Lenins death- Trotsky vs. Stalin
- sets up comintern (communist international) to spread revolution
- signed deals with other countries to rebuild
- Treaty of Rapallo with Germany (against treaty of versailles) - but germans hate communism
- Steel making tech. from Germany
- 1922: Bolsheviks are the official communist party
- Russia becomes USSR
- Lenin shot in 1921 - didn't recover
- died January 1924
- Power struggle: Stalin v. Trotsky
- “guns or butter” debate: Heavy industry(stalin) v. consumer goods (trotsky)
- struggle for 3 yrs
- trotsky expelled from USSR
- Stalin successful because he was general secretary - can appoint everyone in bureau and in charge of propagandaput on trial in absentia for treason
- hunted down in Mexico city and killed by KGGB
Summary
After Lenin's death the two potential new leaders conflicted as to whether Russia should focus on heavy industry and defence material or consumer goods. Stalin would ultimately prevail not because of his ideas but because of his advantageous position.
Question: How would Russia and their economy have been different if Trotsky had been the leader?