Lenin in Power

Why did other Communists oppose the NEP

They believed it was a return to capitalism Lenin was betraying the cause He was admitting that communism had failed They didn't like the idea that making a profit should be behind the driving force of small business They disliked the face that Kulacks or businessmen could hire men to work for them. It was all too much like the old days Communists particularly disliked new traders who appeared in the cities (NEPMEN). They bought food from the peasants, and sold it to the people of the cities. But these new middlemen, who made money out of the labour of others, lived capitalist lives. They were seen as the new expolitory class or bourgeoisie. They gambled, dealt in property and dined in restaurants

Soviet Requsioning Propaganda

They showed the food requisitioning to be a war between the poor peasants and the richer Kulaks. But this wasn't the case, and the average peasant resented food requisitioning by party officials and workers just as much. In 1918 7000 members of requisitioning squads were murdered.

Growing power of the State

This aggravated divisions within the party. During the period of War Communism, the Workers Opposition opposed the reduction in the powers of of trade unions and Workers councils. (Striking could be execution) The Democratic Centralists resented the "dictatorship of the Party Officialdom" and had called for more decision making by rank and file communists.

The Decree of Party Unity 1921

This banned formal fractions but the partial revival of capitalism in the NEP that year created deep divisions. The Right Wing of the party defended the gradual peasant based socialism of the NEP. The Left communists felt that increased emphasis needed to be placed on the a program of rapid and massive industrialisation in the regime was to survive. They were represented by Trotsky and the Platform of the 46 who described the NEP as the first sign of Bolshevik degeneration.

Kronstadt Naval Rebellion March 1921

This gave the regime its greatest scare. According to official records, the majority of Russian servicemen in the Navy were hired before the Civil War. Therefore the same people who had helped bring the Bolsheviks to power, were rebelling against them. This destroyed the regimes credibility as the naval base had been the pride and joy of the Revolution. They had helped crush opposition to the dissolution of the constituent assembly. In 1921, 16,000 Soldiers and workers had signed a petition called for Soviets without Bolsheviks. They wanted freely elected Soviets, and freedom of speech, press and association. A Red army was sent to crush the Rebels. The Latter held firm for sometime, but they lost. Several hundred ringleaders were executed, while 15,000 soldiers were expelled. The Official line is that there were different men, but this is not said to be factually true.

By 1921 why did Lenin need to challenge the Bolshevik approach to government?

This was known as the crisis year - people were not sure whether the Bolsheviks would survive Agricultural production was falling rapidly and it was 50% of 1913 levels The Kronstadt Rebellion had been a flash that lit up reality Lenin needed to be pragmatic, and this led to the NEP. Otherwise, he would in out of power, and the communist dream would die.

Leinin

Though the rebellions were mercilessly crushed by Lenin, he knew that something needed to change. He compared the communist state to a man who had nearly beaten within an inch of his life and that the Rebellion had been a flash that lit up reality better than anything else.

Success of National Minorities The West Poland

To recreate Greater Poland, Marshal Pilsudski attacked Russia and captured Kiev in 1920. A soviet Counter Offensive almost succeeded in conquering Poland, but they fell just short of Warsaw. The Poles rallied and they drove the Red army out of Poland, and forced the Soviets to accept an armistice. In 1921, the Soviets had to accept the unfavourable Treaty of Riga.

Causes of Bolshevik Success (Political)

Weaknesses of Opponents Ruthlessness of Bolsheviks

Opposition from National Minorities

Whilst Personal, ideological and geographical factors do go some way to explaining why the Reds won the Civil War, the handling the national minorities, whose nationalistic tendencies had been long suppressed, re-emerged in the chaos war, was an important factor.

Trotsky's Justification of Lenin's action

"We have trampled underfoot the principles of democracy for the sake of the lofiter principle of social revolution"

Failureof National Minorities and the Whites in: South of Ukraine

After the allied powers withdrew from this fertile breadbasket of Russia at the end of 1918, the area descended into anarchy. Denikin's White army, along with Ukrainian nationalists, competed with the Reds over control of the area. Peter Wrangel, Denikin's successor and the ablest of the White Generals, employed the Kadets to institute land reform in the Region. This enabled him to win the peasantries support and he was able to occupy considerable amounts of land. His resistance to the Reds was caused by mass desertions in his army. 150,00 troops fled to Constantinople.

Industry?

Although Agriculture had recovered rapidly, industry did not. Food prices began to fall, but industrial prices continued to rise. There meant that farmers could not afford to buy industrial goods and were tempted back towards subsistence farming. By the time of the Twelfth Party Congress in 1923, industrial prices were running at three times the level of agricultural prices. Trotsky compared this gap, to the gap between the blades of scissors.

Cause of Bolshevik Success: Enemy's disunity

Although the Whites had a number of able generals, this avantage was offset by their lack of cooperation. Denikin and Kolchak did not get along, and there was no overall leader between them to coordinate their efforts. The Foreign Powers were too divided. Lloyd George said that Churchill had an obsession with the civil war. The French refused to commit their resources to the campaign. There was also no mood for another war, and the citizens would have not supported it. Many governments in the West wanted to ensure stability at home, and war with the Bolsheviks would not bring it.

Failure of White Propaganda

Although the Whites were divided, many of them didn't want to offer independence to parts of Russia. Remember their slogan "Russia, one and indivisible"

Success of National Minorities The North - Finland and the Baltic States

Anti-communist Finns defeated the Bolshevik supported Red Finns to create an independent Finland in late 1917. The Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania were assisted by their German occupiers. They declared their independence, and despite attacks from the Reds, held their independence until 1940.

Mixed Economy

As Lenin as predicted, a mixed economy emerged, with the state controlling industry whilst agriculture and trade was left in private hands. Goods flooded into stores across Russia and increased the Bolshevik's popularity.

War Communism and Peasantry

At the outset of the war, the peasantry preferred the Soviet programm of peace, land and worker control. The Whites wanted to restart the war with Germany and they were skeptical of land reform and workers rights. There were therefore not a convincing opposition to the whites. 4/5 peasants who were conscripted into the White army deserted.

Introduction

Between 1917 and 1924, the Bolshevik party transformed from a revolutionary splinter group into a party of government. It faced intense opposition from a number of political, military, social and national groups. By the time of Lenin's death, in January 1924, the regime, despite all odds, were still in power. This was at the cost of millions of lives.

War Communism and Peasantry (End of the Honeymoon period)

By 1918, the love of the Bolsheviks and the joy of revolution was gone. Ukraine had been lost to Germany (temporary), transport routes had been disrupted, and the most profitable and productive farms had been split up. This produced a chronic food shortage in Petrograd and Moscow. This led to the the Communists policy of food requisition and collectivisation.

Conclusion

By 1922, when the USSR was formally proclaimed, it was clear the Bolsheviks had succeeded it dealing with the immediate threats that faced them.

Lenin's Death

By the time Lenin had died, industry was on the way to recovery and the crisis was largely over. The NEP policy was still socially divisive and it fueled envy. There was a rumor that it stood for "New Exploitation of the Proletariat" and many people were angered by the creation of a new class. They were called the Nepmen and they did well out of the policy. They bought grain from farmers (at low prices) and then sold it to the people in the towns. They began to become wealthy and they lived lavish lives. People were disappointed at the slow progress towards socialism. They destested the Kucklacks, the retailers and the Nepmen.

Other political parties? No More.

By the time of Lenin's death in 1924, political parties had been formally banned and the Bolshevik party (renamed communist party on 1919) reigned supreme.

The Treaty of Brest Litovsk Unpopular

Even within the Bolshevik Party, the treaty was unpopular. Lenin secured ratification by the Central Committee only by threatening his resignation, and even then only by a majority of one.

Agriculture Vs Industry

Farmers were now willing to grow a surplus of grain because there now had the incentive of Roubles. Therefore, grain production rapidly increased and prices decreased. But, industrial output didn't increase at the same rate, and because of the pent up demand, prices rose. This was as many of the workers in Moscow and St Petersburg had not returned. Trotsky called this the scissor crisis, because the peasants were no longer prepared to sell their grain because they could not buy anything of value. Many of them therefore wanted to go back to subsistence farming, because there were little incentive to grow a surplus. This would lead to great famine. This was the root of the Great Procurement Crisis of 1928, where there was a lack of grain.

Opposition Forces unite

Given the unpopularity of the treaty, it was hardly surprising that it united anti-Bolshevik forces. Three White Army commanders posed a serious threat to the Bolsheviks in Moscow. Kolchak attacked from the East Denikin from the South Ydernitch from the West

Main Features of the NEP

Grain was no longer taken from the peasants by force, instead there would be a 10% tax on harvests. They would be able to trade the rest of the open market If the peasants couldn't not be forced to hand over food, then they should be persuaded Traders could buy and sell goods in the market - NEPMEN (this had been illegal before!) Smaller factories, particularly those producing consumer goods like shoes and clothes, were given back to their former owners. They were allows to sell the goods they made for profit This was to boost the economy as it led to increased demand. Larger industries remained in the control of the state, but some larger factories were allowed to sell their products

Why did Lenin see "electrification" as the key to modernising the Soviet Union

He believed that it would power modern industry in Russia. He wanted to modernise Russia and he wanted to lights in every house. This would also show to the world the successes of communism. Soviet Power plus electrification equals Communism. This was helpful to Russian industry as it enabled industry to increase.

Lenin

He had suffered three strokes in 1922. He was left partially paralyzed and politically incapacitated. This severed to show at what cost success had been bought.

Why Did Lenin argue the NEP was necessary?

He said the policy would give the government a breathing space in order so that it could get back on its feet He knew that the implementation of a mixed market economy would increase grain production, which it did By 1924, grain production exceeded pre war levels. The Nepmen made quantities of food appear in the towns that had not been seen for years

Failure of National Minorities and the Whites in: The East - Transcaucasia and Asia

In 1920, the Red army attacked the three Transcaucasia Republics. In the Spring they conquered Azerbaijan. Armenia capitulated in the Winter In 1921, the Mensheviks were driven out of Georgia, despite strong resistance. In Central Asia, the Red army conquered several Khanates and set up several artificial client states.

Lenin: War Communism vs the NEP Uncercided and Conflicted

In his writings, Lenin wrote that War Communism was a product of desperate necessity and that the NEP was a radical modification his his outlook on communism. But, Lenin also said that War Communism was an attempt to introduce the communist principles of production and distribution by direct assault. The NEP, he therefore said, was a short term tactical retreat. "Let the peasants have their little bit of capitalism as long we have power."

Lenin's new Soviets

In order to reduce the power of the SR dominated Zemestovs, he decided to set up soviets throughout the country.

The Result of Lenin's Rule

In the short term, Lenin's policy of brute force, led to fragmentation in the party following his illness. Stalin was able to play factions off against each other in order to secure his own ascendancy. In the Long Term, it set a ideological precedent, which a "man of steel" was to dominate Russia. Democracy within the party was not restored after his death, and this meant that there was to be no debate within the party. This led to disastrous effects for the Russian people in the years following his death. Marx had envisaged that the state would "wither away" once the revolution had been one. But, under Stalin, the state increased in power, and it was to dominate all areas of Russian life. Lenin's actions therefore led to expectation that the USSR was to have a dictator, and the Russian people were to be controlled with force and fear.

How was NEP successful?

Industrial workers became better off but the policy was unpopular with workers because "classes were reborn under our eyes". There was a growing gap between the prosperity of the few and the misery of the many. Both agricultural and industrial output had risen, and Lenin knew that if living standards hadn't risen, there may have been a revolution. Goods became more affordable after 192 and thus the scissors began to close. But there was still a problem of unemployment and inequality. Kulaks also began to invest in their farms, and this further increased productivity. But, they were a minority, and most farmers continued to use backwards methods of farming.

Proletariat - Bedrock of Support

Initially, the workers were the bedrock of Bolshevik support. He gave the workers control over the factories. Factories were thus presided over by factory committees. They controlled the management and directed the economic policy.

The Treaty of Brest Litovsk

It was a punitive treaty, and hated by many Russians. Russia ceded Finland, Poland and the Baltic states to Germany. It was over 1 million SQ KM of land. This land contained 80% of Russia's coal mines and 30% of her population.

How did the nationalisation of industry and Vesenkha weaken the Bolsheviks?

It was deeply divisive in a political sense. Left Communists favored nationalisation in principle, were critical of the use of capitalists and the withdrawal of support for worker's councils.

Expulsion of opposition in May 1918

Lenin felt strong enough to expel opposition parties from the Central Executive Committee at the end of May 1918. He then declared "Our Party stands at the head of Soviet Power." "Decrees and measures of soviet power emanate from our party'

Lenin had to call an election

Lenin had made a great deal out of the Constituent assembly failure to call an election, and this had helped his rise to power, and therefore he had to call one in 1918.

Lenin's attempt to unite the Party

Lenin tried his best to keep the two sides of the party united by refusing to make clear whether the NEP policy was a short-term tactical retreat or a radical re-thinking of communism. This served to pospone the internal party conflict and did not end it.

Lenin's reaction to the poor results

Lenin was reckless and therefore he dissolved the assembly, and called his action "true democracy" because he knew the needs of the proletariat better than they did.

Why did the majority of party still support Lenin

Many realised that these measures were needed in order to revive industry and increase food production People weren't sure whether that the Bolsheviks would stay in power Short term capitalism, for long term communism Lenin: "We are now retreating, going back as it were, but we are doing this so as to retreat first and then run and leap forward more vigorously" They needed capitalism to increase stability, then communism could be embarked on

New Economic Policy (NEP) 1921-4 Agriculture rapidly recovered

Once the civil war was over, war communism was replaced with the New Economic Policy. This permitted private ownership of small scale industry and ended the requisitioning of grain. This was replaced by a 10% tax. (of the harvest) Peasants were once again able to sell their grain on the open market. This gave them an incentive to grow more, and by 1923, grain production had increased by 50% and there were no longer mass starvations. By the end of 1922 the crisis had began to ease, and this was aided by £20 million of aid given by the American Relief Association.

Military Adcanages

Personal Unity Ideological Unity Geographical Unity

Division

Principles had been compromised, and policies and become inconsistent. The party had become so divided that Lenin dispensed with the debate and democracy, he instead relied on brute force and his personal dictatorship to hold the regime together.

Red Propaganda

Stalin formulated the doctrine of proletarian self determination. He stated that national independence was only to be recognised if it was demanded by the working population. But in reality this only included the Bolsheviks in Moscow. They didn't want to give independence to any part of Russia. Their poster propaganda was popular and it help persuade the peasants to take their side.

Political Opposition

The Bolshevik party faced a massive opposition following its seizure of power in 1917.

Geographical Unity Reds

The Bolsheviks held the strategically important cities of Moscow and St Petersburg. This was the Russian heartland, and it gave them a advantage over the Whites. It made it easier for them to organise and co-ordinate their defense, but it also gave them a large chunk of the russian population as well as much of russia's industrial capacity. Moscow and Petersburg stayed in the Red's hands for the entire war. The large size of Russia gave them a strategic depth. When under attack on one front, they could safely give ground until troops had been transferred from another front.

How did Soviet Russia benefit from Foreign Trade

The NEP policy encouraged foreign trade Before this time, other countries had refused to trade with Russia. Western Countries were pleased that Russia had embarked on a capitalism program, because it showed that communism had failed. There were therefore happy to trade with Russia. This is evidenced by Anglo -Soviet Trade agreement of 1921. There was a large scale transfer of Western Goods for Russian Oil. This helped increase Russian prosperity, and therefore living standards.

Cause of Bolshevik Success: Personal Unity

The Reds had their rivalries but they were not as damaging as they a leader- Lenin. Trotsky was also firmly in control over the the army, and this gave his an advantage over his enemy's disunity.

Social Revolutionaries

The SRs had support in the countryside, mostly from disillusioned peasants, while the Bolsheviks had support in the cities (proletariat). Therefore the party didn't have control over all the Soviets in the countryside and it did not command overwhelming support in them.

Weaknesses of Opponents

The Social Revolutionaries had suffered for years from bitter splits over such issues as the validity of terrorism, participation in the Duma and support for the provisional government. It was therefore no surprise that they were deeply divided over whether they should participate in the new Bolshevik government. 7 SRs joined the Bolsheviks in government and they helped draft the land seizure decrees, which legitimized the peasants seizure of land. This exasperated the split in the party and it also led to a strengthening of the Bolshevik's position in the countryside.

Geographical Disadvantages Whites

The Whites armies were located at opposite ends of Russia. Denikin and Kolcak were 10,500KM apart. They had to communicate Via Paris! The White Armies didn't attack simultaneously, and therefore the Red army could beat each army one at a time. In a multi-front War, the Reds would have fared much worse.

White Army Defeated!

The armies had 250,000 troops and they were united by a hatred of the Bolsheviks, the treaty and a desire to wage war with Germany. This latter objective won them the support of the allies, who wanted Germany to be fighting on two fronts. The Allies sent troops to Russia itself. France took control of Murmansk and Archangel in the North, whilst the Americans attacked from the Far East, helping Japan take control of Vladivostok. At one stage the Bolsheviks had lost 1/3 of Russia's landmass to the advancing armies. By by Spring 1920, all three armies had been defeated and Lenin could finally turn his attention to Rebuilding the Russian economy.

Cause of Bolshevik Success: Ideological Unity

The contrast between the fragmented Whites and the focussed Reds as a result of ideology as much as it was over differences in personality. Red Soldiers were twice as numerous as the White, and they therefore had a numbers advantage. They also had a COMMON CAUSE! It was also the case that the Whites had divided loyalties. Their slogan "Russia: One and Indivisible" was vague and wasn't convincing, given their reliance on foreign aid. This was a propaganda disaster as they could be compared to a army sponsored by foreigners! They didn't appeal to the peasants because they were ruthless to them. They also promised to hand land back over to Estate owners, and therefore they lost all pesant support. They didn't appeal to the Ukrainians who wanted their own country because they promised to keep Russia united.

War Communism 1918-21

The crisis of the Civil war pushed the Bolsheviks towards this dramatic war policy. It included the rapid nationalisation of all industry, the requisitioning of surplus grain from the peasants with the use of the Cheka. It succeeded in meeting the immediate needs of the Red army yet it led to deep resentment in both the proletariat and the peasantry. The Latter rebelled. The peasants also began to grow less crops because they knew that they wouldn't be able to sell it. This led a food crisis and in 1921, grain levels were only 50% of 1913 levels.

Proletariat - Bedrock of Support End of the Honeymoon period

The economic crisis of the time convinced Lenin that the workers lacked self-disipline and were therefore not able to supply the red arm with its essential needs. So in 1918, Lenin introduced compulsory Labour for all citizens between 16 and 50. He then limited the influence of the Worker's councils by setting up the Supreme Council of National Economy (Vesenkha). This was staffed by former plant owners, managers and other bourgeois specialists. They were "knowledgeable, experienced, businesslike people".

Size of Russia

The enormity of Russia meant that local and regional considerations trumped larger ideological issues. By 1918, there were 33 sovereign governments in Russia and both Reds and whites realised that the battle for hearts and minds was of paramount importance.

Proletariat

The key to solving the agitation in the countryside was by giving them the industrial goods that they needed. This would give them an increased incentive to deliver food to the town and army.

What did the nationalisation of industry and Vensheka give the Bolsheviks?

The nationalisation of industry and the efforts of the Vesenkha to control and coordinate the economy and labour force, gave the Bolsheviks an overall view of the available human capital and material resources. This enabled them to organize munition production and army supplies much better than their white counterparts.

Propaganda

The only way to win the propaganda war to promise independence to states such as Ukraine. The inhabitants were fiercely nationalistic and therefore they would have fought for any side thar promised them independence. Neither side was prepared to fulfill this promise!

Divisions in the Party Introducion

The party had transformed from a small revolutionary party into the government of the world's largest country. This had a impact on the party and within months of taking power, debate and internal democracy became an impossible luxury. By 1921, the official instrument of the government, the Sovnarkom, had been sidelined. It was replaced with the smaller and more cohesive Politburo and Orgburo. This lay at the heart of the Single party state that dealt with dissent with summary executions during the civil war.

Military Opposition

The peace treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed with Germany in March 1918. This served to unite the regime's military opponents. Upon seizing power, Lenin was determined to end the war with "peace any any price". The War had already brought down the Tsar, and the Provisional Government, and if the Bolshevik's didn't want to go the same way, the war needed to be ended.

The Crisis Year 1921

The policy of war communism had brought the country to the verge of Chaos. In the countryside, 6 million peasants had died of starvation and reports circulated in the foreign press that mothers were tying their children to other ends of their huts in fear that they would going to eat each other! In the Petrograd and Moscow riots broke out. Their populations had falled ben 70% and 30% respectively.

The Results

The results were poor for the Bolsheviks and they gained just under 1/4 of the seats, while the SR's gained almost half.

Ruthlessness of the Bolsheviks

The weaknesses of the Bolsheviks opponents made it much easier for them to be crushed. In the Summer of 1918, a failed rebellion by the SR's in Moscow coupled with an assassination attempt on Lenin, persuaded the Bolshevik's to unleash the Red Terror. This was presided over by the Cheka, who were formed shortly after the October Revolution. They were under the leadership of Dzerzhinsky. Dzerzhinsky said "We stand for organised Terror: this should be frankly stated" Within months, membership of the SR's and Mensheviks had fallen by 2/3. Victor Serge, a Revolutionary, felt that the Soviet State had reverted to the procedures of the inquisition. By the time of Lenin's Death, 250,000 opponents had been liquidated.