Western Civilization II / Unit 15 WC2 1413 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Lenin Dies, 1924: Stalin's Secretaryship Defeats Trotsky
Captions available
The idea
Lenin's strokes from nineteen twenty-two left a struggle. Stalin, General Secretary, controlled appointments; Lenin's Testament urged his removal, and Stalin kept it buried. Trotsky, the Red Army's builder, wanted world revolution and an end to the NEP. By nineteen twenty-seven Stalin had defeated Trotsky and Zinoviev.
In practice
The anchor calls Stalin "Premier"; the post was General Secretary.
Where people slip
The Testament is on Lumen 2.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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