Stalin was determined to consolidate and maintain power.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] e.g. 'Stalin was part of every aspect of the Soviet people's daily lives.'
2. [1-4] 'Portraits, photographs and statues were everywhere celebrating Stalin's image.'
3. [1-4] 'There were 16 cities named after him.'
4. [1-4] 'Stalin was made out to be a super-being.'
5. [1-4] 'Children were taught that Stalin was the ‘wisest man of the age'.'
6. [1-4] 'His birthday was celebrated by the nation every year.'
7. [2-3] 'Trotsky was seen by many to be Lenin's natural successor.'
8. [2-3] 'Lenin described Trotsky as the most able of the Bolsheviks.'
9. [2-3] ‘Trotsky was well known for his role in the Revolution.'
10. [2-3] 'Trotsky was popular with the Red Army.'
11. [2-3] 'Trotsky had led the Bolsheviks to victory in the Civil War.'
12. [4-5] e.g. 'Trotsky was a leading candidate to succeed Lenin because he was the most prominent member of the Bolsheviks after Lenin. His leadership had been important in the October Revolution and he had led the Red Army to victory in the Civil War. He was well known and popular.'
13. [2-3] 'Stalin blamed Zinoviev and Kamenev for the murder of Kirov.'
14. [2-3] 'Those who had supported NEP (such as Bukharin) were killed.'
15. [2-3] 'Senior members of the armed forces were purged because they had the potential to be a threat.'
16. [2-3] 'The purges gave Stalin an opportunity to increase his control over the USSR.’
17. [2-3] 'People would be too frightened to criticise the regime.'
18. [4-6] e.g. 'One reason for the purges was that Stalin wanted to remove the old Bolsheviks, such as Kamenev and Zinoviev, and he blamed them for the murder of Kirov. Even though Trotsky had fled the country he continued to denounce Stalin and members of the left-wing opposition were accused of being agents of Trotsky. Stalin removed them so they could no longer be a potential threat.'
19. [4-6] OR e.g. 'However, the purges were much more far-reaching and did not stop at removing the old Bolsheviks and this suggests there were other motives. Stalin was afraid that the army leaders might be a threat and many of them were executed in 1937–38. Stalin also used the purges to remove 'enemies of the people' who were denounced or accused of being 'anti-Soviet' and either sent to labour camps or executed. Many were subjected to show trials, with false evidence against them.'