Stalin
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- Created by: p0stbreakupsexx
- Created on: 12-03-14 17:00
Strengths as a leader
- Stalin led the Soviet Union out of post-revolution turmoil and stabilised the country after Lenin's death
- He revolutionised Soviet industry using the Five Year Plans, making it a much stronger country, economically
- Stalin led the Soviet Union through wartime hardship and to ultimate victory in WWII
- He brought the Soviet Union out of international isolation from the 1930s onwards
- By the time he died in 1953, the Soviet Union was established as one of the world's two established superpowers, along with the USA.
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Weaknesses as a leader
- Like Lenin, he had dictatorial tendencies and suppressed democracy and civil liberties to an even greater extent in Communist Russia
- Stalin terrorised Soviet society with the secret police, mass executions and expulsions from the country
- Stalin distorted the truth and re-wrote past events with his use of propaganda
- He removed all opposition and any potential rivals including Trotsky
- Stalin pushed the Soviet Union into a damaging "Cold War" with the West, resulting in almost forty years of international tension.
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Tactics Part 1
LENIN'S FUNERAL
- important as showed loyalty to Lenin
- Stalin used to discredit Trotsky
- Stalin told Trotsky the wrong date of the funeral
- Trotsky was regarded as disloyal as missed funeral
LENIN'S TESTAMENT
- instructed for Stalin's removal
- Stalin persuaded Zinoviev & Kamenev who were also criticised to stop it being published
- conviced Central committee to not pass it
- were then able to hide Stalin's repuation
IDEOLOGICAL TACTICS
- Stalin adopted industrialisation & socialism in 1 country = most popular policies of the time
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Tactics Part 2
BUHKARIN'S MEDICAL
- Stalin used his influence as General secretary to prevent Buhkarin from attending important meetings
- When Buhkarin travelling by air, Stalin arranged for plane 2 be grounded twice
- inisisting Buhkarin needs medical checks
FACTION FIGHTING
- 192 ban on factions
- alliance between Zinoviev,Kamenav &B done in secret meeting in which Stalin was present so he spilled the beans and got them in trouble
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Purges: The Party
Purge of the Party
- all those who had played prominent roles in 1917 revolution /Lenin's government purged
- Stalin was the only one left from the orignal Politburo
- Trotsky- exile mexico- assaisinated in 1940
- members were executed/committed suicide
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Purges: Army
The Purge Of Army
- Claimed to be supported by Nazi forged docs
- 1/3 army officals, rest commisars/political supervisors
- removed 3 of 5 marshalls, 13 of 15 commanders
- showed Stalin was loosing touch with reality- needed them as expected war
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Mass Murder
Mass Murder
- NKVD ordered to remove 'anti soviet element'
- produced list of 250,00 ppl
- helped by ppl- denounced friends & neighbours
- survival stategy
- some denounced for beneifts e.g. for better housing
- 1937-8= 1.5 million executed
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Victims of the Purges
Who were the victims?
- Communist part people
- Bourgeois
- Armed forces/ NKVD
- 10% of adult males
- urban areas / less educated
- 30-45 yr olds in managerial / professional posts
- 5% women
- nationalities
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Importance of Stalin controlling the Party organis
- Truimvirate was established to ensure Trotsky wouldn't have a majority Politburo
- He managed to fill congress with well instructured stalinist delegates
- General Secretary was a dominant places in the Party Structure
- Drew up approved lists of candidates sent to the party congress
- Stalin formed a tatical alliance with Bukharin forming the Duumvirate therefore could command a majority of delegates that atteneded congress
- As Head of the Central Control Commission to formally disclipine his oppentants for advocating trotsky polices
- Commissar for nationalities
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Stalin's political skill/ personal characteristics
- Trumvirate had two strategies of denying trotsky power by unabling him to master the party and destroy his influnence and ideology for Lenin
- Kamenev and Zinovev argued Stalin case therefore Stalin kept his job
- In 1925 Stalin's policy of socialism in one country proved popular with the party masses
- Ruthless and pragmatic
- Stalin didn't get involved in arguments therefore denigity intake
- growing idelogy prestiage and tactical manevouring that assured victory
- ability to manipulate appointments and promotions within a party
- Stalin gave speeches at Lenins funeral
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Weaknesses/mistakes of Stalin's oppopents
- Lenin's testament was kept a secret despite it asking for Stalin's removal
- Trotsky did little to further his own cause, por health mean neglected his powerful position in the the Politubro, refused to make private alliances
- Zinonev and Kamenev lost the debate meant losing all authority
- Trotsky remained aloof during the debate
- Zinoviev and Kamenev authority had been shattered
- Trotsky refused to apologise and sent into exile
- Bukharin had frequent disagreements with Lenin
- Trotsky didn't attend funeral
- Underestimated stalin
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Luck/Other factors
Lenins ban on factions meant Trotsky could be expelled
Lenin was seriously ill could expolit position in the power struggle
Lenin didnt give a successor wanted a collective leadership
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