AHC: Weaker Soviet Union Going Into WWII

Your challenge, with a POD no earlier than 1920, is to have a weakened Soviet Union facing Nazi Germany, to the point that a Nazi victory in the east is realistic or even likely.
 

Dave Shoup

Banned
Your challenge, with a POD no earlier than 1920, is to have a weakened Soviet Union facing Nazi Germany, to the point that a Nazi victory in the east is realistic or even likely.

In November, 1932, Nadezhda Sergeevna Alliluyeva shoots Stalin at their villa, and then commits suicide. The USSR is in the midst of the 1932-33 famine, and the Party has already begun show trials. There are a series of confrontations between the military, the Party, and various factions within each, which serve to further weaken the state and party apparatus. Molotov and Voroshilov win out over Kamenev and Zinoviev, but the conflict leaves the two "victors" in an uneasy partnership, which weakens the re-armament and economic development programs. In a bid to strengthen their respective positions, Molotov and Voroshilov take advantage of the "mysterious" murder of Kirov in 1934 to stage a series of show trials of their own, which are used to dismiss and murder much the same range of individuals who were targeted historically. This allows Molotov and Voroshilov to consolidate power, which in turn leads to Molotov negotiating with Hitler. In 1939, the USSR participates in the carve-up of Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states; in 1941, Hitler turns east...
 
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1918 assassination attempt on Lenin succeeds, throwing the Bolsheviks into turmoil. This prevents Stalin from building up his support enough, and then the right and left wings of the Bolshevik party engage in a mini civil war once the civil war has been won, but the resultant struggle causes the death of Trotsky. Without an organized front and a decisive leader (i.e. no Stalin or Trotsky) the USSR meanders on until WW2.
 
Industrialization not pursued as vigorously. The USSR is a bucolic agrarian nation in 1941, without the ability to mechanize much of its army. Artillery & other weapons are largely Czarist era upgrades for that reason.
 
the early 1930's Holodomor Ukraine famine could have gotten further out of their control (guess there is some debate as to whether they were culpable or indifferent?)

the Soviets never gain the "Spanish gold" during Spanish Civil War, it certainly provided some needed liquidity.
 
the early 1930's Holodomor Ukraine famine could have gotten further out of their control (guess there is some debate as to whether they were culpable or indifferent?)

the Soviets never gain the "Spanish gold" during Spanish Civil War, it certainly provided some needed liquidity.

edit. leading to ...

Industrialization not pursued as vigorously. The USSR is a bucolic agrarian nation in 1941, without the ability to mechanize much of its army. Artillery & other weapons are largely Czarist era upgrades for that reason.
 

Deleted member 1487

Trotsky becomes the replacement for Lenin and 'Permanent Revolution' doesn't do the USSR favors.
 
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