The Nature of Stalin's Dictatorship

The leadership contest Lenin died in 1924. He dictated his political testament to his wife which was to be read out to the congress of soviet after his death.  In this testament it became clear that there were two main candidates for leadership- Trotsky and Stalin. Lenin had said that Stalin was rude and should be replaced for a more ‘tolerant, more loyal’ man. Lenin also said that Trotsky is probably the most capable man but he is too self confident. Lenin assumed the whole politburo, consisting of Trotsky, Stalin, Rykov, Kamenev, Zinoviev, Bukharin and Tomsky, would take over but after his death Trotsky, Stalin and Rykov who were also in the CPC competed for power. Stalin’s Strengths Stalin’s weaknesses Could be charming Had a quick temper Clever He was suspicious Excellent organiser and planner Sudden changes of mind for no good reason Most ambitious member of the politburo Stalin felt that the SU was so backwards in industry and agriculture it would be attacked by capitalist states Believed in ‘socialism in one country’   He was General Secretary of the Communist Party so he chose who got jobs therefore people aimed to please him to keep their jobs     Stalin’s first step was to stop Lenin’s testament being read to the congress of soviets. Kamenev and Zinoviev persuaded the politburo not to sack stalin and not to read the testament. Trotsky’s removal- Stalin made rumours that he never had Lenin’s approval and disrupted the work of the politburo. 1925- resigned as commissar of war 1926- expelled from politburo 1927- expelled from the communist party 1928- exiled to Kazakhstan 1929- exiled from soviet union Because of stalins position of power he could easily remove rivals and the stronger he got the more open he could be with his attacks. Zinoviev and Kamenev were his next targets, during 1925 he made an alliance with Bukharin and Rykov against them; he used rumors and accusations of disloyalty to make them lose support. By 1926 the rivalry was out in the open and they had been forced to make an alliance with Trotsky. Zinoviev was expelled from the communist party with Trotsky and Kamenev followed

1917-22 The cheka1922-23 The GPU, part of the NKVD which included the ordinary police and prisons1923-34 The OGPU1934-45 the GUGB, part off the NKVD

The OGPU dealt with political crimes

The OGPU dealt with political crimes. It was the Cheka under a different name.

The Leadership Contest

Stalin's Police State