Stalin
Stalin was a key role figure during the Bolshevik uprising and the eventual civil war, as well as the re-construction of the new Bolshevik government in Russia. Stalin had a genuine peasant/low social class background which made him a genuine supporter of the Bolshevik party. Stalin's original name was actually Joseph, which he then, after hardened years of emotional pain from the death of his wife and the prison sentences he received, he adopted the alias of Stalin meaning “man of steel”. He was then later invited into the main committee of the Bolsheviks due to their shortage of numbers. However, he then gained other beneficial minority posts such as being an executive of the committee and becoming head of their party newspaper “Pravda”. Stalin, did not take part in any major roles during the October rising. During the civil war, he was consistent in disobeying orders made from Lenin and Trotsky, as they were the main organisers. However, after Lenin's death, he was elected politburo, in which now he had central power over the Bolshevik party.
Trotsky
Trotsky was probably the most active and great organiser during the Bolshevik party reign since the October revolution. Especially during the civil war, he was working close with Lenin, in organising and controlling the red army. Trotsky's main post was that of a commissar of war. It was Trotsky that organised the October revolution, and it was him to hold the revolution until the end of October. Basically, he was the main “brain” for the whole Bolshevik party. As Stalin was basically the speaker, and had great propaganda skills. Trotsky had a direct and strong personality as he did not waste his time of people who did not work in favour in his work. Although he was not a early supporter of the Bolshevik, he still retained much of his skills which was put to good use which eventually lead the Bolshevik party through the first few months of its power to through past the civil war. There were few personality problems with Trotsky that made him weak and opened a way of power for Stalin. Firstly, he was too loyal to the party, which he will do what it takes to certain limits not to damage the party. For example, he will take decisions easily from his colleagues in security for the party.
Zeosky
Zeosky was much a very traditional and early supporter of the party, which this enables him to be quite popular with the other supporters of the party. Furthermore, he held a minor position as party secretary. Zeosky did not however work closely with Lenin, in terms of relationships as Zeosky occasionally argued with Lenin about his ideologies. Furthermore, Zeosky opposed the armed uprising, which made him unpopular with Lenin, which Lenin could have given Zeosky a higher position in the party. However, even though Zeosky obtained a fairly low ranking position, this however gave him an opportunity to build a strong base for his position. Zeosky did hold a good trait for being an orator; however he did lack skill in being an intellectual thinker. In the party however, he was not too popular with the other members, as he was described as being an “impression of flabbiness…irresolution”.
Lev Kamenev
Kamenev was too an early and active supporter of the Bolshevik party. Furthermore, he worked closely with Lenin, even though he did occasionally have a debate with him. However, he did think of Lenin highly. Kamenev was a great contributor to the party doctrine; however he too disregarded Lenin's ideologies. He was made party secretary in Moscow, and then commissar of foreign trade. Unlike his other colleagues, he was more or less liked and was moderate so he got on well with the other party members. He was strongly regarded as intellectual as Stalin and Lenin but was however described as the least effective, due to his incapacity and unwillingness to lead the men.
Nikolai Bukharin
Nikolair was one of the few younger generation members of the Bolshevik party. He was almost regarded as a “saint” by Stalin in his autobiography. Nikolai was a strong orator as he was able to argue his points well in debates, even in the NEP. He took a leading role in the main Bolshevik party newspaper “pravda” as well as led a left wing opposition against the signing on the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. However, Nikolair was not an active early supporter as he did not become a full member of the Bolshevik party until the early 1920s.
Alexei Rykov
Rykov was a formidable genuine Bolshevik supporter, as he had a genuine peasant background. He too was a good orator, as he was direct and frank. He upheld his position as chairman of Vesenkha. Furthermore, he was a strong supporter of the Bolshevik party, as well as supporting the NEP. Also, he strongly disregarded any return to war communism for fear of social/political and economic instability which will cause the Bolsheviks to be overthrown.
Mikhail Tomsky
Tomsky was a traditional active member of a trade union, the metal workers union. He was an important figure for their group as he had a strong will and determination in fighting for trade union rights. He once opposed Lenin at a debate in 1920.
Notes on trotsky
Trotsky had no intention of becoming a dictator and had always been aware of the tendency this will bring. He did not intentionally want to become dictator, however due to his position as head of the army and because of rumours persisting in relation to his determined character, the other party members feared Trotsky would overthrow the government to become dictator. Trotsky did have the strong will and ruthless orator skills which are good in upholding debates, however he somewhat lacked the intellectual skills in organisation - this is due to the fact that he worked closely with Lenin during the civil war.
