Trotsky's Contribution to the Success of the Bolsheviks up to 1922

Without contribution from crucial individuals politically involved in Russia at the time, the success of the Bolsheviks and the proceeding (ideally) Communist government may have been less then what we know today. One such individual was Trotsky.Trotsky made a vital contribution to the success of the Bolsheviks up to 1922. As Lenin made clear in 1918 Trotsky was in his view the only person able to save the revolution.

Trotsky was a member of the Social Democratic Party and was living in exile in America. Surprised by the February revolution in Petrograd in 1917 he returned to Russia arriving in May 1917. In this revolution, he was the one who persuaded Lenin to hold off the attack until he was sure that the Bolshevik?s had a much more secure hold on the country. This led to the abdication of the Tsar and the establishment of a Provisional Government led by Kerensky. Although he had been a Menshevik (a branch of the Social Democratic Party which believed that there would be a workers uprising leading to a revolution) he was rapidly convinced by Lenin?s views to become a Bolshevik (a branch of the Social Democratic Party that believed a small organised party was needed to spearhead a revolution) and by June 1917 he was regarded by Lenin as the ?number 2? in the Bolshevik party.

Trotsky had exceptional leadership qualities that helped the Bolsheviks to success. He was an opportunist, intelligent, pragmatic and persistent. Trotsky was a very effective public speaker and because of this ability, could get huge amounts of support on his side. He used real life comparisons so as to engage his audience. He was able to store confidence and trust in the public and the army, which was a massive contribution to the Bolshevik?s success...

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... travel to the points where the fighting was the fiercest to provide support. By doing this he was able to boost moral, rally and inspire his men in a way that other leaders, especially White leaders, could not. What's more, it was Trotsky who decided to save Petrograd when it was under threat from Yudenich, when Lenin had lost all other hope. People were most impressed with Trotsky?s skill to turn the Red Army, which started off as barely anything, into a fighting army of around five million by the end of 1920.

Trotsky was the main negotiator with the German when the peace treaty was made. Although Russia lost huge amounts of land, Trotsky decided that it was best to get out of the war, whatever the cost. The situation was that of such poverty in Russia at the time. In this treaty, Russia lost 54% of its industry, 26% of the railways and 89% of their coalmines.