How did Stalin become party Leader?
Stalin liked power (duh) and intended to keep it as soon as he got some. Here is how Stalin built up his base of power: It was Stalin’s positions in all the key organizations in the party — The Politburo, the Orgburo, the Secretariat, the General Secretary — That gave him control over party organization, membership, etc. • Stalin • Party Secretary — He controlled what the Politburo talked about, and what information they received • Orgburo/Secretariat — He controlled appointments to party secretaryships (filled them with his minions) • Control of Party organization — He controlled what delegates were sent to the annual Congress where the Central Committee was chosen. Most of the delegates were his minions. • Control of part6y membership — Stalin cut out the revolutionaries that thought, and replaced them with Party members that obeyed. • Trotsky • Red Army & younger members, especially students. • Kamenev & Zinoviev • Zinoviev had a power base in Leningrad, Kamenev had one in Moscow; Z
