Many factors contributed to Stalin's ability to achieve and maintain control over the USSR.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] Trotsky's theory was based on the idea of a world economy.
2. [4] National economic development was affected by the world market.
3. [4] To be successful, the Russian Revolution, would encourage revolutions in other countries, particularly in western Europe.
4. [4] His theory also emphasized the importance of the working class.
5. [4] The workers were seen as most important because of their position in industry.
6. [6] Lenin's Testament was not published and this helped Stalin to win the leadership contest. Lenin made it clear in his Testament that he did not trust Stalin and he should not be in a position of power. Had this become public it might have damaged Stalin's chances. However, Lenin also made negative comments about other members of the politburo and so the decision was taken not to publish it.
7. [2-3] Lenin's Testament was not published.
8. [2-3] Trotsky was considered arrogant by other Bolsheviks.
9. [2-3] Stalin used his position to gain control over the Communist Party.
10. [2-3] Trotsky did not attend Lenin's funeral.
11. [2-3] Stalin was General Secretary of the Communist Party.
12. [2-3] Many of the old Bolsheviks underestimated Stalin.
13. [1] Stalin was leader of the Soviet Union in the 1930s.
14. [10] Stalin stayed in power because there was no opposition to him and this was largely because of the Purges. One way he achieved this was to remove potential opponents through the Purges. Even loyal army commanders were executed because they might have the potential to oppose him, rather than for anything they had actually done. This meant anyone who did not like Stalin's policies was likely to keep quiet about it.
15. [4-6] The purges were important to Stalin and allowed him to remove anyone he thought might be a threat to him. This included leading communists like Zinoviev, army officers, teachers, scientists and even ordinary workers. Millions of people were sent to the labour camps. This created an atmosphere in the country where people knew that they needed to agree with everything Stalin did if they wanted to survive. It is often called the Great Terror and people were so frightened that Stalin able to make his control complete.
16. [4-6] Stalin had other methods which enabled him to keep control. One of these was the cult of personality which was designed to make the Russian people to respect and even love him. This was achieved through propaganda. History was rewritten to make Stalin the hero of the Revolution. Posters, statues and photographs flooded the country so that Stalin appeared everywhere in a heroic pose. Music and poems were created to praise Stalin. Many towns held regular processions to celebrate Stalin. It was all this propaganda that made people loyal to Stalin, allowing him to control the Soviet Union.
17. [2-3] Stalin controlled the Soviet Union through terror during the Purges.
18. [2-3] He destroyed any chance of opposition by sending millions of people to labour camps.
19. [2-3] He got rid of anyone who might be a threat to him.
20. [2-3] Economic developments won him popular support.
21. [2-3] Propaganda was used to make people love him as a father figure.
22. [2-3] He was shown in posters and photographs to be responsible for all the Soviet Union's achievements.
23. [2-3] The arts were used to show him as a great and lovable man.
24. [1] The secret police were known as the NKVD.