Stalin v Trotsky Worksheet

Lesson Snapshot:

How did Stalin gain power after Lenin’s death?

In 1924 Russia was now controlled by 7 members of the Politburo. It was these men who would run the country immediately after Lenin’s death. A strong, powerful leader needed to be found in order for the country to remain strong. The two serious contenders that emerged as leader of Russia were Leon Trotsky and Josef Stalin. Each of them had good merits as to why they should be considered as the new leader of Russia.

Trotsky V Lenin

As the Secretary of the Party, Stalin could affect who got important party jobs. While Trotsky had been away fighting in the Civil War, Stalin had been in Petrograd being very friendly to all the people that mattered, including Lenin. Lenin however did not like Stalin and did not think he would make a very good leader. He wrote a letter to the rest of the party when he got very ill explaining these sentiments, but the letter was never made public to the Politburo.

Stalin was a clever man and knew how important a good image was. He made sure that he had an important role at Lenin’s funeral while Trotsky did not even make it on the day! Trotsky was actually in Southern Russia at this time recovering from malaria and it is said that he phoned Stalin to find out when the funeral was and Stalin gave him the wrong date! Stalin, along with Zinoviev and Kamenev emerged quickly as strong leaders within the Politburo and together they accused Trotsky of trying to split the communist party. He was so unpopular by this time that very few of his colleagues were prepared to defend him against these charges. So, from 1924, Trotsky lost more and more of his jobs in the party.

Trotsky was unpopular:

• Trotsky was brilliant, but nobody liked him.

• They thought he was too big-headed.

• Secretary Stalin told him the wrong date for Lenin’s funeral, so he missed it – this made him more unpopular.

• Trotsky wanted to try to cause a world revolution which many Russians feared would ruin Russia.

Politically ruthless:

• The Politburo was divided into two halves as to who they would support.
• The Leftists (Zinoviev and Kamenev) wanted world revolution, and to abolish the NEP, but they hated Trotsky because they thought he was too ambitious.
• The Rightists (Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky) wanted to continue the NEP until the USSR was stronger.

Stalin played one side against the other to take power:

1. First, he allied with Zinoviev and Kamenev to cover up Lenin’s Will and to get Trotsky dismissed (1925). Trotsky went into exile (1928).
2. Then, he advocated ‘Socialism in one country’ (he said that the USSR should first become strong, then try to bring world revolution) and allied with the Rightists to get Zinoviev and Kamenev dismissed (1927). Stalin put his supporters into the Politburo.
3. Finally, he argued that the NEP was uncommunist, and got Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky dismissed (1929).

Worksheet Lesson Plan:

• Aimed at Students studying across UK Year 7,8 & 9 or equivalent
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• Use as you wish in the classroom or home environment
• Lesson plan focusing on Stalin v Trotsky.
• Contains questions throughout the study worksheet.