Comrade Stalin, having become General Secretary, has concentrated an enormous power in his hands; and I am not sure that he always knows how to use that power with sufficient caution …..……

Stalin is too coarse and this fault is insupportable in the office of the General Secretary.

Trotsky is the m mm most able man in the party. His defect is in an excess of self- confidence. He is attracted too much by the purely administrative affairs of the state.

Actually, I wrote this in Dec 1922 before I kicked the bucket. I was quite ill then but my head was still screwed on quite tight. Damn it, pity I didn’t have the chance to spill the beans or Stalin would have been a dead dog! Who let the dogs out? Afternote Afternote : Stalin used his influence to ensure that Lenin’s “Political Testament” was not read out after his death.

Who was Stalin?

Born in 1879 in Georgia, RussiaBorn in 1879 in Georgia, Russia Son of a bootmakerSon of a bootmaker Mother, a washerwoman, worked hard to put him to schoolMother, a washerwoman, worked hard to put him to school Educated to become a priest; hated the seminaryEducated to become a priest; hated the seminary Expelled from college for revolutionary activitiesExpelled from college for revolutionary activities Prepared to break the law to further his Bolshevik ideasPrepared to break the law to further his Bolshevik ideas Joined Bolsheviks in 1904; subsequently changed name to STALIN meaning “man of steel”Joined Bolsheviks in 1904; subsequently changed name to STALIN meaning “man of steel” : Took part in over 1,000 raids to take money for Bolshevik funds :{ : Took part in over 1,000 raids to take money for Bolshevik funds :{

Mugshot of Stalin upon joining the Bolsheviks Money or your life, comrade?

: mostly exile in Siberia or on the run within Russia : mostly exile in Siberia or on the run within Russia 1917 : Freed from exile by the Provisional Government1917 : Freed from exile by the Provisional Government Returned to Petrograd to edit PRAVDAReturned to Petrograd to edit PRAVDA Came to power on death of Lenin after outwitting his rivalsCame to power on death of Lenin after outwitting his rivals Became a dictator and ruled the USSR until his death in 1953 :{Became a dictator and ruled the USSR until his death in 1953 :{

1919 In Siberian exile

Stalin worked closely with Lenin before the revolutionStalin worked closely with Lenin before the revolution Well-known for being tough and ruthless sent the Red Army against his home province of Georgia when the latter tried to demand independenceWell-known for being tough and ruthless sent the Red Army against his home province of Georgia when the latter tried to demand independence 1922 : Lenin made Stalin General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party; effectively giving him power to appoint his own supporters as party officials1922 : Lenin made Stalin General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party; effectively giving him power to appoint his own supporters as party officials As Gen Sec, his job included recommending appointments, promotions and dismissalsAs Gen Sec, his job included recommending appointments, promotions and dismissals

1929 Whatcha staring at, comrade?

When Lenin died in 1924, Stalin tried to give the impression that he was the obvious successorWhen Lenin died in 1924, Stalin tried to give the impression that he was the obvious successor Organised Lenin’s funeralOrganised Lenin’s funeral Develop a cult around Lenin to show his devotion to LeninDevelop a cult around Lenin to show his devotion to Lenin Lenin’s body embalmed and publicly displayedLenin’s body embalmed and publicly displayed Presented himself as Lenin’s close follower eg he was the chief mourner at Lenin’s funeralPresented himself as Lenin’s close follower eg he was the chief mourner at Lenin’s funeral However, there were other contenders for the top post – some very capable and some very hostile to StalinHowever, there were other contenders for the top post – some very capable and some very hostile to Stalin Leon Trotsky, Leo Kamenev and Gregory Zinoviev were his main political enemies :{Leon Trotsky, Leo Kamenev and Gregory Zinoviev were his main political enemies :{

Main rival was TrotskyMain rival was Trotsky Trotsky was a much better speaker and writer, and he had a brilliant mindTrotsky was a much better speaker and writer, and he had a brilliant mind However, by 1929, Stalin had removed all his opponents and was firmly in controlHowever, by 1929, Stalin had removed all his opponents and was firmly in control Methods of elimination : Imprisonment, exile or assassinationMethods of elimination : Imprisonment, exile or assassination A dictator with far greater powers than any tsar ever had :{A dictator with far greater powers than any tsar ever had :{ Now, how’d he do that?

A celebration of Joseph Stalin's 50th birthday in the Kremlin, December 21, 1929, with party members as a statue of Lenin looks on.

Factors for Stalin’s success in removing his rivals 1.Single-mindedness 2.Division among rivals 3.Stalin’s advantage as Gen Sec 4.His views were more popular

1. Single-mindedness One aim – get rid of his rivals and maintain power Willing to change his views and do whatever necessary to achieve his aim Trotsky and the others were not so clear about what they wanted :{

2. Division among rivals Rivals were divided among themselves Stalin pitted them against each other and stop them from joining forces DIVIDE AND RULE Persuaded Kamenev and Zinoviev to join him in attacking Trotsky Both agreed as they did not want Trotsky as leader Once Trotsky was done for, Stalin obtained the help of the Moderates to get rid of Kamenev and Zinoviev :{

KamenevZinoviev

2. Division among rivals Stalin first dismissed both of them from the Politburo and then expelled them from the party Kamenev and Zinoviev were found guilty of terrorist crimes and shot in 1936 Once that was done, it was the Moderates’ turn to lose their jobs :{

3. Stalin’s advantage as Gen Sec Consolidated power as Gen Sec while Trotsky was busy fighting the civil war As Gen Sec, he appointed his supporters to influential positions These people owed their jobs to him Looked to Stalin for promotion Naturally they would support him :{

4. His ideas were more popular Differences between Stalin and his opponents, esp Trotsky Trotsky : Russia should lead a worldwide socialist revolution Only then can a real socialist state be set up in Russia Stalin : Russia could create socialism on its own without outside help :{

4. His ideas were more popular “World-wide revolution” vs “socialism in one country” Of course Stalin’s views were more popular Appealed to people’s pride Kept Russia out of involvement abroad Avoid costly wars :{

What happened to Trotsky? Removed as Head of the Red Army Expelled from the Politburo in 1925 and out of the Communist Party by 1927 Seized by police in the middle of the night a few months later, still in his pyjamas He was exiled to a remote part of the USSR in central Asia 1929 : Taken to Turkey and deported Over the next few years, he travelled from country to country Finally settled in Mexico Tracked down and murdered in 1940 Was it on Stalin’s orders? :{ Politburo : Governing body of Russia; ruling committee of the Russian Communist Party and also of the USSR

Trotsky’s tombstone in Mexico

By 1928, Stalin became the most powerful man in communist RussiaBy 1928, Stalin became the most powerful man in communist Russia Until his death in 1953, he ruled the USSR with an iron handUntil his death in 1953, he ruled the USSR with an iron hand His rule is often described as a dictatorshipHis rule is often described as a dictatorship He introduced many harsh policies which brought suffering to millions of RussiansHe introduced many harsh policies which brought suffering to millions of Russians We shall have a look at some of his policies in the next lesson. :{We shall have a look at some of his policies in the next lesson. :{

Stalin’s birthplace in Gori, Georgia

Stalin Museum

Information and image sources –Moreira J., World in Transition – Perspectives on Modern World History, Singapore : SNP Education Pte Ltd, –Kelly N. and Shuter J., As It Was Lived – A History of the Modern World, Singapore : Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd, –Lim S H, Tham Y P, Wang Z and Yeo L, Inroads – Modern World History, Singapore : Oxford University Press, –Tate N., A History of the Modern World, Singapore : Federal Publications, 1995.