Unit 2L: The Impact of Stalin’s Leadership
on theUSSR 1924‐1941
One half of the Year 12 AS History course is the USSR
between the years 1924 and 1941 – from Lenin’s death to
the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.
This course is split into 5 distinct areas:
Stalin’s rise to power
Industrialisation (1928 – 1941)
Agricultural Revolution (1928 – 1941)
The Terror State (1934 – 1941)
Stalin’s Russia by 1941
This course begins in 1924, at the time of Lenin’s death. To fully understand the context of
what happens during this period, you need to understand about the Bolshevik revolution –
and who played what part in it.
This is important as, for example, Trotsky was Lenin’s right‐hand man during the revolution,
but this is not portrayed during Stalin’s leadership of the USSR, as he hated Trotsky for a
number of reasons.
Stalin’s Rise to Power:
After Lenin’s death, the party was ruled by a triumvirate consisting of Kamenev,
Zinoviev and Stalin (who were anti‐Trotsky)
Trotsky was the favourite to take Lenin’s place as head of the USSR (however he was
the most hated within the party due to his arrogance)
Stalin was very good at switching sides when it suited him. He used this to great
effect during his rise to power.
Stalin also had a very effective role within the party – General Secretary. This
allowed him to appoint his allies to office.
Stalin also took advantage of the fact that Lenin was extremely popular with the
people by portraying himself as the ‘chief mourner’ at his funeral.
Stalin’s rise to power can be split into 3 stages:
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