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Reasons For The Rise of Stalin

Weakness Of Trotsky 

  • Trotsky was the head of the Red Army and the support of the Army gave Trotsky a great deal of power , thus he was seen as the biggest threat by others in the politburo .

  • However the Army have little influence when it comes to choosing a leadership in Communist Russia unless it was through a militray coup

  • Trotsky lacked supporters and was complacent about building support within the party 

  • He had also argued with Lenin and the party on several topics and it was seen as acts of disloyalty 

  • Trotsky was too ambitious and believed in 'Permanent Revolution ' which did not find broad acceptance among the party members as they weary at the prospect of more fighting after WWI.

Non-Disclosure of Lenin's Testament 

  • In Lenin's Testament , he wanted Stalin to be removed from his position as General Secretary . 

  • However , in his testament he had also critised other party members .

  • Therefore the testament was not made to be public and no notes were to be made when it was read out . 

  • Party members felt that Trotsky was a greater threat and Stalin retained his position as General Secretary . 

Stalin 

  • Stalin was cunning , he made use of his position as General Secretary to promote his supporters into influential posts and demoted those that did not support him . 

  • This allowed him to have many supporters within the party 

  • His ideology of 'Socialism in one country ' was more popular as it was more practical 

  • Stalin tricked Trotsky by telling the wrong date of Lenin's funeral and this made him seem disrespectful 

  • Then , he made himself the Chief mourner at Lenin's Funeral 

  • Stalin also pretended to be close to Lenin through the use of propaganda , to the Russian people , Stalin was the natural successor to Lenin. 

  • Stalin formed alliances with his other rivals to eliminate Trotsky .

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