Evaluate the role of Leon Trotsky in Bolshevik success in the period 1917-1924.
Leon Trotsky played a very significant role in the Bolshevik success in the period 1917-1924. According to A.J Koutsoukis , 'his contributions in the years 1917 to 1924 had been second, if not equal to that of Lenin himself. Trotsky played a significant role in establishing Bolshevik control in Russia. He was also very instrumental and one of the reasons for the Red Army winning the civil war. Trotsky was regarded by his supporters as the saviour for his country for his efforts in organising the Red Army during the Civil War. According to historian E.H Carr , 'Trotsky was a great administrator, great intellectual, and a great orator...' but at times was overbearing and lead to his eventual downfall.
Leon Trotsky had a leading role in the Bolshevik seizure of power in the October Revolution of 1917. Leon Trotsky was a brilliant orator, thinker and organising genius. His actions before and during the revolution were vital to the success of the Bolshevik Revolution. Trotsky organised many of the instructions that Lenin sent him from his exile in Finland (what to take over, and the subdivision of the party) and according to L. Hartley 'this was a vital job as the slightest mistake could mean failure'.
The success of the revolution was based on the fact that the vast majority of troops in the capital sided with the soviets. This assemblance of support can be largely attributed to Trotsky. Trotsky association with the Petrograd Soviet [as chairman] brought the support of the hesitant people, willing only to support the Soviet, to the Bolsheviks when he joined them in July. Since he had regained his position as chairperson of the Soviet, Trotsky was, according to B. Williams , 'in a position to organise the revolution itself'. In addition to Trotsky's role in winning support was his training of Bolshevik agents who were placed in factories throughout Petrograd to 'spread hatred against the Provisional Government and to instruct men in how to prepare themselves for a
Leon Trotsky had a leading role in the Bolshevik seizure of power in the October Revolution of 1917. Leon Trotsky was a brilliant orator, thinker and organising genius. His actions before and during the revolution were vital to the success of the Bolshevik Revolution. Trotsky organised many of the instructions that Lenin sent him from his exile in Finland (what to take over, and the subdivision of the party) and according to L. Hartley 'this was a vital job as the slightest mistake could mean failure'.
The success of the revolution was based on the fact that the vast majority of troops in the capital sided with the soviets. This assemblance of support can be largely attributed to Trotsky. Trotsky association with the Petrograd Soviet [as chairman] brought the support of the hesitant people, willing only to support the Soviet, to the Bolsheviks when he joined them in July. Since he had regained his position as chairperson of the Soviet, Trotsky was, according to B. Williams , 'in a position to organise the revolution itself'. In addition to Trotsky's role in winning support was his training of Bolshevik agents who were placed in factories throughout Petrograd to 'spread hatred against the Provisional Government and to instruct men in how to prepare themselves for a
Bibliography: *Irving H. Smith, Trotsky, 1973 *A.J Koutsoukis, Transfer of Tyranny: Russia 1800-1945, 2000 *E.H Carr, Socialism in One Country, 2000 *J.N *L Hartley, The Russian Revolution, 1980 *B Williams, Lenin, 2000 *Michael Lynch, Reactions & Revolutions: Russia 1881-1924, 2000 *Graeme Gill, The Origins of the Stalinist Political System, 2002 *Isaac Deutscher, The Prophet Armed, 2003 *Isaac Deutscher, The Prophet Unarmed,1959 *Victor Serge, The Life and Death of Leon Trotsky, 2001 *Joel Carmichael, Trotsky, 1975