As minister of War, Trotsky led the Red Army to success in the Civil War
Bukharin was editor of Pravda, giving him influence over public opinion
Economically, the party was divided between the policies of War Communism and NEP
Kamenev was the Chairman of the Moscow Soviet
Lenin had banned internal party debate in 1922 to hide the divisions created by the NEP
Lenin refused to make it clear whether NEP was introduced on principle or by necessity
Lenin was seriously ill for the last three years of his life
Lenin referred to Stalin as “that wonderful Georgian”
Lenin's "Testament" criticised Kamenev / Zinoviev for not supporting the 1917 Revolution
Lenin's "Testament" criticised Trotsky for "excessive self-assurance"
Lenin's "Testament" described Bukharin as "the most able theorist in the party"
Lenin's "Testament" did not name a successor but called for a "collective leadership"
Lenin's "Testament" made criticisms of all the other leaders in the party
Lenin's "Testament" recommended that Stalin be replaced as General Secretary
Lenin's "Testament" suggested that Bukharin had not studied Marx properly
Lenin's "Testament" was kept a secret and its recommendations were ignored
Marx argued that power should be shared, not concentrated in the hands of one person
Marx did not provide clear guidance on the correct path towards socialism
Marx said there would be a centralisation of power before the state “withered away”
Stalin sided with Left-wingers – Kamenev and Zinoviev – to defeat Trotsky
Stalin sided with Right-wingers – Bukharin and Rykov – to defeat Kamenev and Zinoviev
Stalin tricked Trotsky into not attending Lenin's funeral
Stalin had offended Lenin with his handling of the “Georgian Question”
Stalin used the party apparatus to remove his remaining rivals – Bukharin and Rykov
Stalin was careful to keep his own policy ideas vague during the battle for power
Stalin was General Secretary - power over all appointments, promotions and demotions
Stalin promoted his own followers – Kaganovich, Mikoyan, Sergo, Kirov…
Stalin was regarded as a reliable team player who got things done
Stalin was rude to Lenin's wife Kruspskaya
Stalin's brutal treatment of Georgia turned Lenin against him
Sukhanov described Stalin as a "Grey Blur…the party's most eminent mediocrity"
Sverdlov, Lenin's deputy, died prematurely of influenza in 1919
The democratic centralists opposed the declining power of party members
The Left-wing (led by Trotsky) hated NEP and wanted "world revolution"
The party was divided between the Left (led by Trotsky) and the Right (by Bukharin)
The Right-wing (led by Bukharin) supported NEP and wanted "socialism in one country"
The workers' opposition opposed the declining power of the soviets (workers' councils)
Trotsky’s arrogance and “Bonapartist” tendencies alarmed Kamenev and Zinoviev
Trotsky was suffering from malaria-like symptoms during the period
Zinoviev was the Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet
