Question by Yes I’m a Leftist: who was more popular amongst the people out of Stalin and Trotsky during their power struggle?
who did the people of the soviet union like more Stalin or Trotsky lets say Hypothetically that after Lenin’s death Stalin and Trotsky ran against each other in democratic elections who would of received majority of the votes
Answers and Views:
Answer by kevin
Trotsky was more popular because he was secretary of war. However, Stalin played some trickery (namely teaming up with other candidates and opposing his biggest enemies then stabbing his allies in the back) to win the leadership
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What do you think?
Spellbound says
Stalin would have easily won any election with only him and Trotsky standing.
Why? For many reasons:
1) Trotsky was no longer Commissar for Military Affairs (NOT Secretary of War), and his popularity among the armed forces had been waning since the rebellion at Kronshtadt was brutally put down. Trotsky had given the orders to put down the rebellion.
2) Stalin controlled the Party – he would have ensured that ALL his party voted for him.
3) Trotsky was never that popular among the population
4) Stalin was popular(ish) among the various nationalities, as he was Commissar For Nationalities and his policies had been favourable for many of the ethnic or linguistic groups of the Soviet Union.
5) Perhaps the most important reason – Trotsky was Jewish. He ruled himself out of the running on the grounds that the Russian people would never accept a Jewish leader: sadly he was probably right.