How important was the fear of Trotsky becoming leader in explaining Stalin’s victory in the power struggle in the years 1924-1929? Essay

Everyone believed Trotsky would take leadership after Lenin died, even if they didnt want him to. No one thought it would be Stalin. Therefore, Stalin felt he had to defeat Trotsky in put to become leader. However, the fear of Trotsky be glide slope leader isnt the only factor in explaining Stalins success in the power struggle.Lenin died, January 21 1924. This is when the Lenin Legacy begun. Stalin alsok it upon himself to give a speech at Stalins funeral he personally swore to carry on the work of Lenin. As General Secretary he supervised the Lenin memorandum (expansion of the party in tribute to Lenin). He published a book Foundations of Leninism, a basic intellect of Lenins ideas for the uneducated. Stalin emphasised his commitment to Lenin by dishonoring Trotsky and other Bolsheviks by saying they were unfaithful.Stalin employ the Decree against Factionalism to charge up opponents of disloyalty to the memory of Lenin. Stalin used the Lenin Legacy to his advantage all the way through the power struggle. In 1924, when The Lenin scroll was announced, the party increased from 500,000 to over 1 million members by 1926. The new members were young, in-experienced and lacking education. This meant Stalin could easily curve them.Zinoviev and Kamenev both feared Trotskys power to a greater extent than Stalin. They teamed up with Stalin, in order to over-throw Trotsky. He was unpopular as he was extremely arrogant. Thus when he missed Lenins funeral due to Stalin telling him the wrong date, he became even more hated. In a Marxist fashion, Trotsky travelled the world, informing people of world revolution. This meant Stalin could gain a good relationship with Russia, persuading everyone he would carry on the work of Lenin.In December 1924, Stalin round of socialism in one country Trotsky strongly disagreed and as a result he was charge of Factionalism. In January 1925, the Central Committee removed Trotsky from the War Commissariat. From 1928 onwards Trotsk y lived his life in exile before being murdered in 1940.Stalin had allied with Zinoviev and Kamenev but after Trotskys defeat they were concerned that Stalin had too much power within the Party. Kamenev was defeated, his woolly control of the Moscow Party. However Zinoviev fought back, he held onto the Leningrad Party and attacked the NEP policy. They argued that it was capitalistic and it was time to introduce rapid industrialisation. However, they also questioned Socialism in One Country, which meant the attack was also against Bukharin.They complete that without an international revolution they wouldnt reach Marxism Utopia, as the economic backwardness of the country would destroy the Soviet meat. Therefore, Stalin and Bukharin united. Once again, Stalin accused Zinoviev of Factionalism. Bukharins popularity and Stalins control of the delegates allowed them to defeat Zinoviev.At the 14th Party carnal knowledge in December 1925, angry delegates shouted down the slander of Stal in and defeated the programme of Zinoviev and Kamenev by 559 votes to 65. 1926, Zinoviev lost control of Leningrad to be replaced as Chair of the Comintern by Bukharin. Follo buffer this, Zinoviev and Kamenev tried to form an alliance with Trotsky (he had mouth out about the NEP policy in 1924) but there was little trust between them. In 1926, they released copies of Lenins Political Testament but it didnt work, they were seen as Factionalists.They were removed from The Central Committee and abstruse police were used to stop the Political Testament being published. They were sent to exile.Stalin had defeated the Left wing of the politburos he now planned to attack the Right wing. By 1926, the Soviet Union was effectively command by Stalin and Bukharin. Stalin saw the NEP as a compromise with the peasantry. Ironically, he now agreed with the United immunitys policies to introduce rapid industrialisation. He turned against Bukharin, Rykov, and Tomsky.In November 1929 Bukharin lost his position in the politburo. Stalin used his powers as General Secretary to purge the trades leadership thus Tomsky losing his post on the Central Council of Trades Union and his place in the politburo in 1930.21 December 1929, Stalins 50th birthday, Pravda call him the Lenin of today, Stalin had finally won the power struggle.When looking at all of the factors for why Stalin won the power struggle, the fear of Trotsky coming into power seems a small influence. However, it was the difference in personalities and different views for the county that kick started the power struggle. Trotsky did not trash for power he simply fought for what he thought was right. Even though he was an ex-Menshevik, he unbroken closest to the theory of Marxism. For example, when he lost his role of The War Commissariat he didnt compact back.He never believed he would be in charge because he was Jewish. While it was important, I do not believe the fear of Trotsky to be the crucial component in Stali n winning the power struggle. He was a vindictive creature that would go to the extremes to get what he wanted. His political genius was much more vital. Without it I dont think he would have got where he did.He was cunning in the fact that he was able to not only defeat the bodies of the politburo but also, use their skills to his advantage and whence turn against them. As well as this, being General Secretary was a big advantage, it allowed him to hold on the Political Testament a secret. The Lenin Legacy was also extremely important. When he expanded the Bolshevik party, I believe he brainwashed many of the new members. He used their lack of education against them.