Power-point 12: Chapter 15: Lenin’s Final Years and Legacy Power-point 12: : Area of Study 2 – Creating a new society Chapter 15: Lenin’s Final Years and Legacy
Introduction – Lenin’s final years 1922 to 1924 Imposes Absolute Control Illness Final Political Will Death Legacy?
Lenin imposes absolute control While the 10 th Congress requested unity in 1921, Lenin soon enforced compliance While the 10 th Congress requested unity in 1921, Lenin soon enforced compliance Cheka were given complete power to purge one quarter of the Communist party of ‘radishes’ (Bolsheviks critical of Lenin) Cheka were given complete power to purge one quarter of the Communist party of ‘radishes’ (Bolsheviks critical of Lenin) What remained was a disciplined and devoted bureaucratic central govt What remained was a disciplined and devoted bureaucratic central govt
Political aftermath of 1921 The end of the Civil war brought about: 1922 – USSR created from 6 independent Soviet republics – Competent Bolshevik leaders replaced by Bureaucratic “yes-men” 1924 – Cheka given a name change to GPU then OGPU – Still evil though!!
Lenin’s Illness May/December He suffered two strokes. Had letters dictated for him March 1923 – Third stroke paralysed him and he lost all speech. Reasons: 1.Lead Poisoning from bullet from August 1918 assassination attempt 2.April 1922 Doctors removed bullet and may have done more damage 3.Death of mistress in 1920 distraught him
Wasting away
Death of Lenin: 21 Jan 1924 Reactions:Massive outpouring of griefLenin’s body embalmed for viewingPetrograd renamed LeningradTrotsky was devastated
Half a million people queued for hours to enter Lenin’s mausoleum in Red Square, Moscow
Vladimir Lenin's embalmed skin sack being taken from its exhibit case at the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow and given its yearly bath in a soup of formaldehyde, methanol and ethanol. Got to stay juicy!
Lenin’s final politcal concerns In December 1922, he dictated his Political Will which was a summary of Lenin’s views on key Communist Party leaders like Stalin, Trotsky and Zinoviev. In December 1922, he dictated his Political Will which was a summary of Lenin’s views on key Communist Party leaders like Stalin, Trotsky and Zinoviev. He warned the party against Stalin abusing his power. He warned the party against Stalin abusing his power.
Lenin’s legacy: Historical issues Different historians have different views of socialism and Lenin Different historians have different views of socialism and Lenin Was Lenin’s motivations behind his actions pure or heartless? Was Lenin’s motivations behind his actions pure or heartless? Hindsight can blame Lenin easily Hindsight can blame Lenin easily Lenin didn’t have long to transform Russia Lenin didn’t have long to transform Russia 59% of his time in power was spent in war, 28% seriously ill & 13% in peace & good health