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LEON TROTSKY
Final Script
INTRODUCTION – Chapter Heading
Leon Trotsky is considered one of the most controversial revolutionary
figures of the Twentieth Century. With Lenin, he played a major role in the
events leading up to the November revolution of 1917. As Commissar of
War, was instrumental in securing a victory for the communists in the
Russian civil war. Following Lenin’s death, Trotsky lost a struggle for power
with Stalin. He was exiled from the Soviet Union, though continued to
speak and write against Stalin, who finally ordered his assassination.
LEON TROTSKY: 1879 - 1940 – Main Title
HISTORICAL CONTEXT – Chapter Heading
Since the sixteenth century, Russia had been ruled by the autocratic
Romanov Dynasty. The last Tsar, Nicholas the second, controlled a vast
Empire. The Church reinforced loyalty, while the army quelled dissent.
Unions and strikes were forbidden, and the secret police, the Okhrana,
targeted any opposition. The authoritarian rule of Tsarist Russia fueled
unrest and the rise of many dissident groups, including the Socialist
movement and the spread of Marxism.
In 1905, Russia’s defeat in its war against Japan together with the ‘Bloody
Sunday’ massacre sparked a series of strikes and public unrest across the
country. Socialist groups, known as’ council of workers’ or ‘Soviets’, were
established in most cities. Leon Trotsky led the most influential Soviet
located in St Petersburg. In the face of a growing threat to overthrow him,
Tsar Nicholas begrudgingly established an assembly or Duma, along with a
constitution. The release of his ‘October Manifesto’ in 1905 satisfied very
few but helped reassert Nicholas’ authority. Russia’s decision to go to war
against Germany in 1914 proved a disaster. Military defeat and the
appalling conditions the war inflicted on the Russian people again
undermined the Tsar. Discontent boiled over in Petrograd, formerly St
Petersburg, in March 1917, with a strike by over 250,000 workers. The
Tsar’s response was to order his troops to open fire on the protesters. But
this previously successful approach failed to quell the protests, intensifying
them instead. The Tsar was forced to abdicate the throne and the Duma
formed a conservative Provisional Government to rule Russia.
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Political power was shared between the Provisional Government, led by
Alexander Kerensky, and the soviets of workers and soldiers. Lenin, as
leader of the Bolshevik faction, returned to Russia from exile in April 1917,
and made plans for another revolution. From July 16 to18 1917, the
Bolsheviks attempted to take advantage of a popular uprising in Petrograd
known as the ‘July Days’ but were unsuccessful. It ended in tragedy when
government soldiers fired on the protesters. Many were arrested, including
Trotsky, while Lenin fled to Finland. Another challenge to the Provisional
Government was a right wing coup led by General Kornilov, who wished to
establish a military dictatorship. He was thwarted by the government, who
were assisted by the Bolsheviks. Their popularity soared, leading Lenin,
who was still in hiding, to declare the time was right for a revolution. Trotsky
was instructed to take control of Petrograd. Key buildings were occupied on
November 6th, and the following day the Bolshevik Red Guards, supported
by the Kronstadt sailors, stormed the Winter Palace. Members of Alexander
Kerensky’s Provisional Government were arrested. On the morning of
November 8th, Lenin announced the fall of the government and the transfer
of power to the Soviets. The success of the November Revolution was a
result of Lenin’s authority and Trotsky’s organization.
A series of reforms established a “dictatorship of the Proletariat’. Lenin
quickly adopted measures to suppress opposition groups. All non-Party
newspapers were banned, and the Cheka was formed to deal with political
enemies. One of the first acts of the new Bolshevik regime was the signing
of a harsh peace treaty with Germany, The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March
1918. The Bolshevik Party changed its name to the Communist Party that
same year. Lenin then began to make the social and economic changes
necessary to create a communist Russia. All factories were placed under
the control of elected committees of workers. 540 million acres of land was
taken from the Czar, the church and wealthy landlords to be divided
amongst the peasants. Banks were nationalized, unemployment insurance
was introduced and an eight hour day established. The Bolsheviks faced
three years of civil war against their opponents, known as the whites.
Despite this, by 1921 they controlled most of what had been the Tsarist
Empire.
After Lenin’s death in January 1924, Trotsky competed against Stalin and
others for leadership of the Communist party. The two men argued over the
direction the revolution should take.
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Stalin’s theory of ‘socialism in one country’ won out against Trotsky’s
‘permanent revolution’, characterized by his unrelenting desire to expand
socialism to other countries. Stalin used his power as Secretary General to
diminish Trotsky’s influence within the Party. As a result, Trotsky was
forced to resign as Commissar for War and was eventually expelled from
the Communist Party. He was exiled to Asiatic Russia and moved to
Turkey in1929. That same year, Stalin became undisputed leader of the
Soviet Union.
BACKGROUND – Chapter Heading
Leon Trotsky was born Lev Davidovich Bronstein on October 26th, 1879 in
Yanovka, in the Ukraine. He was the son of a rich Jewish landowner but
was raised to be Russian first and foremost, rather than Jewish. His father
was illiterate, but was obsessed with his childrens’ education. Trotsky was
able to attend secondary school in Odessa, where he excelled at writing
and languages. He had an arrogant self-confidence, and was indifferent to
what others thought of him. In 1895, he moved from Odessa to Nikolaev to
prepare for university. Trotsky’s disdain for the nobility and the aristocracy
fostered his interest in the writings of Karl Marx and other socialists. At
Nikolaev, he connected with the Narodniki movement, which sought to
spread revolutionary socialism amongst Russian peasants. Much to his
father’s disappointment, Trotsky abandoned his studies to lead a halfMarxist, half-Nardonik student group.
A voracious reader and keen debater, Trotsky began to actively express his
opinions, writing articles for liberal newspapers, organizing protests and
debating contemporary issues. His revolutionary career escalated in 1896,
when he and Alexandra Sokolovskaya, a Marxist student, established a
workers’ cell, the South Russia Workers’ Union. Trotsky wrote articles
and helped produce the newspaper, ‘Our Cause’. The Workers’ cell grew
rapidly which led to Trotsky and other socialists being arrested by the
Czar’s secret police in 1896. He was imprisoned for two years before being
exiled to Siberia, where he and Alexandra married.
During this time he continued his Marxist education, and studied Lenin’s
political theories. In 1902, Trotsky escaped from Siberia, encouraged by
Alexandra, who he left behind with their two children. To hide his identity,
he assumed the name Leon Trotsky. He began writing for a social
democratic newspaper in the city of Samara and quickly came to the
attention of Lenin, who encouraged him to come to London.
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There, he began working for the Marxist newspaper Iskra, further refining
his writing and oratory skills under Lenin’s close guidance. Trotsky’s keen
intellect and talents proved a valuable asset for the social democrats, and
he shared Lenin’s desire for a revolution in Russia. While on a lecture tour
in Europe to promote their cause, Trotsky met a young social democrat,
Natalia Sedova, with whom he later had two sons.
The Second Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Party met in
London in 1903, and was the scene of the famous split between its two
factions, the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. Trotsky stopped writing for
Iskra, and openly criticized Lenin’s views on party organization, believing it
would lead to a dictatorship.
RISE TO PROMINENCE – Chapter Heading
Emerging Political Role 1905 -17 – Sub-Heading
When ‘Bloody Sunday’ took place in 1905, Trotsky and Natalia were in
Geneva. They quickly returned to St Petersburg and joined the Menshevik
group. Natalia was arrested for her involvement and Trotsky fled to Finland.
There, he wrote dozens of pamphlets and articles which were smuggled
back to St Petersburg. Striking workers took matters into their own hands,
establishing the first Soviet of Workers’ Deputies. Upon his return, Trotsky
was nominated deputy-head of the Soviet, and organized strikes, agitating
for revolution. This Soviet, the first of 50 that formed throughout Russia,
published its own newspaper, Izvestiya, organized trade unions and
distributed welfare to striking workers. During the hectic 53 days of the
revolution, Trotsky became chairman of the St Petersburg soviet. Behind
the scenes, he endevoured to reunite the Bolshevik and Menshevik
factions, and had clearly emerged as a talented revolutionary leader.
Ultimately the leaders of the Soviets, including Trotsky, were arrested,
imprisoned or sent to Siberia in an attempt by the Tsar to suppress the
revolution. The Tsar introduced the October Manifesto, rejected by Trotsky
as ‘offering reform whilst providing none’. While incarcerated, he
envisioned his theory of ‘permanent revolution’, a phrase first used by Karl
Marx. This involved encouraging revolutions in other countries to ensure
the survival of a socialist Russia. Trotsky again escaped from Siberia and
lived in Europe and the USA.
At the outbreak of World War l in 1914, he became a newspaper
correspondent on the Western Front.
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Trotsky continued to denounce Russia’s involvement in the war as ‘a
capitalist imperialist struggle’. He was deported from France in September
1916 for providing mutinous French soldiers with the subversive Russian
socialist newspaper Our Word. Trotsky returned to the USA in January
1917.
Role in the 1917 Revolution - Sub Heading
The abdication of Tsar Nicholas the Second in March 1917 caught Trotsky
by surprise, leading him to return to Russia two months later. He was
horrified to discover that the Mensheviks supported the Provisional
Government’s continued involvement in World War I. Trotsky shared the
same anti-war attitude as the Bolsheviks. He was so impressed by Lenin’s
plans for a Bolshevik-led revolution that he was prepared to overlook their
previous disagreements. Lenin viewed Trotsky as a crucial asset to the
Bolshevik cause. ‘This brought together the two revolutionary leaders most
committed to an immediate overthrow of capitalism…together they were a
formidable team.’ - Historian David Christian.
At the first All Russian Congress of Soviets held at Petrograd in June,
Bolshevik attempts to increase their influence suffered a series of setbacks.
They had only 12 percent of the delegates, and failed to take control of the
workers’ councils. Also, at the end of the congress, a vote of confidence in
the provisional government was passed.
Prime Minister Kerensky ordered a new military offensive against the
Germans. A brief period of success was followed by the all too-familiar tale
of defeat and retreat. Soldiers were ordered to leave Petrograd to support
troops on the battlefield. Some rebelled and, with the support of sailors
from the Kronstadt naval base, took to the streets to demonstrate against
the government. The Bolsheviks then decided to lead the demonstrations,
or risk losing the leadership of the revolutionary cause. In a series of anti
government clashes known as the July Days, troops loyal to the Provisional
Government used extreme force to quell the disturbances.
Bolshevik leaders Zinoviev and Kamenev were imprisoned, while Lenin fled
to Finland. The Bolsheviks turned to Trotsky for direction, but within weeks
he too was arrested and imprisoned. In September, General Kornilov tried
to overthrow the Provisional Government by ordering his troops to attack
Petrograd.
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In response, Kerensky called upon the support of the Soviets and the Red
Guards. As well, Trotsky and other Bolsheviks were released from prison.
While Kerensky’s government was successful in resisting the attempted
coup, the Bolsheviks gained valuable arms, discipline and experience.
Their popularity soared, leading Lenin to declare the time was right for a
Bolshevik revolution.
Lenin remained in exile while Trotsky began recruiting, arming and training
the Red Guard. He was elected chairman of the Bolshevik controlled
Petrograd Soviet, and was the key figure in planning the revolution. The
timing was perfect, as the All Russian Congress of Soviets was scheduled
to meet on November 7th. On the evening before, the Red Guard aided by
sailors from the Baltic Fleet at Kronstadt, moved through the city.
Encountering little resistance they took over key buildings; the post and
telegraph offices; railway stations; bridges and garrisons, and laid siege to
the Winter Palace. It was not until the night of the 7th that the palace was
successfully attacked, with little bloodshed. Leaders of the Provisional
Government were arrested, and Kerensky fled. Lenin, who had come out of
hiding to address the Soviet, proceeded to organize the new Bolshevik
state. While Lenin was the undisputed leader of the Bolsheviks, it could be
argued that Trotsky had overshadowed him in engineering the seizure of
power. His brilliant organizational skills were more significant at that
moment than Lenin’s revolutionary theories.
FROM REVOLUTIONARY LEADER TO EXILE: Significance & Evaluation
Chapter Heading
The Council of People’s Commissars was elected on November 8th 1917,
with Lenin appointed chairman, and Trotsky Commissar for Foreign Affairs.
In March the following year, the capital was moved from Petrograd to
Moscow. The new government opposed Russia’s involvement in World
War 1 and began peace negotiations with Germany in December at BrestLitovsk. After the Germans issued their terms, a divided Soviet leadership
announced it would end the war, but not sign a peace agreement. This
policy strategy was favoured by Trotsky. As a consequence, the German
army resumed its offensive on February 18th 1918, moving further into
Russian territory. A furious Lenin threatened to resign if his colleagues
refused to sign a peace treaty. This was finally accomplished on March 3rd.
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was harsh, with Russia required to pay a war
indemnity of six thousand million marks.
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Its Provinces of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and the Ukraine were annexed
by Germany. This caused a rift within the Soviet leadership and Trotsky
resigned with his reputation in tatters. Seen in a more favorable light, the
Treaty had eliminated the Bolsheviks’ most dangerous enemy, and had
given the new Soviet government the freedom it needed to consolidate its
rule. The Treaty was eventually annulled when Germany signed the
Armistice at the end of WW 1.
Trotsky was appointed Commissar for War in April 1918 and used his
position to lead the Bolsheviks against military intervention from the
counter-revolutionary ‘White’ forces. The ‘Whites’ consisted of Social
Revolutionaries, Mensheviks, Liberals, cadets from military schools, and
ex-army officers. The Whites were initially supported by the allied countries
opposed to Germany during the war. The Bolsheviks had to overcome an
ineffective munitions industry starved of raw materials, and peasant support
for the ‘Whites’. Trotsky surprised everyone with ‘his organizational
capacity and ruthlessness as he transformed the Red Army into a fighting
force.’ - Historian Robert Service. He increased the size of the Red Army
to three million, and utilized the Secret Police, the Cheka, to maintain
discipline. Factory workers loyal to the communists were recruited,
conscription was introduced and the death penalty imposed for desertion
and disloyalty.
Touring the country by train, Trotsky was able to distribute ammunition and
maintain morale, discipline and revolutionary fervor. The civil war was
characterized by extreme brutality and atrocities on both sides. The
peasant population suffered greatly as grain requisition by both armies
pushed many villages towards starvation. Trotsky’s leadership,
determination and utter ruthlessness played a decisive role in the final
victory for the Bolsheviks in1921. Trotsky also showed no mercy to the
rebellious Kronstadt sailors, who had sided with his Bolshevik movement to
seize power. They had made demands to the government, but this was not
tolerated, and they were systemically slaughtered by the Red Army and the
Cheka.
Following Lenin’s death in January 1924, a power struggle ensued, with
Trotsky regarded as Lenin’s logical successor. Zinoviev, Kamenev and
Bukharin focused on removing Trotsky, ignoring Lenin’s final wish to
remove another major candidate - Stalin. According to the historian Robert
Service ‘Fear of Trotsky continued to be greater than annoyance with
Stalin… put aside their differences with Stalin to repel Trotsky’.
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Trotsky regularly underestimated Stalin’s talent for intrigue and
ruthlessness, and was often outmaneuvered. Stalin organized Lenin’s
funeral at a time when Trotsky was away from Moscow. His absence was
seen by the Russian people as disrespectful of their adored departed
leader. Trotsky’s arrogance, condescension and authoritarian attitude also
alienated too many of his fellow communists. His stubborn refusal to
abandon his vision of ‘permanent revolution’ played into Stalin’s hands:
Stalin appeared patriotic, while Trotsky was portrayed as an enemy of the
state. Stalin was appointed General Secretary of the Central Committee
and used his position to appoint nominees at every level of the party
structure. He created a Congress that supported him, leading to the
removal of Trotsky from the Politburo and the Central Committee. Trotsky
was ultimately forced to resign as Commissar of War in 1925.
In 1926, he joined with Zinoviev and Kamenev to oppose Communist Party
policies. The following year, to mark the Tenth Anniversary of the
Revolution, Trotsky and his followers led a peaceful demonstration through
the streets of Leningrad, criticizing the ruling elite. As a result of this
factionalism, they were expelled from the Party. Kamenev and Zinoviev
recanted and were re-admitted, while Trotsky refused to do so and was
sent into exile in Alma Ata in Asiatic Russia.
TROTSKY IN EXILE: Significance & Evaluation Chapter Heading
In 1929, agents of the GPU, the successor of the Cheka, charged Trotsky
with counter revolutionary activity. He was deported from the USSR and so
began the process of turning Trotsky into a political non-person.
Trotsky arrived in Turkey and continued his writing and maintained his
critical opposition to Stalin. He lectured throughout Europe and published
numerous articles and books, including ‘The Bulletin of the Opposition’, and
was labeled a foreign conspirator. After leaving Turkey, he found refuge in
France in 1933, then Norway, and finally Mexico in 1937, where the leftwing government there offered him shelter.
He continued to denounce Stalin and his interpretation of communism. In
1938 Trotsky helped form the Fourth International, an organization that
claimed to represent true socialist principles. Finally, Stalin ordered
Trotsky’s assassination. On May 24th 1940, a gunman fired over sixty
bullets into Trotsky’s home, without harming anyone. Despite increased
security a Soviet agent, Ramon Mercader, gained access to Trotsky at
home, on the pretense of seeking advice on a political article.
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While Trotsky read, Mercader struck him in the head with an ice pick. He
died in hospital a day later on August 21th 1940.
Leon Trotsky is considered one of the most controversial revolutionary
figures of his time. Nevertheless, historical evaluation of him is widely
divided. Was he a practical revolutionary or a naïve idealist? On the
practical side, Trotsky was the mastermind behind the Bolshevik seizure of
power in 1917, and was totally ruthless during the ensuing Civil War. As
Geoffrey Swain’s biography acknowledges ‘…that without Trotsky there
would not have been a Bolshevik Revolution, or communist victory in the
civil war.’ David North and Ian Howe agree ‘…that without him leading the
Red Army, the Bolsheviks would have lost power in the Civil War.’
Robert Service describes ‘Trotsky as a stubborn naïve socialist who sought
to achieve his view of the revolution, regardless of the consequences. He
was the instigator of his own downfall, being intolerant and inflexible, and
failed to gain the trust of either side.’
Trotsky failed to adequately understand the power of the Party machine to
win support, and frequently underestimated Stalin. Joshua Rubenstein
noted: ‘Trotsky’s refusal to engage in an underhanded battle as a key factor
in his defeat in the leadership struggle of the 1920s.’
An idealist commitment to radical reform and the pursuit of international
revolution created many political enemies. ‘Trotsky’s adherence to the
theory of permanent revolution and his post-revolutionary theories were
misconceived and outmoded.’ (Geoffrey Swain).
Trotsky was undoubtedly a master theoretician, a skillful propagandist and
a brilliant orator. History records that these attributes could not compensate
for the lack of a power base in the Russian Communist Party.
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