After 1929 Stalin dominated the USSR.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] (a) e.g. 'It was his will which he dictated before he died.'
2. '(a) In it he criticised Bolshevik leaders like Stalin/Trotsky.'
3. '(a) It said that Stalin should be removed as General Secretary of the Communist Party.'
4. '(a) He warned about a split developing in the party between Stalin and Trotsky.'
5. '(a) It was not published for some time because the Bolshevik leaders had been criticised in it.'
6. [4-5] (b) I think Trotsky himself was to blame. He was arrogant and did not take Stalin seriously. This allowed Stalin to build support in the Party. Trotsky offended many senior members of the Party while Stalin was quietly building support. Trotsky did not bother to try to win support; he simply assumed he would be the next leader.
7. [2-3] (b) e.g. 'Trotsky underestimated Stalin.'
8. '(b) Trotsky was arrogant and offended many people.'
9. '(b) Trotsky did not attend Lenin's funeral.'
10. '(b) Trotsky had a lot of support in the army and people were worried he might become a dictator.'
11. '(b) His ideas for a permanent revolution were not popular.'
12. '(b) Trotsky was not liked by many because he was a former Menshevik.'
13. '(b) Stalin was devious and quietly built support.'
14. '(b) Stalin had gradually put his supporters into many posts in the Party.'
15. '(b) Stalin's idea of 'Socialism in One Country' was popular in the Party.'
16. [4-6] (c) 'Stalin used show trials to get rid of his opponents and build up support for himself. He was paranoid about other leaders in the Party that might threaten his position and he used show trials to deal with them. These people were put on trial where they would confess their crimes. They had probably been tortured to make them do this. Kamenev and Zinoviev were the first to be put on trial. The trials were filmed and shown in cinemas as propaganda for Stalin and to show how he was dealing with enemies within the USSR. This made people very scared and meant they were more likely to support Stalin.'
17. OR
18. '(c) Stalin mainly controlled the USSR through the use of a cult of personality. This is something Stalin's propaganda machine created to make the Soviet people love Stalin. Portraits, photographs and statues of Stalin were everywhere showing him to be a godlike figure who would guide the USSR through difficult times. There were also regular processions through towns praising Stalin. He even had history books written to show how great he was.'
19. [2-3] (c) e.g. 'Stalin gained control by his 'purges'.'
20. '(c) Millions were executed or sent to the gulags.'
21. '(c) The 'Great Terror' removed opposition.'
22. '(c) The new constitution gave total power to Stalin.'
23. '(c) The kulaks were removed for disobeying Stalin.'
24. '(c) Stalin used the 'Cult of Stalin' to gain control over the people.'
25. '(c) Many ordinary citizens admired Stalin and wanted to obey him.'
26. '(c) Stalin controlled all areas of life.'
27. '(c) Show trials were used where rivals to Stalin confessed their sins.'
28. '(c) He simply got rid of most of the people in the Party who might be a threat to him.'
29. '(c) He controlled farmers through collectivisation.'