Unit 3: VCE HistoryLenin’s Final Years and Legacy

Absolut Control

• Following the civil war Lenin began a purge of all party members who were critical of the communist leadership.

• The Cheka were given unquestioned authority and one-third of the party membership were expelled. Strong personalities like Alexandra Kollontai were removed or ‘liquidated’.

• Again Lenin was aiming for a system of ‘bureaucratic centralism’ in the Communist government.

• This political shift allowed Joseph Stalin to rise through the ranks to General Secretary by 1922.

No radishes!

Not a radish

Formation of the USSR

• The Treaty of Union in 1922 reunited six provinces of the former Russian empire, which became known as the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics).

• In 1922 the Cheka was abolished and replaced by the GPU (State Political Organisation) and in 1924 by the OGPU (Unified State Political Organisation). Dzerzhinsky remained leader and ice-picks a weapon of choice. U mad?

Lenin’s illness and death

• Lenin suffered two major strokes in 1922 and a third in March 1923.

• Due to his illness he avoided public attention but was visited by Politburo members like Stalin and Kamenev and he continued writing letters.

• Lenin eventually died on 21 January 1924.• Trotsky got emotional, the people and

postage stamps honoured his memory, Petrograd became Leningrad and his brain was taken away for further study.

My work here is done, please take my brain

Lenin’s ‘Political Will’

• Stability of the Central Committee.• Maintain control of Stalin (who as Secretary

General had unlimited authority) and Trotsky (who he described as ‘the most capable’ but also ‘self assured’ of the C.C.).

• That Bukharin was ‘valuable’ but not Marxist enough and that Pyatakov was ‘outstanding’ but too focused on administrative matters.

• He went on to suggest that Stalin be removed for being ‘too rude’.

Bukharin’s cheeky grin

Made him a hit with the ladies

Pyatakov: Pen-pusher by day.Gangsta’ by night.

Key Debates about Lenin

Lenin is a tyrant and Marxism is dumb.

Dude’s a control freak.I’m not sure if he was pure or heartless

Richard ‘Moses’ Malone

He created totalitarianism. Thank you for Stalin, Mr Lenin, thanks a bunch.

Richard ‘Pipesy’ Pipes

Dmitri ‘The Volk’Volkogonov

As a busy man myself, I understand the pressure he was under. Just not enough time to get things done

Mr ‘Steve’Busy

More debates…

Did Lenin’s personal life impact on his political life?Yes No

‘He was a spoilt child who was all about the womens’ – Robert Service

‘He was dedicated to the struggle’ – Orlando Figes

Did Lenin really represent the proletariat?Yes No

‘Lenin was all about the party, power and privilege’ – The Volk and Pipesy

Was Lenin a dictator?Yes No

‘He gave instructions, they merely carried them out’ – The Times

‘Power for Lenin was dictatorship, but he was flexible’ – The Volk

Debating is fun…

Should Lenin’s use of terror discount his achievements?Yes No

‘He normalised terror and disguised it as revolution’ - The Volk

‘Lenin possessed humanness, he abolished a regime of despair and created a new world of hope’ – Christopher Hill

Would Lenin’s rule have become more moderate if he had lived longer?Yes No

‘Only 13% of Lenin’s leadership was spent in peace so it is hard to tell. However, his late writings pleaded for less violence and more Marxist education’ – Richard ‘Moses’ Malone

‘Lenin was always profoundly hostile to the peasants’ – The Volk

Readings

• Richard Pipes – Reflections on the Russian Revolution• Mikhail Bulgakov – Heart of a Dog• Dmitri Volkogonov – From Stalinism to anti-Communism• Orlando Figes – Links• Vladimir Lenin – Testament• Robert Service – A History of Modern Russia

Some other things by Service• Some kid – ‘Lenin: Liberator or Oppressor’• Richard Malone - HTAV Student Lectures