Stalin dies in 1936: effects on Western Europe

If Stalin had died in 1936 (before August),
  • ... I'm assuming Marshal Tukhachevskij would have taken power in the Soviet Union. Is that correct?
  • ... how does this affect the Spanish Civil War. Can the Republicans win?
  • ... how does this affect the Popular Front in France? Can it hold longer than it did IOTL? Would it help the Republicans in Spain and could it avoid being overthrown by the military in this case?
  • ... how does the Baldwin ministry unfold ITTL and who'll succeed him?
I'd also be greatly interested to hear your ideas on TTL's *WWII.
 
If Stalin had died in 1936 (before August) ... I'm assuming Marshal Tukhachevskij would have taken power in the Soviet Union. Is that correct?

Not really. By 1936 the Red Army was controlled by highly conservative old-generation generals like Konev, not by innovative young ones like Tuchachevsky.
Also, the Red Army never had the tradition of eyeing direct power. They are a major powerbroker, so whoever follows Stalin will have to ensure support of the Red Army (and by 1936 it would not be Tuchachevsky yet - he was purged in 1937 because his popularity and success MIGHT become a danger for Stalin, not because it already was). But in the entire history of the USSR, Zhukov's support of Khrushchev against the Anti-Party Group was probably the only one overt political act by any army officer.
 
Not really. By 1936 the Red Army was controlled by highly conservative old-generation generals like Konev, not by innovative young ones like Tuchachevsky.
Also, the Red Army never had the tradition of eyeing direct power. They are a major powerbroker, so whoever follows Stalin will have to ensure support of the Red Army (and by 1936 it would not be Tuchachevsky yet - he was purged in 1937 because his popularity and success MIGHT become a danger for Stalin, not because it already was). But in the entire history of the USSR, Zhukov's support of Khrushchev against the Anti-Party Group was probably the only one overt political act by any army officer.
Some think differently. But thanks for your reply anyway. What about the rest?
 

Warsie

Banned
Well afaik the stalinists caused a lot of dissent, confusion and infighting for the republicans. Remove that and remove the whole 'stalinists letting fascists take anarchist weapons cache' and se can see a more effective resistance. Hell this ATL may more blatantly. Aid the spanish left.
 
If Stalin dies before the purge and is succeeded by someone relatively younger and more enthusiastic about the new, more modern, more powerful Red Army then the entirety of WWII geopolitics as we know it has been butterflied no matter what Germany does. As a Soviet army that develops its OTL doctrine with an additional three years of doing so unmolested will be the military juggernaut in Europe, and doctrinally and technologically beyond anything Germany can do to stop it. Stalin's successors exploit the extremely more powerful army and state Stalin builds, blame/purge the NKVD for the atrocities under Stalin, and history stops resembling ours around the time of the German attempt to take over Czechia.
 
Most likely Molotov takes over and the USSR has a more sane leader than Stalin. He would have neither the capability or desire to purge the Red Army which means the Nazis run into a buzz saw if they invade the USSR.
 
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