Stalin+&+Trotsky


 * The Relationship between Josef Stalin & Leon Trotsky**


 * Stalin and Trotsky were complete enemies despite sharing the same basic philosophy. They both disliked each other, but they both wanted to succeed Vladimir Lenin.


 * Stalin was a more aggressive and more ruthless politician than Trotsky. In the struggle for power, Stalin had many advantages over Trotsky.


 * You can plainly see that the two antagonized each other. People argue that Stalin tried to ruin Trotsky's chances of taking over after lenin's death when Stalin told Trotsky to stay in the Caucasus during Lenin's funeral. Trotsky was told that the funeral would take place immediately so there was no point in rushing over from his vacation in the Caucasus. This made Trotsky look like an enemy of Lenin.


 * Trotsky opposed many of Stalin's policies and acts, such as the Non-Agression Pact Stalin made with Adolf Hitler.


 * Trotsky also opposed Stalin's "Socialism in One Country" idea which aimed to solidify the Soviet Union as a socialist country and then move on and try to convert other places and fully support places that wanted to convert. Trotsky felt that socialism must be spread everywhere at once otherwise the capitalist countries would destroy them while they tried to help other soon-to-be socialist countries. However Stalin's idea was considered far more superior and got him much support.


 * In the struggle for power after Vladimir Lenin's death, Stalin easily won against Trotsky. His position and personality were huge advantages for him. Trotsky was exiled from the USSR. On Stalin's orders, Trotsky was assassinated in 1940 with a wound made by an ice pick. Stalin had Trotsky silenced because Trotsky was one of many exiles from the USSR that continued to criticize him.