A2 History: Stalin’s Russia
Part 1- Stalin’s rise to power
Lenin’s Legacy
• The Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government after just
8 months of rule in the October revolution in 1917
• As the Bolsheviks single-handedly overthrew the PG in the Oct
Revolution, they believed that it was their right to govern Russia
without interference from other political parties
• They believed that they represented the will of the Russian Proletariat, who had now taken
power
-Bolshevik Ideology:
• Believed in Democratic Centralism- That true democracy laid in the obedience of the
members to the instructions of the leaders
• Asserted that the working class was not capable of reacting in a revolutionary way unless it
was led from above, because they simply do not know enough
• It was the task of the leaders of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union), who
understood history and society to guide and instruct the workers in their true revolutionary
role
-Authoritarianism (traits)
• Structure: • Restriction:
o One-party state o Destruction of Trade Unions
o Bureaucratic state o Prohibition of public worship
o Ban of factionalism- Prevented the ▪ It was against Marxist theory to
forming within the party of groups, be religious
banned criticism of leadership ▪ People turned to religion to
within the party numb pain. This stops them from
fighting back for a better society
• Terror:
o The Police state- Cheka
o Purges & show trials
o Concentration camps
-Encouragement of:
• Encouragement of the ‘Proletkult’- Proletarian culture
• Encouraged culture and artistic expression
o But had to be pro-government
• Status of women raised and marriage as an institution undermined
o It was a form Marxist belief that women were abused under capitalism- Marriage
turned them into property of their husbands
1
Notes compiled by: Chew Wen Min
, o Abortion legalised
o Legal divorce if either partner requested
o State responsibility of raising children
The Succession to Leadership
• Because Lenin was so unwell during his last 2 years of life, suffering a series of strokes that
left him paralysed and unable to speak, he had no opportunity to prepare for his succession
-Lenin’s Testament:
• A set of comments on the character of his leading Bolshevik colleagues
• He stated that there was no outstanding colleague worthy of taking up the reigns of
leadership
• Not only did Lenin fail to remain a replacement, he made the situation more complicated by
pointing out the weaknesses in all the other likely candidates
Leon Trotsky Lev Kamenev Grigory Nikolai Joseph Stalin
Zinoviev Bukharin
o Trotsky- War Commissar
o Kamenev- A leading Bolshevik that held various key positions under Lenin
o Zinoviev- A close colleague of Lenin, played a key role in the Oct Revolution, Comintern
Chairman
o Bukharin- Leading economic thinker in the party, helped organise the Bolshevik
takeover in 1917
o Stalin- Was a ‘Leninist’ (very devoted to Lenin), very highly regarded by Lenin and
played a key role in the Bolshevik party
▪ Lenin was impressed by his organising ability, insensitivity to suffering and
willingness to obey order
▪ The Georgian question- Stalin had been rude in discussions with
representatives from Georgia, making Lenin angry because he was anxious for
the support of the national minorities
▪ Yet, Lenin was especially critical of him- stressing his rudeness and urged his
comrades to “think about ways of removing Comrade Stalin from that position
(General Secretary)”
• This made a power struggle after his death unavoidable
• Lenin’s death also meant that his Testament was never published
o Saved Stalin from being dismissed as General Secretary
2
Notes compiled by: Chew Wen Min
Part 1- Stalin’s rise to power
Lenin’s Legacy
• The Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government after just
8 months of rule in the October revolution in 1917
• As the Bolsheviks single-handedly overthrew the PG in the Oct
Revolution, they believed that it was their right to govern Russia
without interference from other political parties
• They believed that they represented the will of the Russian Proletariat, who had now taken
power
-Bolshevik Ideology:
• Believed in Democratic Centralism- That true democracy laid in the obedience of the
members to the instructions of the leaders
• Asserted that the working class was not capable of reacting in a revolutionary way unless it
was led from above, because they simply do not know enough
• It was the task of the leaders of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union), who
understood history and society to guide and instruct the workers in their true revolutionary
role
-Authoritarianism (traits)
• Structure: • Restriction:
o One-party state o Destruction of Trade Unions
o Bureaucratic state o Prohibition of public worship
o Ban of factionalism- Prevented the ▪ It was against Marxist theory to
forming within the party of groups, be religious
banned criticism of leadership ▪ People turned to religion to
within the party numb pain. This stops them from
fighting back for a better society
• Terror:
o The Police state- Cheka
o Purges & show trials
o Concentration camps
-Encouragement of:
• Encouragement of the ‘Proletkult’- Proletarian culture
• Encouraged culture and artistic expression
o But had to be pro-government
• Status of women raised and marriage as an institution undermined
o It was a form Marxist belief that women were abused under capitalism- Marriage
turned them into property of their husbands
1
Notes compiled by: Chew Wen Min
, o Abortion legalised
o Legal divorce if either partner requested
o State responsibility of raising children
The Succession to Leadership
• Because Lenin was so unwell during his last 2 years of life, suffering a series of strokes that
left him paralysed and unable to speak, he had no opportunity to prepare for his succession
-Lenin’s Testament:
• A set of comments on the character of his leading Bolshevik colleagues
• He stated that there was no outstanding colleague worthy of taking up the reigns of
leadership
• Not only did Lenin fail to remain a replacement, he made the situation more complicated by
pointing out the weaknesses in all the other likely candidates
Leon Trotsky Lev Kamenev Grigory Nikolai Joseph Stalin
Zinoviev Bukharin
o Trotsky- War Commissar
o Kamenev- A leading Bolshevik that held various key positions under Lenin
o Zinoviev- A close colleague of Lenin, played a key role in the Oct Revolution, Comintern
Chairman
o Bukharin- Leading economic thinker in the party, helped organise the Bolshevik
takeover in 1917
o Stalin- Was a ‘Leninist’ (very devoted to Lenin), very highly regarded by Lenin and
played a key role in the Bolshevik party
▪ Lenin was impressed by his organising ability, insensitivity to suffering and
willingness to obey order
▪ The Georgian question- Stalin had been rude in discussions with
representatives from Georgia, making Lenin angry because he was anxious for
the support of the national minorities
▪ Yet, Lenin was especially critical of him- stressing his rudeness and urged his
comrades to “think about ways of removing Comrade Stalin from that position
(General Secretary)”
• This made a power struggle after his death unavoidable
• Lenin’s death also meant that his Testament was never published
o Saved Stalin from being dismissed as General Secretary
2
Notes compiled by: Chew Wen Min
