1. Rise to Power
Stalin- Castro

2. Historical Background
Stalin
Castro
Political and economic problems ; civil war, war communism, The Kronstadt Rising- introduction of NEP, opposition within the soviets banned
Lenin´s death, 1924; Triumvirate of Kamenev, Zinoviev and Stalin, Lenin´s Testament: Power Struggle between Stalin and Trotsky
- Key issues: NEP, Bureaucratisation of the party, approach on the peasants, socialism in one country
Cuba under the economic domination of USA ( a Spanish colony up to 1902)
Jose Marti´s influence
Revolutions in , puppet presidents
Batista´s rule and dictatorship

3. Stalin
Castro
Key post of Stalin: since he had been the General Secretary of the Communist party
Key stages of the power struggle; defeat of the leftists ( K. Z., T)between rightists ( B., R., T.)between
Moncada Incident, 1953
26th July Movement
Mexico, , back to Cuba: up to to mountains / Sierra Maestra
Herbert Matthews

4. Role of leader Stalin Castro Fidelistas Castroism Guerilla warfare
Key posts: G.S., Liason officer
Brutal behavior
An opportunist
Loyalty rewarded ( stalin´s enrolment)
Ideology; rapid industrialisation by stimulating national confidence and pride
Fidelistas
Castroism
Guerilla warfare
Approach on the peasants
History will absolve me
Personal sacrifice
Charisma
Long speeches

5. Stalin
Castro
Took advantage of Trotsky´s weaknesses
Charisma, cult of personality created straight away, manipulation, socialist realism
Purges, OGPU, NKVD, KGB
Cult of Che created
Military image : people had trust on Castro
Manipulation
Skills to persuade people on his side

6. Elimination of Opposition
Power Struggle
Kamenev, Zinoviev, Trotsky, Tomsky, Rykov, Bukharin: all expelled from the party or eliminated
Purges began in 1928: thousands of lower ranking party members, Shakhty Affair.
JOSE ECCHEVARIA, FRANK PAIS, CARLOS PRIO, JOSE MIRO CARDONA, HUBER MATOS all eliminated
Purges
All other parties banned, no trade unions