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A2 History Paper 4: Stalin’s Russia, 1924-41
1. Leadership struggle
To what extent does Stalin’s use of his position as General Secretary of the Communist Party explain his rise to
power by 1928? (15MJ42)
How far was Lenin responsible for Stalin’s rise to power? (16MJ41)
‘Brilliant opportunism rather than careful planning.’ To what extent does this explain Stalin’s rise to power?
(16ON42)
Assess the reasons why Stalin was able to accumulate so much power. (17MJ42)
How far was Stalin’s rise to power in Russia dependent on his skilful planning? (18ON41)
To what extent was Trotsky responsible for Stalin’s rise to power? (19MJ41)
Analyse the reasons why Trotsky was unable to win the struggle for power with Stalin. (19ON43)
‘He was underestimated by his opponents.’ How far does this explain Stalin’s rise to power? (20ON42)
Analyse the reasons for Stalin gaining power by 1929. (21ON41-9489)
Analyse the reasons why Stalin had gained control of the Communist Party in the USSR by 1928. (22FM-9489)
‘Stalin came to power because Lenin failed to plan for his succession.’ Assess this view. (22MJ43-9489)
Causes of Stalin’s victory in the leadership struggle
● Lenin created conditions = foundation – St. advantages
○ appointments to positions of power, 1917-22
○ ban on factions, 1921
○ cult of personality – after 1918 assassination attempt & strokes
● Stalin’s opportunism & pragmatism = contingent – St. strengths
○ exploit General Secretary role 1922 – Lenin enrolment 260k
○ ‘Socialism in One Country’, 1924
○ ‘Great Turn’, 1928
● Stalin’s careful planning – St. strengths
○ took advantage of Lenin funeral, 1924 → successor to Lenin
○ cover up own failures & weaknesses – Georgian question, failures in S-P war
○ wife = a secretary for Lenin
● Trotsky’s mistakes = gifted St. opp. – others mistakes
○ absence at Lenin funeral, 1924
○ criticise party bureaucratisation, 1925
○ ‘Permanent Revolution’ weaknesses
● underestimated by other Bol. – others mistakes
○ did not publicise Lenin’s Testament, 1924
○ did not take advantage of arguments after Georgian question, 1921
○ United Opposition blindly disagreed w/ Stalin in NEP, 1926 → defeated in 1927 PC
● Trotsky’s weaknesses = undermined his credibility – others weaknesses
○ seen as dangerous ∵ control over RA & war hero in RCW
○ ex-Menshevik, Jewish background
○ complex personality → both confident & diffident – rejected Lenin offer for Dep. Chairman of
Sovnarkom 1917
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