In this deck, we will explore how Joseph Stalin went from being one of several leading Bolsheviks to the absolute dictator of the Soviet Union. We'll examine the power struggle that followed Lenin's death in 1924, and then look at the brutal methods Stalin used to control the country in the 1930s, including the Great Terror, the Gulag labour camps, and all-encompassing propaganda.

When Lenin died in 1924, he did not name a successor. This triggered a power struggle between the most powerful figures in the Communist Party. The main contenders were Leon Trotsky, Grigory Zinoviev, Lev Kamenev, Nikolai Bukharin, and Joseph Stalin. At first, nobody considered Stalin the most likely leader.

Stalin's power base was his position as General Secretary of the Communist Party. While it seemed like a dull administrative role, it gave him enormous influence. He could appoint his supporters to key posts and control the party's membership. In your exam, this is a crucial point to explain how Stalin built up a loyal following within the party structure.

Before his death, Lenin wrote a document known as his Testament. In it, he criticised all the leading Bolsheviks but was especially critical of Stalin, describing him as 'too rude' and recommending he be removed from his post. However, the other leaders decided to keep the Testament secret, partly to show party unity and partly because they underestimated the threat Stalin posed.