Proletariats‬
‭-‬ ‭Peace treaty of WWI forced russia to give up land‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin believed all property should be state or collectively owned; collectivisation‬
‭Civil War‬
‭-‬ ‭The red army was created and led by trotsky which was used to control‬
‭-‬ ‭The white army was formed by land owners and businessmen‬
‭-‬ ‭Whites thought Russia should re enter the war‬
‭-‬ ‭Result of war menat money was worthless, famine struck the population‬
‭-‬ ‭Peasants striked resulting in even less food, some turned to cannibalism‬
‭-‬ ‭Bolshevike Red Army won‬
‭Post-Civil War‬
‭-‬ ‭In 1921 the Communist Party was the only party allowed‬
‭-‬ ‭Russia renamed the Soviet Union‬
‭-‬ ‭10 million died in revolution and civil war‬
‭-‬ ‭Petrograd names Leningrad and capital becomes Moscow‬
‭-‬ ‭Stalin becomes leader and Trotsky exiled‬
‭Social change during the 19th and 20th century‬
‭-‬ F ‭ ormer peasants moving to cities due to industrialisation; change in work and living‬
‭(urbanisation)‬
‭-‬ ‭New classes; those who owned factories and mines became extremely rich while‬
‭those who are working were paid very little‬
‭-‬ ‭Trade unions as a result of this brought different industries together to fight for‬
‭better working conditions‬
‭-‬ ‭Population growth meant government could tax more meaning governments‬
‭became richers and could spend more on public services and militaries‬
‭-‬ ‭More citizens allowed to assist in the decision-making process in politics; opened to‬
‭working class‬
‭ ith all things considered many philosophers developed new theories about organising a‬
W
‭mass, modern society. The three most prominent were‬‭liberal democracy, communism‬
‭and fascism/nazism.‬

‭Shared beliefs‬ ‭Disagreements‬

‭Modern technology‬ ‭Private property‬

‭-‬ ‭Liberal democrats accepted private ownership as a basic‬
‭Steering the world‬ ‭right while communists argued that private property gave‬
‭in positive‬ ‭rise to exploitation of poor‬
‭direction‬ ‭Social hierarchy‬
‭-‬ ‭Fascists and Nazis believed that some sort of social‬
‭hierarchy was natural whereas communists thought this‬
‭needed to be minimised and eliminated‬
‭Nationalism v.s Internationalism‬
‭-‬ ‭Communists promote internationalism and a global‬
‭community of worker whereas fascists and nazis were‬
‭aggressively nationalist in promoting their own country's‬
‭progress above other nations‬
‭ arxism and Russian socialism‬
M
‭Bolsheviks' vision for Russia and the world were a form of communism. They envisaged a‬
‭society in which‬‭people lived free from want of their‬‭basic needs, free from exploitation‬
‭of richer or more powerful people and free to become more ‘fully human’‬

‭ arxism‬
M
‭Developed by: German Philosophers Karl Marx and Frederick Engels‬
‭Believed they had developed a scientific foundation for the ideals of communism. They‬
‭claimed that human history had moved through several major stages and that the key‬
‭driver of change between these periods was class conflict‬

‭ rthodoxy and Revisionism‬

O
‭Many different versions of Marxism developing, two dominant trends:‬
‭●‬ ‭Marxist Orthodoxy‬‭Followed the traditional marxist‬‭thought by maintaining that‬
‭the overthrow of capitalism could only occur as a result of dramatic and decisive‬
‭workers’ revolution.‬
‭●‬ ‭Revisionists‬‭argued that a revolution may not be necessary‬‭for the creation of a‬
‭socialist/communist party‬
‭-‬ ‭Eduard‬‭Bernstein‬‭was a revisionist who argued that‬‭socialism could be created‬
‭over time by a series of small political and economic improvements, ‘reforms’‬
‭-‬ ‭He pointed out that by the late 1800s industrialisation had not‬‭increased‬‭the‬
‭exploitation and frustration of the proletariat as Marx had predicted‬
‭-‬ ‭He also argued that the improvements of industrialization were improving living‬
‭standards for poorer people‬
‭-‬ ‭He believed that a series if reforms would be enough to achieve that goal of‬
‭socialism and then communism,‬‭development of socialism‬‭by evolution rather‬
‭than revolution‬
‭Early expressions of socialism and communism in Russia‬
‭-‬ ‭Some believed that Russia had strong ‘communal’ traditions rooted in the Russian‬
‭village community mankind the Russian Empire almost ‘naturally suited’ to‬
‭socialism‬
‭-‬ ‭The village was largely self-governing and overseen by an elected leader. Peasants‬
‭shared tools and resources and land was periodically relocated to prevent‬
‭individuals from gathering too much wealth.‬
‭Lenin Life‬
‭ orn: april 1870 in Simbirsk‬
B
‭Brother executed for being involved in alleged plot to assassinate tsar‬
‭1887 expelled from university for protest‬
‭1893 moved to St. petersburg and practised law‬
‭1897 exiled for political activity, spent time in Britain, Germany, and western europe‬
‭– joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party‬
‭1903 led more radical faction of RSDLP called Bolsheviks‬
‭1917 successful coup meant Bolsheviks rose to power‬
‭1924 died‬

‭TIMELINE‬

‭ 898‬‭-‬
1 ‭Formation of the RUSSIAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC‬‭LABOUR PARTY‬
‭1902‬‭-‬ ‭Lenin wires ‘What is to be done?’‬
‭1903‬‭-‬ ‭RUSSIAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC LABOUR PARTY splits‬
‭1904‬‭-‬ ‭Russo-Japanese war (1904-1905)‬
‭1914‬‭-‬ ‭Germany declares war on Russia‬
‭1916‬‭-‬ ‭Lenin writes ‘Imperialism:The highest Stage‬‭of Capitalism’‬
‭1917 (march) -‬ ‭Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II‬
‭Provisional Government (march to october 1917)‬
‭(april) -‬ ‭Lenin returns to Russia and‬‭announces the April Theses‬
‭(october) -‬ ‭October Coup; The Bolsheviks‬‭seize power‬
‭Lenin establishes a new government: Sovnarkom‬
‭(december) -‬ ‭Formation of the Cheka‬
‭1918 (march) -‬ ‭Treaty of Brest-Litovsk‬
‭Constituent assembly‬
‭Lenin assassination attempt‬
‭1918-21 -‬ ‭Civil war between Reds and Whites‬
‭Lenin applies the policy of War Communism‬
‭1921-‬ ‭The Reds finally victorious in the civil‬‭war‬
‭10th Party Congress introduces New Economic Policy (March‬
‭1921)‬
‭The Kronstadt Revolt put down by Trotsky’s forces‬
‭1927‬‭-‬ ‭Grain crisis (1927-1928)‬
‭1928‬‭-‬ ‭Five-Year plan introduced‬
‭1932-33‬‭-‬ ‭Widespread Famine‬
‭Decline in living standards‬
‭1936‬‭-‬ ‭Stalin constitution‬
‭1939‬‭-‬ ‭Soviet invasion of Poland‬
‭1940‬‭-‬ ‭Winter War between USSR and Finland‬
‭Key people‬
‭ lexander Kerensky‬‭- Prime Minister of Russia, part‬‭of Provisional Government‬
A
‭Vladymir Lenin‬‭- led the Bolsheviks‬
‭Stalin‬‭- leader of the Soviet Union‬
‭Leon Trotsky‬‭- Mastermind behind the October coup,‬‭Led the red army in civil war‬
‭Kornilov‬‭- Commander in Chief of army, led a coup‬
‭Lavrentiy Beria‬‭- Head of Georgian Cheka from 1923,‬‭1932 party boss of the Transcaucasian‬
‭republics in 1932, head of secret police in 1938‬
‭Seregei Kirov‬‭- Head of the Leningrad branch of the‬‭Communist party‬
‭Maxim Litvinov‬‭- Soviet Foreign Minister from 1930‬‭to 1939, secured diplomatic relations‬
‭with the UD and the League of Nations‬
‭Vyacheslav Molotov‬‭- Soviet Foreign Minister from‬‭1939- 1949‬
‭Nikolai Bukharin‬‭- head of Comintern from 1926‬
‭Key Groups/ terms‬
‭ heka‬‭- Bolshevik secret police formed in dec 1917,‬‭headed by Felix Dzerzhinsky, known as‬
C
‭NKVD later‬
‭OGPU‬‭- Formed from the Cheka, was a Council of People’s‬‭Commissars of the Soviet Union‬
‭NKVD‬‭- carried out the purging of party members in‬‭the late 1930s‬
‭Comintern‬‭- in 1919, formed by Bolsheiks,m (communist‬‭international) had the purpose of‬
‭promoting international communism‬
‭Kulaks‬‭- more prosperous peasants who had made gains‬‭following the reforms of Stolypin.‬
‭Stalin targeted them, claiming they ere class enemies and opposed the revolution.‬
‭New Economic Policy‬‭- introduced at the 10th Party‬‭congress which revived the Russian‬
‭economy by allow small-scale private enterprises which allowed some to manipulate the‬
‭system and build wealth for themselves‬
‭Petrograd Soviet‬‭- body of various workers’ and soldiers’‬‭which protected workers rights,‬
‭however evolved as a part of the Dual Power structures and was eventually dominated by‬
‭the Bolsheviks.‬
‭The Politburo‬‭- 'political bureau’ was the five-member‬‭executive committee of the‬
‭Communist Party. Established in 1919 and included Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, Kamenev and‬
‭Krestinsky and eventually Zinoviev.‬
‭Survey‬
‭Bolshevik consolidation of power, including:‬
‭➢‬ ‭An overview of Bolshevik ideology, the October coup 1917 and early Soviet‬
‭government‬

‭Marxism‬
‭Marxism in the early 20th century‬
‭-‬ ‭First widely influential Marxist thinker in Russia was‬‭Georgi‬‭Plekhanov‬‭who‬
‭inspired a generation of young Marxists including Lenin and Martov and established‬
‭the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split in 1903‬
‭-‬ ‭Bolsheviks (majority) led by Lenin‬
‭-‬ ‭Mensheviks (minority) led by Martov‬

‭ evelopments in Russian Marxism‬

D
‭In 1917 Russian Marxists had come to believe russia was not ready for a socialist revolution‬
‭because:‬
‭-‬ ‭Russia had not experienced sufficient industrialisation to grow a mass proletariat to‬
‭stage a successful revolution‬
‭-‬ ‭Russia's peasants were not a truly revolutionary class to make up for the small‬
‭proletariat‬
‭-‬ ‭Act of terrorism could not replace these other conditions as a way to bring about‬
‭revolution‬
‭Most marxists thought that russia's path to socialism would come into two stages:‬
‭-‬ ‭First stage would see a ‘bourgeois revolution’‬‭which‬‭would strip the tsar of his‬
‭power and introduce a political and economic system that had similarities with‬
‭Western Europe nations. This‬‭would see capitalism‬‭flourish‬‭and industrialisation‬
‭expand‬
‭-‬ ‭Second stage would see a‬‭‘socialist revolution’ strip‬‭the bourgeoisie of power‬
‭and introduce a system that began to move Russia towards‬‭socialism‬
‭Prerequisites for socialism to thrive:‬

‭ ‬ ‭Industrial development‬
⥐

‭ ‬ ‭Need for class consciousness‬

⥐

‭ ussian marxists tried to encourage the ‘bourgeois revolution’ by being involved in the‬
R
‭Provisional Government and cooperated openly with non-socialist political parties.‬

‭Different ideas at the time‬

‭ ussian Social-Democratic Labour Party:‬

R ‭ ussian Social-Democratic‬
R ‭Socialist Revolutionary Party‬
‭Bolsheviks‬ ‭Labour Party: Mensheviks‬
‭ ey‬
K ‭Lenin‬ ‭Julius Martov‬ ‭Alexander Kerensky‬
‭leader‬
‭ evolution‬
R S‭ ees the Bolshevik party leading an‬ S‭ uggests that capitalism‬ ‭ ationalism of land: ‘land‬
N
‭ary ideas‬ ‭alliance of workers and poorer‬ ‭is too underdeveloped in‬ ‭belongs to the people’‬
‭and‬ ‭peasants in revolution.‬ ‭Russia to hold a‬ ‭Right wing: wants‬
‭program‬ ‭Wants to overthrow the Provisional‬ ‭successful socialist‬ ‭participation in Provisional‬
‭Government which represents a‬ ‭revolution‬ ‭Government and supports‬
‭‘bourgeois’ phase‬ ‭Wants to serve as‬ ‭continued involvement in‬
‭Key slogans: ‘All power to the‬ ‭opposition party within a‬ ‭WW1‬
‭soviets! And ‘Peace, bread and‬ ‭democratic republic‬ ‭Left wing: supports the‬
‭land’‬ ‭Mainly supports continued‬ ‭Bolsheviks and direct‬
‭Supports withdrawal from WW1‬ ‭involvement in WW1‬ ‭action‬

‭ ain‬
M ‭ rban workers‬
U ‭ rban workers‬
U ‭ easants‬
P
‭support‬ ‭Soldiers‬ ‭Moderate socialists‬ ‭Right wing: moderate‬
‭base‬ ‭Radical socialists‬ ‭socialists‬
‭Left wing: radical‬
‭socialists‬

‭Bolsheviks‬
‭●‬ ‭Led by Lenin‬
‭●‬ ‭Composed of a small number of highly‬
‭disciplined revolutionaries to lead the rev.‬
‭●‬ ‭Party had a hierarchical structure‬
‭●‬ ‭Aim was to educate the workers in socialist‬
‭thinkings‬
‭●‬ ‭Believed that Russia did not need to have‬
‭developed a fully-fledged capitalist system‬
‭before socialism could be achieved‬
‭●‬ ‭Go fast‬
‭Mensheviks‬
‭●‬ ‭Led by Martov‬
‭●‬ ‭Had a wide membership (un-exclusive)‬
‭●‬ ‭Party had a democratic structure‬
‭●‬ ‭Believed it would take a long time for the‬
‭workers to develop a revolutionary‬
‭consciousness‬
‭●‬ ‭Believed it was necessary for capitalism to‬
‭emerge before Russia could achieve socialism‬
‭●‬ ‭Go slower because it takes a long time for a‬
‭working clas to grow and develop a‬
‭revolutionary consciousness‬

‭ he Bolsheviks took power expecting that they would lead Europe, if not the world,‬
T
‭towards a communist future. They wanted to inspire and collaborate with other‬
‭revolutionary groups to expand communist influence around the world. To avoid‬
‭international conflict Soviet leaders began to take a more pragmatic approach to‬
‭international relations especially once anti-communitst governments emerged in Italy,‬
‭Germany, Spain and Japan.‬
‭Bolshevik Ideology‬

‭Bolshevik Aims‬
‭ ‬ F
⥐ ‭ acilitate the creation of a socialist society in Russia in a rapid timeframe‬
‭ ‬ ‭This society would be both modern and industrial‬
⥐

‭ ‬ ‭New society would use a planned economy in which the government owned the‬
⥐

‭most important resources such as banks, mines, factories and farmland‬

‭ ith use of planned economy Lenin's system would guarantee that society was more‬
W
‭egalitarian and stable‬

‭Principle changes introduced by the Bolsheviks October 1917 - July 1918‬

‭ ‬
⥐ ‭ ecrees on Peace, Land and Workers’ Control‬
D
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭The old class system declared to be abolished‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Moscow brought under Red (Bolshevik) control‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭All titles abolished - ‘Comrade’ became greeting‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Old legal system replace with ‘people's courts’‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Creation of‬‭Cheka (secret police)‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Armistice, followed by a peace treaty, with Germany‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Vesenkha‬‭setup to plan the economy‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Red Army founded‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Russia formally became the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Bolsheviks Party reitled the Communist Party‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Russian calendar modernised in line with system used in the advanced world‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Marriage Code gave married women equal rights with husbands Schools brought‬
‭under State Control‬

‭Lenin believed Russia would make rapid transition to socialism in 1917 due to:‬
‭ ‬
⥐ I‭nstability caused by Great War‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Unpopularity of Provisional Government‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭Dictatorship of the Proletariat‬
‭ ‬
⥐ ‭The vanguard revolutionary party‬
‭-‬ ‭Dedicated group of professionals who would lead the revolution‬
‭⥐‬ ‭The Smychka‬
‭-‬ ‭The great alliance of peasant and proletarian‬
‭Role of Lenin‬
-‭ ‬ D ‭ isassociated the Bolsheviks from the string of failures connects to the PG‬
‭-‬ ‭Provided the Bolsheviks with a clear identity and won more support‬
‭-‬ ‭Allowed Peasants to acquire land although conflicted with Marist principles it won‬
‭over support for Bolsheviks‬
‭Lenin’s methods‬
‭ All power to the soviets” appeal to workers and soldiers who saw their interests more‬
“
‭clearly represented than they were in the Provisional government‬
‭“History will never forgive us” convinced his colleagues now was the time to take action‬
‭“Land, Peace, and Bread” tapped into the main concerns of the Russian people at the time‬
‭April Thesis; Lenin’s beliefs‬
‭ hese are what Lenin beliefs, what the communists believe and what Russia should‬
T
‭be doing:‬
‭●‬ ‭No working with capitalists‬
‭●‬ ‭Land to peasants; redistribute‬
‭●‬ ‭Banks - nationalise‬
‭●‬ ‭War - get out‬
‭●‬ ‭Spread communism‬
‭●‬ ‭Didn’t support the Provisional Government‬

‭Dual Power: Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet‬

‭Provisional Government‬ ‭Petrograd Soviet‬

‭-‬ ‭Made of members from the‬
‭Duma‬
‭-‬ ‭Unpopular because failed to give‬
‭land to peasants and wanted to‬
‭stay in the war‬
‭-‬ ‭“The provisional government‬
‭does not possess any real‬
‭power” Alexander Guchkov,‬
‭Minister of War‬
‭-‬ ‭Shared power with Petrograd‬
‭Soviet‬
‭-‬ ‭Kerensky made prime minister in‬
‭July 1917, people liked this‬
‭-‬ ‭Sharing power‬
‭-‬ ‭Elected by workers and‬
‭soldiers‬
‭-‬ ‭Controlled the capitals troops,‬
‭transport and communications‬
‭-‬ ‭Dominated by the socialist‬
‭revolutionary party and the‬
‭Menshevik party‬
‭-‬ ‭Radical‬
‭-‬ ‭Supported decision to‬
‭continue the war in order to‬
‭honour the allies‬

‭25th October Lenin announces the overthrow of the Provisional Government‬

‭Kornilov coup August‬

‭ erensky (leader of PG and member of Soviet) appointed Kornilov as Commander in Chief,‬
K
‭Kornilov led a coup against the PG. His attempt failed.‬
‭August, the Commander in Chief, Kornilov, lead his men to march on Petrograd to restore‬
‭order,‬
‭Bolsheviks defende the city from the coup, Trotsky led this‬
‭Kornilov men stopped by Bolsheviks and most went home or switch sides‬
‭Due to success of Bolsheviks they were seen as saviours of the Revolution‬

‭The October Coup 1917‬

-‭ ‬ ‭ rovisional Government in clear decline‬
P
‭-‬ ‭Countryside was facing anarchy with peasant land seizures occurring‬
‭-‬ ‭Social and economic distress‬
‭-‬ ‭Threat of german attacks‬
‭-‬ ‭Bolsheviks are in weaker position than PG‬
 -‭ ‬
‭-‬ A
‭ fter Kornilovs fail, Lenin realised this was the Bolsheviks one and only opportunity‬
‭to take power this is because:‬
‭-‬ ‭They had gained control of Petrograd soviets (and others) and‬
‭Trotsky had become President‬
‭-‬ ‭Bolsheviks efforts in ending the Kornilov Coup had resented the party‬
‭as the true defenders of the revolution‬
‭-‬ ‭The PG was demoralised after the failure of the July Offensive‬
‭against the Germans and Kornilov;s actions‬

‭-‬ 6 ‭ november Bolshevik Red Guards groups aided by sailors from Blatic fleet took‬
‭over cities key buildings - government left in hands of 2000 inexperienced cadet‬
‭and women soldiers - little fighting and casualties were mostly accidents from‬
‭random crossfire‬
‭-‬ ‭7 november Kerensky leaves city to find loyal soldiers - Bolsheviks controlled city‬
‭except winter palace where remaining Provisional Government took refuge‬
‭-‬ ‭Quick takeover beginning - Soviet in session when Mensheviks and Social‬
‭Revolutionaries walk out on Bolsheviks‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin addresses new Bolshevik government‬

‭Trotsky’s role in the Coup‬

-‭ ‬ ‭ ersuaded lenin to postpone the coup‬
P
‭-‬ ‭Directed the Red Guard unites to take control of key city locations‬
‭-‬ ‭Ordered Red Guards to enter the Winter Palace and arrest members of the PG‬
‭-‬ ‭The Soviet formed a Military revolutionary Committee which controlled the‬
‭capital’s arms and military manpower, Trotsky was in charge of this.‬
‭-‬ ‭Planned the coup‬

‭ arly Soviet Government - Sovnarkom or “The Council of People’s‬

E
‭Commissars’”‬
-‭ ‬ ‭ enin’s new government developed end of 1917‬
L
‭-‬ ‭It had 16 members‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin introduced a series of popular measures during early months of Bolshevik rule‬
‭-‬ ‭{Land decree, Decrees for the proletariat, Attack on the Church, Measures for‬
‭female equality, Changes to the Russian alphabet, New calender, granting of‬
‭self-determination, Changes in the armed forces, Peace decree}‬
‭-‬ ‭Other parties were banned (Kadets, Mensheviks, and right-wing socialist‬
‭revolutionaries) and opposition newspapers were banned‬

‭The Cheka‬
‭-‬ L ‭ enin knew some wouldn't view his regime as positive and would need a strong‬
‭coercive apparatus if it were to survive.‬
‭-‬ ‭Opposition newspapers were closes down including other socialist parties‬
‭-‬ ‭Other parties were banned, including the Kadets, Menshvikes and the right-wing‬
‭Socialist Revolutionaries‬
‭-‬ ‭Those in civil service who did not support the new regime were purged‬
 ‭-‬ F ‭ ormed in December 1917, the Cheka (Extraordinary Commission Against‬
‭Counter-Revolution‬
‭-‬ ‭Originally temporary‬
‭-‬ ‭100,000‬
‭-‬ ‭State secret police force‬
‭-‬ ‭Enforced conformity, and acceptance of the regime‬
‭-‬ ‭Key weapons, fear and intimidation‬

‭-‬ T‭ he Treaty of Brest-litovsk, the Civil War and the introduction of the New‬
‭Economic Policy‬

‭ reaty of Brest Litovsk- March 3 1918‬

T
‭Germany lost war - November 11 1918‬
‭Civil War- Nov 1917 - October 1922/June 1923‬
‭February revolution - February 1917‬
‭October revolution November 7 1917‬

‭Treaty of Brest-Litovsk‬
‭-‬ G ‭ erman troops on Russian territory and threatening to move on Petrograd which‬
‭would end Lenin’s regime‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin demanded peace with Germany, “whatever the cost” in order to keep his‬
‭power, despite the serious repercussions of a treaty with Germany‬
‭-‬ ‭Treaty would end Russia's involvement in the war and have a major‬‭impact on‬
‭internal development‬
‭-‬ ‭Treaty of Brest-Litovsk caused the outbreak of civil war‬
‭-‬ ‭By late 1918, western troops, from Britain, France, US and Japan landed in Russia‬
‭to force it back into the war however the troops remained in Russia until the end of‬
‭the war, suggesting their main purpose was to help bring down the Bolshevik‬
‭regime.‬
‭-‬ ‭Japan did not lead until 1922‬

‭Russia lost‬
‭-‬ ‭62 million people‬
‭-‬ ‭32% of arable land‬
‭-‬ ‭89% of iron and coal reserves‬
‭-‬ ‭54% of industrial enterprises‬
‭-‬ ‭26% of railways‬
‭-‬ ‭3 million roubles to germany for reparations‬
‭-‬ ‭Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine became independent from‬
‭russia but were influenced by Germany‬

‭-‬ D
‭ efeat of Germany in 1918 meant lenin could ignore the treaty, and Russia‬
‭regained their land‬
‭The Civil War‬‭1918 - 1921‬
-‭ ‬ ‭ hites were under Alexander Kolchak‬
W
‭-‬ ‭Anarchists/ nationalists formed black‬
‭-‬ ‭Nearly a million dead‬
‭-‬ ‭By 1918 the reds were outnumbered and only had a small amount of land‬
‭-‬ ‭Whites had help from allies‬
‭-‬ ‭300,000 died in war‬
‭-‬ ‭300,000 executed‬
‭-‬ ‭1 million lost lives‬
‭-‬ ‭Full scale battle and small scale‬

‭ easons for war‬

R
‭Reds‬
‭●‬ ‭Needed military victor to consolidate their hold on Russia‬
‭●‬ ‭Lenin welcomes it - looking for a show-down‬
‭Whites‬
‭●‬ ‭War the only way to challenge Bolshevik absolutism‬
‭Greens‬
‭●‬ ‭Fighting for national independence‬

‭ hy did Reds win‬

W
‭WHITE DISUNITY‬
‭-‬ ‭White forces had widely varied objectives‬
‭-‬ ‭Whites lacked military unity, generals didn’t trust each other‬
‭GEOGRAPHY‬
‭-‬ ‭Red area was smaller → easier to control‬
‭-‬ ‭Reds occupied Moscow which had railway‬
‭-‬ ‭Reds controlled the factories‬
‭-‬ ‭Reds had control of population dense areas (large numbers of conscription)‬
‭ALLIED INTERVENTION‬
‭-‬ ‭Western supplies were sold on the black market‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin argued that the reds were protecting ‘Mother Russia’ from Russia‬
‭LEADERSHIP‬
‭-‬ ‭Red forces were tightly disciplined (many whites deserted)‬
‭-‬ ‭Whites were self-seeking → little loyalty‬
‭-‬ ‭Trotsky was a great leader → courageous, organised and ruthless‬
‭POPULAR SUPPORT‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin promised them land‬
‭-‬ ‭Whites would return Russia to the tsarist days → return of land to former landlords‬

‭The Introduction of the New Economic Policy‬‭March‬‭1921‬

‭ ar Communism (failed)‬
W
‭Aim‬‭→‬‭to supply the urban workers and army with enough‬‭food‬
‭Reaction‬‭→ Peasant resistance‬
‭Response‬‭→ Attack on the Kulaks and the Church → KRONSTADT‬‭REV.‬
‭ olitical and Social significance‬‭→‬‭War Communism was an extension of the Red Terror but‬
P
‭Many Bolsheviks welcomed it as true Communism since it involved the ending of private‬
‭ownership and the squeezing of the peasants.‬
‭Aspects‬→ ‭ ‬
‭■‬ ‭Industry enterprises under control of Supreme Council of National Economy‬
‭■‬ ‭Rationing introduced which meant workers and soldiers received the most‬
‭■‬ ‭Market economy ended‬
‭■‬ ‭Grain requisitioning introduced meaning peasants forced to hand over grain‬
‭enforced by CHEKA‬
‭Achievements‬‭→ overall the workers and soldiers were‬‭fed which resulted in reds victory‬
‭Result‬‭→ War Communism damaged industrial (militarised)‬‭and food production (went‬
‭down 85%) (famine in 1921) → 5-8 million dead‬

‭KRONSTADT REVOLT march 1921‬

‭-‬ ‭Naval base where the sailors rose against Lenin’s govt. And called for end of grain‬
‭detachments and the reinstatement of the right for peasants to dispose of their‬
‭grain. Lenin ordered suppression of the revolt which took 10 days and killed‬
‭thousands‬
‭-‬ ‭This caused Lenin to realise there needed to be a change of policy‬

‭ ew Economic Policy March 1921‬

N
‭Aim‬‭→‬‭Instated by lenin to keep the peasants happy‬‭and to revive the economy‬
‭“Tactical Retreat”‬
‭Reaction‬‭→‬‭Many Bolsheviks felt this was submitting‬‭to capitalism‬
‭Response‬‭→‬‭Kulaks begin to arise‬
‭Aspects‬‭→‬
‭■‬ ‭Grain requisitioning ended and replaced with tax (10%)‬
‭■‬ ‭Famine-ravaged areas were off payment for a year‬
‭■‬ ‭Peasants could make profit by selling surplus‬
‭■‬ ‭Private trade allowed‬
‭■‬ ‭Wages in cash‬
‭■‬ ‭Small business permitted‬
‭■‬ ‭Banks owned by govt.‬
‭■‬ ‭Bourgeois brought back to manage the factories‬
‭Results‬‭→‬
‭■‬ ‭Party disunity → ideology‬
‭■‬ ‭Brief improvement in living standards‬
‭■‬ ‭Food shortages still existent‬
‭■‬ ‭State lost control of production‬
‭■‬ ‭Peasants felt exploited by NEPmen‬
‭ EPmen were the middle men who would take the wheat from the peasants then distribute‬
N
‭it → lots of corruption they became rich‬
‭■‬ ‭Brief economic increase‬

‭Economic uncertainty and debate‬

‭-‬ ‭NEP was unsatisfactory for most Bolsheviuks as it was too close to capitalism, allow‬
‭private production and trade, exploited others, farmers were becoming wealth by‬
‭selling surplus (kulaks), NEPmen were making large profits as the middle man‬
‭-‬ ‭Ther was the “Scissors crisis” which saw grain prices decrease and industrial goods‬
‭increase meaning peasants gained little and could not afford manufactured good to‬
‭improve production‬
‭-‬ ‭The NEP would also take many years to build prosperity and create a socialist‬
‭society‬
 ‭Focus Study‬

‭●‬ T‭ he Bolsheviks and the power struggle following the death of Lenin, including:‬
‭1919-1924 (L die 22)‬
‭-‬ ‭The impact of the Bolshevik consolidation of power, including the‬
‭creation of the USSR‬
‭ y addressing the problems and making people happy: Civil war
B → War Communism→‬
‭famine, starvation and poor economy‬
‭**mind map in book**‬

‭Strategy to Consolidate power‬ ‭Impact on Consolidation‬

‭ y defeating opposition and gaining‬
B
‭influence through:‬

‭Brest-Litovsk‬‭-‬ ‭-‬ A ‭ ppears that the government. Wants to put people first before‬
‭-‬ ‭Peace Decree, by taking‬ ‭international quarrels‬
‭them out of the war‬ ‭-‬ ‭Gains support‬
‭-‬ ‭Resources not put to fighting‬
‭war‬

‭Civil War‬‭-‬ -‭ ‬ S‭ hows army’s strength‬

‭-‬ ‭Saying it was a class war‬ ‭-‬ ‭Get rid of opposition‬
‭-‬ ‭Won civil war against capitalists‬
‭-‬ ‭Victory - internal enemies + foreigners (capitalists)‬
‭-‬ ‭Changed Bolshevik party culture {Militarised Bolshevik identity}‬

‭ conomy NEP 1921‬‭+‬‭War‬

E -‭ ‬ W ‭ ar Com Helped introduce socialism‬
‭Communism‬ ‭-‬ ‭NEP made peasants rich = happy‬
‭-‬ ‭NEP meant free markets,‬ ‭-‬ ‭War Communism helped the Bolsheviks survive the Civil War and NEP‬
‭peasants sell grain and make‬ ‭eased growing social tension‬
‭money‬
‭-‬ ‭War communism meant‬
‭Workers fed and Red Army‬
‭could operate which meant‬
‭victory in war‬

‭Terrors / Red Army + Cheka‬
‭-‬ ‭150,000 tortured‬
‭-‬ ‭Killed Romanovs due to‬
‭representation on‬
‭imperialism‬
‭-‬ ‭Party dominated by politburo‬
‭-‬ ‭Concentration camps (gulags)‬
‭-‬ ‭In 1920s intellectual critics‬
‭deported and publication‬
‭have to have Party’s approval‬
‭-‬ ‭Union of Militant Godless‬
‭which allowed the pillaging‬
‭of church property‬
‭-‬ ‭Eliminated opinion thus no overthrow of Bolsheviks‬
‭-‬ ‭‘Show Trials’,‬‭execution of 11 Socialist revolutionaries,‬‭to create‬‭fear‬
‭in population means more agreeable‬
‭-‬ ‭Eliminated most organised opposition‬
‭New Party bodies for fear‬
‭-‬ ‭Politburo - made key decisions‬
‭-‬ ‭Orgburo - oversaw part efficiency and organisation‬
‭-‬ ‭Secretariat - record keeping, allocating jobs‬

‭Foreign policy‬ ‭-‬ ‭Creation of USSR in 1922‬

 ‭-‬ I‭gnite the working classes in‬ -‭ ‬ ‭ ppeared to have control that Tsar did‬
A
‭other countries‬ ‭-‬ ‭Interacted with capitalists‬
‭-‬ ‭Increase the safety of the USSR‬
‭-‬ ‭Betrayal of world revolution‬

‭Politics‬ -‭ ‬ ‭ revented overthrow of Sovnarkom‬

P
‭-‬ ‭Party no longer democratic‬ ‭-‬ ‭Sovnarkom dictatorship hard to reverse or overthrow‬
‭and dominated government‬ ‭-‬ ‭Centralised‬
‭-‬ ‭Close constituent assembly‬ ‭-‬ ‭One-Party State‬
‭and create Sovnarkom‬ ‭-‬ ‭One person at the top = total control‬
‭-‬ ‭Banned opposition parties‬ ‭-‬ ‭Difficult to reverse‬
‭and factions‬
‭ ecree on Party Unity‬
D
‭Ban on Factions 1921‬
‭-‬ ‭Splits in the party during 1920 angered lenin so he called for unity and‬
‭an end to factionalism‬
‭-‬ ‭1921 the 10th party congress agreed to pass this “ban on factions’‬
‭-‬ ‭Meant that once party policy had been agreed by the Central‬
‭Committee, then everyone had to accept it‬
‭-‬ ‭Forced the party to agree with everything‬
‭-‬ ‭25% of members expelled‬

‭ 922 the‬‭Nomenklatura‬‭system was put in place and‬‭meant that all key‬

1
‭party/government jobs were allocated by the party‬

‭Creation of USSR‬
‭-‬ ‭Allowed Bolsheviks to extend‬
‭their control over most of‬
‭the former Russian empire‬
‭which represented a new‬
‭future‬
‭-‬ I‭f russia was to let the other nations defect they ran the risk of losing‬
‭large populations and territory‬
‭-‬ ‭‘Nations’ should not exist because they are a ‘bourgeois construct’‬
‭-‬ ‭Creating new nations from within would lead to nationalism, rebellion‬
‭and conflict‬
‭-‬ ‭Finland declared independence‬
‭-‬ ‭USSR bound several nations together to form a powerful state that‬
‭would defend socialism and promote marxism‬
‭-‬ ‭Contained, Russia, Byelorussia, Ukraine and Transcaucasia‬
‭-‬ ‭They were distinct territories and were technically independent‬
‭-‬ ‭By 1941 there was 16‬

‭ ocial‬
S
‭Repression‬
‭-‬ ‭Fear‬
‭-‬ ‭Remove opposition‬
‭-‬ ‭Cheka‬
‭-‬ ‭No war to express opinion‬
‭Reform‬
‭-‬ ‭Land Decree‬
‭-‬ ‭Workers’ decree‬

‭Challenges faced from consolidation of power‬

‭Soviet dictatorship entrenched‬
‭-‬ ‭Sovnarkom meant to be a representation of the people but became a Bolshevik‬
 ‭party which didn’t represent peasants of other political views‬
-‭ ‬ D ‭ ecree on Press (1917)‬
‭-‬ ‭Resistance to government had been deeply embedded by the revolution, grain‬
‭requisitioning and conscription‬
‭-‬ ‭Sovnarkom relied heavily on political violence to subdue ‘counter-revolutionary‬
‭crimes’ and extinguish alternative political parties‬

‭Soviet People exhausted‬

‭-‬ ‭Decade of war (civil and international)‬
‭-‬ ‭Uprisings against Soviet rule‬
‭-‬ ‭Economic policies damaged relationships with peasants‬
‭-‬ ‭Cultural divide between Communist Party and rural population meant any attempts‬
‭to force new changes on peasantry would be difficult‬

‭Diplomatic challenges‬
‭-‬ ‭Russia must transform the world‬
‭-‬ ‭Distrust and opposition of the Western nations‬
‭-‬ ‭Br, Fr and Gm intervened in civil war‬
‭-‬ ‭By 1924 USSR only communist government‬
‭-‬ ‭Russia had a weak economy and lacked military strength in a hostile world‬
‭-‬ ‭USSR only ally is germany due to ‘outsider’ feelings‬
‭-‬ ‭Treaty of Rapallo in 1922 and treaty of Berlin in 1926 with Germany‬
‭-‬ ‭If Russia did not connect with western nations then USSR would be isolated and‬
‭exposed to military aggression which meant they were forced to relax‬‭their radical‬
‭foreign policies‬

‭Changing Communist Party‬

‭-‬ ‭Lenin believed the revolution would lead to major increase in support for‬
‭Communism, but this was never eventuated‬
‭-‬ ‭80% of pop. Lived in rural however 90% of Party members lied in cities‬
‭-‬ ‭Peasants distrusted government‬
‭-‬ ‭Due to harsh economic measures, disastrous BLT, refusal to share power and be‬
‭open to criticism‬
‭-‬ ‭The mensheviks took up arms against the Sovnarkom‬
‭-‬ ‭The Party employed military structures and military style solutions‬
‭-‬ ‭The civil war became the nations ‘founding myth’‬

‭-‬ ‭And the creation of the USSR/‬

-‭ ‬ L ‭ enin believed those who did defect would become allies of russia‬
‭-‬ ‭Some disagreed saying nations were a ‘bourgeois construct’ that would wither away‬
‭under communism and defection would lead to nationalism, rebellion and conflict‬
‭-‬ ‭Was transformed in the four ‘Soviet Socialist Republics’ Russia, Transcaucasia,‬
‭Ukraine, and Byelorussia bound together by the first treat (December 1922)‬
‭-‬ ‭Idea is that it was not a nation but a collection of like minded people‬
‭-‬ ‭A formal constitution in January 1924‬
‭-‬ ‭Citizens deemed only workers, peasants or soldiers were allowed to vote for‬
‭representation to soviets‬
‭-‬ ‭Regional soviets elected a “Union Congress of Soviets” for the USSR. these‬
‭members then elected a smaller ‘Central Executive Committee” made up of the‬
‭Council of the Union and Council of Nationalities‬
 -‭ ‬ C ‭ entral Executive Committee elected a Sovnarkom‬
‭-‬ ‭Eduction, agriculture and health were left to each republic‬
‭-‬ ‭The important decision for the USSR were made by the Russian Soviet Federated‬
‭Socialist republic (RSFSR)‬
‭-‬ ‭By 1920s the communist party dominated the important posts‬
‭-‬ ‭By 1941 there was 16 republics‬

‭-‬ P
‭ ower struggle between Stalin, Trotsky and other leading Bolshevik figures in‬
‭the 1920s‬
‭ enin warns Stalin as a bad leader, Trosky most likely. Other leaders try to get rid of‬
L
‭Trotsky but Stalin sneaks his way to the top by swaying with political ideas to gain‬
‭popularity. The Leadership of the Party, how Industrialisation should be carried out in‬
‭Russia and Party Policy was debated issues between the ‘left’ and ‘right’ model.‬

‭Lenin’s death‬
‭-‬ 1 ‭ 923 Lenin was having difficulty moving and major stroke which meant he could‬
‭not speak‬
‭-‬ ‭Widespread displays of public grief = theatres and shops closed for a week‬
‭-‬ ‭Stalin made the most of Lenin’s funeral to advance his position in the party‬
‭-‬ ‭Trotsky was ill and had to set out to the south of Russia for a rest-holiday‬
‭-‬ ‭Stalin old Trotsky the wrong day for the funeral and so Trotsly did not attend which‬
‭ruined his reputation and political prestige‬
‭-‬ ‭Stalin acted as one the pallbearers and made a speech‬
‭-‬ ‭Set himself as Lenin’s disciple, the person who would carry on Lenin’s work‬
‭The succession‬
‭-‬ ‭No formal plan for new leader when he died‬
‭-‬ ‭He wrote a testament which shared what he believed should happen next‬
‭-‬ ‭“Letter to the Party Congress”, thought it would be read aloud at Party Congress‬
‭-‬ ‭Lenin warned that Stalin had become too powerful an that he could not be trusted‬
‭to use his power wisely while Trotsky is good leader he is too arrogant and should‬
‭not lead‬

‭‬
● S‭ ocialism in one country‬
‭●‬ ‭NEP continued‬
‭Stages of the power struggle‬
‭●‬ ‭Stalin tricks Trotsky into missing L’s funeral. Hurts Trotsky’s reputation. Stalin works‬
‭to appear as Lenin’s loyal disciple and begins to establish the Lenin cult‬
‭‬
● ‭May 1924 stalin survived the reading of Lenin’s will and testament‬
‭●‬ ‭The triumvirate defeated Trotsky at the 13th Party Congress. Trotsky effectively‬
‭isolated after this . 1925 Trotsky loses his position as Commissar of War‬
‭‬
● ‭Stalin forms alliance with ‘right’ side of Party‬
‭●‬ ‭Zinovieve, Kamenev and Trotsky were accused of forming a “united Opposition”‬
‭and were expelled from the party in 1927. Stalin turns on his previously‬
‭right-winger part allies‬
‭●‬ ‭Following 1929 Party Congress, Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky are forced out the‬
‭Politburo‬
‭●‬ ‭End of 1929 Stalin succeeded in becoming undisputed leader.‬
 S‭ talin = Socialism in one country‬
‭Trotsky = Permanent Revolution.‬
‭No NEP‬

‭Main issues‬
‭-‬ ‭Leadership - one person or a small group‬
‭-‬ ‭Industrialisation - economic policy, how do we make money; through‬
‭industrialisation? Rapid industrialisation?‬
‭-‬ ‭Party policy - are we going to spread communism to the rest of the world. Should‬
‭NEP be replaced. Permanent revolution (everywhere) or “Socialism in One‬
‭Country”?‬

‭Trotsky - leader of red army (Left)‬ ‭Zinoviev (Left)‬

‭Party membership and history:‬
‭●‬ ‭Former member of the Constituent Assembly‬
‭●‬ ‭Menshevik until 1917‬
‭Key ideas:‬
‭●‬ ‭Permanent revolution‬
‭●‬ ‭Believed New Workers' state wouldn’t be able hold‬
‭out against capitalism unless whole world became‬
‭socialist‬
‭●‬ ‭Didn’t believe in economic system could exist in‬
‭isolation‬
‭Position and influence in the party:‬
‭Seemed most likely to follow Lenin. intelligent‬
‭Red Victory in Civil War.‬
‭Disliked for arrogance‬
‭Where positioned in the party:‬
‭●‬ ‭One of seven member of the first Bolshevik‬
‭Politburo in 1919‬
‭●‬ ‭Headed the Red Army as People's Commissar‬
‭●‬ ‭Previous chairman of Petrograd Soviet‬
‭Negatives‬
‭●‬ ‭Formerly a Menshevik‬
‭●‬ ‭History of disagreements with Lenin‬
‭●‬ ‭Arrogant and disliked‬
‭ arty membership and history:‬
P
‭Close associate of Lenin in exile‬
‭Responsible for defending Petrograd in civil war‬
‭Key ideas:‬
‭●‬ ‭Opposed Lenin's call, to seize power in 1917‬
‭●‬ ‭Moderate socialist‬
‭Position and influence in the party:‬
‭Where positioned in the party:‬
‭●‬ ‭Leader of the Comintern‬
‭●‬ ‭Long-term Bolshevik theorist President of the‬
‭Comintern from 1919‬
‭Negatives‬
‭●‬ ‭Originally opposed Lenin’s call for Oct. Rev/‬
‭●‬ ‭Influence limited to Leningrad - Stalin had wider‬
‭influence‬

‭ amenev - Head of Govt. (Left)‬

K ‭Bukharin (Right)‬
‭Deputy to Lenin‬ ‭ arty membership and history:‬
P
‭ arty membership and history:‬
P ‭Helped organise the Communist Youth League‬
‭Joined Bolsheviks in 1903 and became close associate of‬ ‭Key ideas:‬
‭Lenin‬ ‭●‬ ‭Argued that communist transition could be‬
‭Key ideas:‬ ‭performed in underdeveloped countries like‬
‭●‬ ‭Was a ‘leftist’ wanted to end NEP‬ ‭russia. Permanent Revolution‬
‭●‬ ‭Organised protest against Tsar Nich‬ ‭●‬ ‭Had ideological differences with Lenin‬
‭●‬ ‭Believed in vanguard‬ ‭Position and influence in the party:‬
‭Where positioned in the party:‬ ‭●‬ ‭Popular with Party members‬
‭●‬ ‭Admired by Lenin as a Mrxist theorist‬
 ‭‬ D
● ‭ uring Civil war was head of Moscow Soviet‬ ‭Where positioned in the party:‬
‭●‬ ‭Became politburo member in 1919‬ ‭●‬ ‭Was a member of politburo from 1924‬
‭●‬ ‭During Lenin’s illness he acted as head of the‬ ‭●‬ ‭Head of Comintern from 1926‬
‭government.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Member of Moscow committee of the Bolshevik‬
‭Negatives‬ ‭wing in 1906‬
‭●‬ ‭Opposed Lenin's call for seizure of power in 1917‬ ‭●‬ ‭Editor of the Party newspaper Pravda‬
‭●‬ ‭Influential in the Comintern‬
‭Negatives‬
‭●‬ ‭Limited leadership experiences‬
‭●‬ ‭“Not fully marxist”‬

‭How to maintain power‬

‭The Left Model Trotsky-Zinoviev-Kamenev‬ ‭Stalin‬ ‭The Right Model Bukharin-Tomsky-Rykov‬

‭‬ T
● ‭ rotsky main promoter‬ ‭ ad no‬
H ‭‬
● ‭ ukharin main promoter‬
B
‭●‬ ‭Argued industrialization had to be rapid‬ ‭opinion‬ ‭●‬ ‭Based on the‬‭continuation of the NEP‬
‭and massive -‬‭meaning end of NEP‬ ‭and‬ ‭●‬ ‭Peasants could prosper‬
‭●‬ ‭Peasants taxed hard and War‬ ‭swayed‬ ‭●‬ ‭Peasants taxed mildly and sold surplus‬
‭Communism necessary‬ ‭in the‬ ‭●‬ ‭More grain exports → more foreign materials for‬
‭●‬ ‭Private farms replaced with collective‬ ‭way of‬ ‭industrialisation‬
‭farms‬ ‭populari‬ ‭●‬ ‭Prosperous peasants would buy more‬
‭●‬ ‭Armaments should be promoted to build‬ ‭ty‬ ‭●‬ ‭Guarantee peace at home and external relations‬
‭defence‬ ‭●‬ ‭Might lead to a return of foreign loans‬
‭Model was mass peasant opposition, lower‬ ‭Model was capitalist, favoured peasants over proletariat‬
‭output, Conflicted with the west‬ ‭and scissor crisis‬‭(cheap grain expensive materials)‬

‭Troika / Triumvirate‬
‭Stalin - Kamenev - Zinoviev‬
‭-‬ E
‭ xcludes Trotsky‬

‭-‬ ‭Reasons for the emergence of Stalin as leader of the USSR by the late 1920s‬
‭Steps to Stalin become Party leader‬
‭1.‬ ‭Stalin tricks Trotsky at funeral → damages Trotsky’s rep.‬
‭2.‬ ‭Sets himself up as one of Lenin’s disciples‬
‭3.‬ ‭1923 Trotsky Blocking‬‭. Loses his position as Commissar‬‭for War but remains in the‬
‭Politburo. Rep. greatly diminished‬
‭4.‬ ‭Lenin’s “Letter to the Party Congress” is not read out and this preserves his rep.‬
‭5.‬ ‭Thirteenth Congress 1924 saw Zinovieve, Kamenev and Stalin in a triumvirate‬
‭leading the party, gave Stalin power to gain support and Trotsky excluded‬
 ‭6.‬ Z ‭ inoviev + Kameneve V. Trotsky {Z and K campaign against T} (Stalin in background‬
‭gaining support)‬
‭7.‬ ‭1925‬‭Stalin’s policy “Socialism in One Country” was‬‭very popular and attracted‬
‭right-wings. New alliance with Stalin and the centre of the Party emerges. Z and K‬
‭called on Stalin but they lost all votes and united again with Trotsky.‬‭Destroys the‬
‭left‬
‭8.‬ ‭1927 Zinoviev, Kameneve and Trotsky expelled from the Party‬
‭9.‬ ‭1928‬‭Stalin aligns with Bukharin and turned against‬‭NEP and‬‭attacked the right‬‭and‬

‭Stalin‬
‭ ‬ S‭ talin least likely to become leader, Trotsky most likely‬
●
‭●‬ ‭Stalin had no particular perspective on issues and swayed in the way of popularity‬

‭Key ideas‬
‭●‬ ‭Socialism in one country‬
‭●‬ ‭NEP continues‬

‭Methods‬
‭ ims: to gain supreme power, make himself a revolutionary hero by crushing all opposition‬
A
‭Success:‬
‭-‬ ‭Political ruthlessness, skill + agility and‬
‭-‬ ‭Weaknesses of rivals + exploiting opportunities and the mistakes of others‬
‭-‬ ‭Appeal to people in the party, manipulative mastermind‬

‭○‬ ‭Stalin manoeuvred himself into powerful bureaucratic positions‬

‭-‬ ‭Commissar of Nationalities‬‭1917-23 → position in Sovnarkom‬
‭-‬ ‭As most leaders were Western educated, stalin took this role and‬
‭built relations with Georgians, Ukranians, Armeniand and parts of‬
‭central Asia‬
‭-‬ ‭Commissar of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspectorate‬‭1919-22 → oversaw‬
‭all govt. dept‬
‭-‬ ‭Member of the ruling‬‭Politburo‬‭1917 → Centre of Soviets‬
‭-‬ ‭Orgburo‬‭member 1919‬
‭-‬ ‭Liaison‬‭between politburo and Orgburo from 1919 →‬‭monitored party‬
‭decisions + organised party personnel‬
‭-‬ ‭General Secretary‬‭of the Communist Party 1922‬
‭○‬ ‭His control of the party machine - General Secretary of the Communist Party‬
‭enabled him to:‬
‭-‬ ‭Prompt his own supporters‬
‭-‬ ‭Appointed political operatives,‬‭(1000 a year)‬
‭-‬ ‭200,000-400,000 Party functionaries monitored by the Party‬
‭secretariat‬
‭-‬ ‭Had access to‬‭secrets‬‭of Party officials‬