Power Struggle 1924-1928

Brief Overview Lenin died in early 1924. There was then a power struggle among several leading party members to gain control. These figures were in the Politburo, (the policy making committee). This had initially began in 1923 and lasted until 1928, when Stalin eventually became leader.

Key Figures in Power Struggle (Politburo) Trotsky Zinoviev Kamenev Stalin Rykov Tomsky Bukharin

The Origins of The Power Struggle Lenin had his work-rate cut after a stroke in December 1922. This gave him an opportunity to think about the future of the country. He suffered a major stroke in March 1923 and was left unable to speak. This is where the origins of the party struggle begun. Trotsky was the most powerful, due to his close friendship with Lenin, however opposition was emerging. The opposition comprised of Stalin, Kamenev and Zinoviev. They formed the “Troika," or “Triumvirate“. They then used this alliance to attack Trotsky in party meetings, using his speeches and writings during his time as a Menshevik; ( a group who believed further capitalism was needed before the revolution occurred). On 21st January 1924, Lenin suffered another stroke and died.

Lenin’s Funeral At the time of Lenin’s death, Trotsky was away. Stalin told Trotsky the funeral was imminent and so he wouldn’t make it. Thus resulting in Trotsky being absent from the funeral. A cult of Lenin sprung up among Bolsheviks, and they often criticised Trotsky for his absence. Stalin on the other hand took a prominent and very public role in the mourning.

Lenin’s Testament Prior to his death Lenin had written a testament, which criticised the possible party leaders, especially Stalin. It urged that Stalin be removed from power. It was read at the next central committee meeting in May 1924, and it could have meant the end to Stalin’s chances as leader, as his support basis was not yet strong enough. However as the testament had also criticised Trotsky heavily, they had made a ‘back-room’ deal to stay quiet. Therefore when it was read Trotsky did not criticise Stalin and Stalin's allies, Kamenev and Zinoviev, came to his defence. Nobody ordered compliance with the testament and Stalin kept his post as General Secretary.

Stalin’s ‘New’ Political Ideology In December 1924 Stalin spun his own idea of Marxist theory called “Socialism in One Country”. He argued that communism in Russia was not the same as the rest of the world. It would eventually spread but in the mean time it was important to build a strong Soviet Union.

The Split of the Politburo Trotsky and his supporters viciously attacked Stalin’s new views. However Trotsky was already being outcast, particularly by older Bolsheviks. Although a strong military man, he was weak in politics. By January 1925, Zinoviev and Kamenev were urging that he be expelled from the Politburo, but Stalin persuaded them not to. Stalin was also moving from Troika, towards the other three members of the Politburo (Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky). These then formed the Rightists bloc. They adopted Lenin’s New Economic policy of: considerable economic freedom for the peasantry, while the Zinoviev-Kamenev "Leftists" wanted to push the country more strongly toward state control of economic life.

The End of the Politburo In 1924 the Leftists held control of the central committee. By 1925 however, Zinoviev and Kamenev realised Stalin was betraying them and moving towards an alliance with Bukharin’s faction. Stalin was also gathering a strong faction around himself. The Rightists and Leftists clashed continually in the Party Congress, and the Rightists seemed to be more successful, despite attacks on Stalin and his ‘Socialism in One Country’. In the Summer of 1926, Zinoviev and Kamenev turned to Trotsky for support and formed the United Opposition. Nevertheless by the Party Congress in October 1926, Zinoviev and Kamenev had been removed from the Politburo. Stalin then urged the rest of the party to support his views as otherwise they were ‘anti-Leninist’. Trotsky resisted and in 1927 was expelled from the party and exiled. Stalin now had control.

Timeline Summary March ’23 -Lenin’s next stroke leaves him speechless -Party struggle begins May ‘24 -Lenin’s Testament read Summer ‘26 - Zinoviev, Kamenev and Trotsky form United Opposition Jan ‘25 - Zinoviev and Kamenev urge expulsion of Trotsky Jan ‘27 - Trotsky expelled and exiled 21st Jan ‘24 -Lenin dies Summer ‘23 -Troika formed 1928 -Stalin fully in power Dec ’22 - Lenin has stroke and considers Party’s future Dec ’24 -Stalin announces Socialism in One Country -Leftists in control Oct ‘26 - Zinoviev and Kamenev expelled Jan ‘24 -Lenin’s funeral Spring ‘25 - Zinoviev and Kamenev realised Stalin is betraying them