Talk:Joseph Stalin's rise to power

1926 - The year when Stalin raised to power?

Reading trough the TIME archives, I found that it seems like Stalin’s consolidation as the sole leader of the Soviet Union came in the year of 1926:

Alone - Monday, Aug. 30, 1926

“ One hundred and twelve million U. S. inhabitants acknowledge the executive shepherdage of Calvin Coolidge, refuse to "recognize" the 139 million Soviet Russians over whom Joseph Stalin has reared himself a despot. M. Stalin ("Mr. Steel") exerts, simply as Secretary of the Communist Party, a political "boss power" prodigious and all pervasive. A cobbler's son whose actual name and age are doubtful, "Mr. Steel," was born in the remote Transcaucasian land of Vras-tan, Gruzia or Georgia. Amid the purging flames of revolution, the great Dictator Lenin tested and tempered the Georgian's metal, gave him the prophetic name of Stalin, installed him in the office which he has made the focus of all Russia, the Secretariat of the Communist Party. Last week M. Stalin ordered dropped from the Cabinet of Premier Rykoff—of which he, himself, is not a member—his onetime "Left Hand Man," Foreign and Home Trade Commissar (Minister) Leo Kamenev. Into the vacant Ministry stepped with effrontery and assurance one Mikoyan, like M. Stalin a Georgian, unlike M. Stalin, a mere pliant boy. As everyone knows, Gregory Zinoviev, the onetime "Right Hand Man" of M. Stalin, was expelled during the summer from the potent Communist Political Bureau. M. Stalin, astute, inflexible, omnipotent, has chosen to dictate alone. ”

Synthesis - Monday, Oct. 11, 1926

“ Joseph Stalin now rules as the undisputed dictator of Soviet Russia. During the past twelve-month he has demonstrated his control of the Communist Party and the Government by reducing to political vassalage or inconsequence no less than six of Lenin's most potent disciples: Trotsky, Zinoviev, Radek, Sokolnikov, Lashe-vich and Kamenev. ”

Humble Pie - Monday, Oct. 25, 1926

“ Joseph Stalin dictates at Moscow, having overthrown Leon Trotzky and many another. Recently M. Trotzky and other anti-Stalinites, notably MM. Zinoviev and Kamenev, have been rumored to be gathering strength for a war of propaganda against the man of steel. Last week M. Stalin, no office holder but the despotic "boss" of the Communist party, rapped out three orders. Leon Trotzky and his malcontents were commanded to cease their opposition to the dictator's will. For an hour they temporized, then found courage for battle ebbing. ”

Hero Up - Monday, Nov. 29, 1926

“ Pavel Ephimovich Dybenko, young and colorful Communist, emerged into the news again for an instant last week when Dictator Stalin of Soviet Russia appointed him Chief of the Red Army Supply Service. ”

Stalin consolidated power between 1922 and 1930, and was finished by 1940. If any year prior to 1929 Stalin was "undisputed dictator" the year was 1927 when he successfully ordered the expulsion of Kamenev, Zinoviev, and Trotsky. 1927 was also the year Stalin began writing up the first five-year plan.

Isn't this photo with Lenin "photoshoped"? Shouldn't that be noted? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.49.236.150 (talk) 08:49, 31 October 2011 (UTC)

Stalin was not the General Secretary until his death

"Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee from 1922 until his death in 1953." Stalin remained leader until his death, but his position of General Secretary was formally abolished in 1952, half a year before his death. 108.71.14.120 (talk) 19:07, 12 October 2013 (UTC)

Photo of Lenin and Stalin

In the main article on Vladimir Lenin, this same picture exists, Stalin visiting the ailing Lenin in Gorki.

In the Lenin article the caption reads:

"During Lenin's sickness (1922–23), Stalin used this fake photograph (it was a composite of two shots) as part of his claim to be Lenin's successor."

It cited and seems valid. Is it relevant and should we use the same caption on this page? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jtgelt (talk • contribs) 04:21, 4 September 2014 (UTC)

Comment

I quickly looked at this page. Here are two major and most obvious misstatements: (a) Upon Lenin's death, Stalin was NOT "officially hailed as his successor as the leader of the ruling Communist Party and of the Soviet Union itself" (this is version from the Soviet CPSU history; it was Trotsky who was considered as the most likely successor of Lenin at this time), and (b) Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev did NOT form a United Opposition against Stalin (this is version from the Soviet CPSU history again). To the contrary, it was Stalin who declared them to be "in opposition" to discredit them. He did the same later with Bukharin and Rykov by declaring them to belong to the "Right Opposition" which did not exist in the Soviet CPSU during at the time of the claim. My very best wishes (talk) 19:40, 27 May 2015 (UTC)

It's not true. Trotsky himself used a word "opposition", for example, in his book "My life". Роман Скалов (talk) 05:35, 1 July 2015 (UTC)

What is not true here ? Eventually Trotsky naturally opposed Stalin, but like stated above - Trostky never formed an alliance with Zinoviev and Kamenev. Wise after the event, they later all realised they should have done. At Lenins death, it looked like it was Trotsky vs Zinoviev. I presume you refer to something Trotsky wrote in exile. User "My very best wishes" is correct - totally. Boeing720 (talk) 21:44, 7 November 2018 (UTC)

Lede too long

@Boeing720: Holy Christ, why did you make the lede so long? Why didn't you put all that stuff into the main body of the article? I'm not going to revert your work, but please take the effort to move it to somewhere more appropriate. The lede should be concise. Kurzon (talk) 15:54, 6 November 2018 (UTC)

@Kurzon:Thanks for this input. I take your criticism to heart, you're right. However - I think the article as it was in need of improvements. The topic is after all Stalin's road to power. (As of the article name). I have intentions to continue with this part of Stalin. Mainly the period between 1922 and 1929. There's a lot to add on for instance Zinovjev and Kamenev vs Trotsky, and how Stalin could benefit from this. And equally Stalin's role in Trotsky's fall and how he then through Bucharin, Rykov and Tomsky could get the upper hand also on Zinovjev and Kamenev - and what then happened to them. Including reasons and circumstances.

I've read quite a few other authors on Stalin (among them both Montefiore's works "The Red Tsar' court" (or what the English title is, but his first work on Stalin) and "Young Stalin", Richard Pipes "The Russian Revolution" and a number of other authors and articles surrounding Stalin. But on this specific period (1922-29), and as I read Isaac Deutscher, his work still became a very positive surprise. Especially on this period. He is very keen to have his readers to understand what happened and sometimes why. (referring to lots of documents).

Most other authors (I've read) kind of "jump" this part, or simplify it. Like "From end of the civil war to the killing of Kirov 1934 at 2-3 pages". I strongly doubt there is a better work on Stalin's rise to power. (Rather than what he then did with it)

The current lead is much of a summary of 3 chapters in Deutscher's work. I just became that way. I've got no other defense than that and that it's never easy to begin on an article that's already rather long. As I see it, also the entire article require improvements. Things not already existing in our Stalin article, and related to this topic, not Stalin in general. If I'm allowed to, I believe I can improve the entire article within the scope of the article name. (I've been looking for Robert Conquest without any luck so far, whilst I guess for instance Robert Service is better on Lenin). I'm asking for some time, then the lead will become "a slightly teasing summary" of the entire article, according to our guidelines. It's not a cmplete re-writing, but quite a lot additions and perhaps a little re-writing. Thanks. Boeing720 (talk) 01:24, 7 November 2018 (UTC)

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How Stalin came into power

It must include the Civil War ,War communism and also the five-year plan 102.38.127.38 (talk) 15:38, 27 February 2022 (UTC)