Personalities and Powerbases - Stalin

Stalin

• Born 1879
• Joined Communist Party 1902 (very early)
• When Lenin became ill, Stalin started to oppose him
• Highly criticised in Testement 'enourmous power which he does not use wisely'
• Lenin demanded Stalin be removed from the Party
• Had a hand in everything (widespread power)
• Party Secretary (controlled the business of the Politburo, created agendas/papers from meetings)
• Head of Secretariat (control of who was in positions with responsibilities) - chose supporters
• Control of Party organisation (sent to anual party congress where major issues of…