Lev Davidovich Bronstein was a major political figure in the turn of the twentieth century for the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialists Republics) aka Russia. Bronstein’s impact was greater with national history than international history. He was born on November 7, 1879, Ukraine (Yanovka) and later changed his name to Leon Trotsky, the name of his prison guard at Odessa prison whilst in exile in Siberia.
Trotsky was introduced to Marxism at a young age of 17 at a school in Nikolayev.Marxism is a political ideology crated by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that presents the idea of having a revolution involving violence in order to obtain a classless society. The rise of Trotsky’s political power starts during his first jail sentencing in 1898 where he had joined the ‘Russian Social Democratic Labour Party’ (RSDLP). This was the initial development of Leon Trotsky and his road to important political positions. It was these significant political roles that strongly impacted the, not only Russian, but International history as we know it today.
Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) was the current leader after the fall and collapse of the Romanov Dynasty, and failure of seizure of power by the provisional government. Lenin and the Bolsheviks (majority communist party) were in power of Russia post 1917. Trotsky was a member of the Menshevik party (minority men), but in August 1917, joined the Bolshevik party, always having some “Bolshevik spirit”. Following the creation of the ‘SOVNARKOM’, a council of people’s Commissar’s, Trotsky was appointed ‘Commissar for Foreign Affairs’.During this four month duration of ‘Commissar for Foreign Affairs’, Trotsky introduced his ideal of “no war, no peace”. This merely was the intention of neither fighting Germany, nor making peace with it.
This was an ignorant claim by Trotsky, being strongly opposed by Lenin, as he demanded peace with Germany before they conquered Petrograd. During Trotsky’s negotiations with Germany, he came to the realisation that Lenin was right. The peace treaty with Germany (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) was signed 16th of March 1918.However, the treaty was meant to be signed by Trotsky, but he disagreed with the conditions Russia had to face. This esulted in Trotsky sending Sokolnikov in his place to sign the peace decree with Germany. Lenin’s thesis was that Russia must sign peace with Germany at any cost to keep themselves in a safer position than war or invasion.
Trotsky clearly opposed this thesis, resulting in the resignation of his role as ‘Commissar for Foreign Affairs’. This decision by Trotsky not to sign the peace decree was a substantial influence on the international history as it delayed the treaty and created harsher conditions for Russia and also impacted the Triple Entente (France, Britain and Russia), as they lost one of their most significant allied forces.Due to the harsh conditions outlined in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Russia was experiencing civil war during the middle of 1918. Lenin, hoping for him to lead the Bolsheviks to victory, appointed Trotsky as ‘Commissar for War’. This role largely focused on the national history, Russia, and the civil war that was now Trotsky’s responsibility.
Trotsky was now the leader of the ‘Red Army’, which was the Bolsheviks, fighting against the ‘Whites’ that consisted of mainly Tsarist supporters and those who wanted Russia back in the war.The Whites aim was to remove the Bolsheviks entirely whereas the Reds claimed to hold on to power “at any cost”. Trotsky used brute force and cruellest measures to ensure the maintenance of the Red Army. He travelled by train to give orders to his men and army, motivating them and setting the plan of attack. On the train with him was his armoured Rolls Royce. Moving around to support the Red Army was a practical action by Trotsky as that’s what helped the success of the Bolsheviks in the civil war.
Harsh military conditions were inflicted by Trotsky including capital punishment, flogging/caning, and forced labour battalions. The Central Committee did not agree with Trotsky’s leadership style, resulting in his resignation on 4th July 1919. This was unanimously rejected. By 1921, the Bolsheviks were effortlessly in control of the war, until a surprise uprising of the Kronstadt Sailors occurred.
This attack in March was the biggest threat to communist power. The Kronstadt Sailors were the most dedicated of Bolsheviks, being an extreme shock to the Communist party.The sailors were aiming to spark a general revolt in order to obtain a more democratic system. Sadly, this failed. Trotsky immediately ordered the direct shutdown of the entire revolt with radical force and brutality. Approximately 10,000 men were claimed to be dead, wounded, or missing in action.
By the end of 1921, the Bolsheviks had attained victory and control over most of Russia. According to historian Chris Trueman, the civil war had left 20 million dead, and further destruction of the Russian economy and famine. This left a detrimental affect on the Russian history.The chance for Trotsky to finally become the leader of Russia he had always wanted to be, arisen after the death of the beloved Vladimir Lenin on 21st January 1924. Trotsky was most likely to be promoted as Lenin’s successor.
Lenin stated in his will “…Comrade Trotsky, on the other hand… is distinguished not only by his outstanding ability. He is personally perhaps the most capable man in the present Central Committee…” Positive comments were not seen about Trotsky’s opponents Bukharin, Zinoviev, Kamenev, and especially Stalin. Trotsky’s Naive personality took control, by disallowing the publication of Lenin’s will.This was a large mistake. Joseph Stalin, was hopeful in the case that his will was not to be published as Lenin wrote quite degrading comments about him, asking for him to be “removed”, creating a possibility that he may lose his reputation instantly. Trotsky and the rest of the Politburo underestimated Stalin and his ability to rise above them, therefore placing Stalin in a comfortable position to take control.
This, was the beginning of Trotsky’s downfall. Failing to use the reputation of being a strong leader to his advantage, Trotsky lost all power to Stalin, resulting in the most vicious age of Russian history.Once Stalin had total control, he expelled Trotsky from the Communist Party and ordered for him to be assassinated, and on the 20th August 1940, he was attack with an ice pick by Ramon Mercader and died in hospital the next day. That was the end of Leon Trotsky and his impact on history.
It can be argued that Leon Trotsky’s naive personality is what failed him in the attempt to achieve power, but through his intelligence and sturdy leadership, he shaped the Russian and International history to the way it is today.Through his main roles as ‘Commissar for Foreign Affairs’, ‘Commissar for War’ and the political position in the Politburo, Trotsky impacted society by his efforts in control and fight for power, and his aim to spread his communist ideals of ‘comintern’ (Communist International) throughout the world. This was Trotsky’s major goal, striving to achieve it but ineffectively he failed to do so. Despite the fact Stalin murdered Trotsky, Trotsky is still one of the great leaders of a worldwide movement by utilising the methods of Bolshevism.
