DBWI: Stalin succeeds Lenin

[redjirachi]

Leon Trotsky remains one of the most controversial figures of the 20th century, and certainly one of the most impactful. His belief in the expansion of communism, and idealistic views eventually lead to the Second Great War and the lingering tension of the Red Scare. When discussing his life, it's often mentioned that Joseph Stalin almost managed to stand in the way of him even succeeding Lenin, and during his time in exile to his assassination he criticized Trotsky's actions. The common myth is that Stalin would've led to a more pragmatic and less aggressive Soviet Union, being a better leader. But of course he was always good at bolstering his image, especially when we see the chaos Trotsky unleashed.

Realistically, what would happen if Joseph Stalin succeeded at making himself Lenin's successor instead of Leon Trotsky? What would this alternate Soviet Union be like, and how would it impact the rest of the world? For starters I can see Adolf Hitler not being able to gain as much power nor being "the martyr against communism" he's often seen as in German propaganda. And would Douglas MacArthur become president in this timeline?

 

[Changundramon]

Stalin was characterized as a cold, heartless man by those who worked closely with him. I think he would have been bad in his own way.

 

[Darksider166]

Eh...I think the outcome would've been the same only delayed. The west feared communism and communist agitation was rife sparking fears of the USSR leading a global revolution (not helped by Trotsky's rhetoric). I think the Western powers would've eventually used such agitation as a causus belli to invade and depose the communist government.

Now if nuclear weapons or some other major war happened to distract the west, then it's possible the USSR could've lived on into the present day. Though I doubt such a state could've amounted to much, Russia has a lot of resources, territory, and manpower yes, but the regime was apparently very incompetent with lots of infighting/purging I can't see it being a true superpower in the vein of say, the USA, so probably expect a Soviet Civil War to break out and a balkanized Russia much like today.

Adolf Hitler not being able to gain as much power nor being "the martyr against communism" he's often seen as in German propaganda.

The idea of Hitler being some "martyr" is ridiculous. The man was a drug addict who by the time of his death from communists had been largely sidelined by the military much like the Kaiser at the end of the First Great War, and ranted and raved about Judeo-Bolshevism or some such shit. Let's not forget the Germans committed their fair share of atrocities on Eastern Europeans for being "communist sympathizers" and even to this day, "Antislawismus" or Anti-Slavism is still prevalent in Germany and the world due to the horrors of the Russian front and German propaganda being very effective at showing Slavs as having some sort of racial affinity to Communism.

And would Douglas MacArthur become president in this timeline?

Eh...He still could if Japan is still an expansionist power like it was at the time and America wins.

 

[Sam R.]

Stalin was a consensus seeking mediator who worked well with others and didn’t start conflicts. Trotsky was so divisive that he had to purge most of the old bolsheviks because wherever he went Trotsky sowed hate.

So under Stalin there won’t be a generation of dead party members.

 

[Mister Abbadon]

"Trotsky" and "Controversial"?

You aren't from eastern or central Europe are you? The man was a nutcase, brutal and violent to an insane extreme. Calling him "Controversial" is a huge under statement. Stalin may have been at times ruthless but his own personal history showed that he avoided violence when he could, and as others have said the man was a mediator. He probably would've kept NEP going and loosened Lenin's anti-religious policies instead of redoubling them.

I don't think that the rest of Europe would be so gung ho as to start a fight with an Isolationist, even if they found Communism threatening. If he made a few concessions here and there he could have his "Socialism in one country" thing that he talked about in his criticisms of Trotsky.

 

[sprite]

There's no way a non-Russia would ever ascend to be paramount leader of the USSR, despite it's proclamations of equality.

 

[BeardedHoplite]

Stalin overall seemed to be a pragmatic despot who openly stated Socialism needed to be built in the former Tsarist lands before it could be exported abroad.

You definitely would avoid a second great war without Trotskii uniting everyone from the Futurists in Spain and Turkey to the democracies in France and Germany against the Soviet Union