Leon Trotsky: Life From Beginning to End

Leon Trotsky was a Russian revolutionary and politician who played a key role in the October Revolution and the early development of the Soviet Union. He later became one of the most prominent opponents of Joseph Stalin and was eventually assassinated in Mexico by a Soviet agent.

Leon Trotsky: A Life From Beginning to End

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Early Life

Leon Trotsky was born Lev Davidovich Bronstein on October 26, 1879, in the village of Yanovka, Ukraine. His father was a wealthy farmer and his mother was a schoolteacher. Trotsky received a good education and attended school in Odessa and Nikolaev. He became involved in revolutionary activities at a young age and was arrested for the first time in 1898. He was exiled to Siberia but escaped in 1902.

Revolutionary Career

After escaping from Siberia, Trotsky traveled to Europe where he met other Russian revolutionaries, including Vladimir Lenin. He became a leading member of the Bolshevik Party and played a key role in the October Revolution of 1917. After the revolution, Trotsky was appointed People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs and later became Commissar for War. He led the Red Army to victory in the Russian Civil War.

Opposition to Stalin

After the death of Lenin in 1924, Trotsky became one of the leading opponents of Joseph Stalin. He argued that Stalin was betraying the ideals of the revolution and that the Soviet Union should be run by a collective leadership. Trotsky was eventually expelled from the Communist Party and exiled from the Soviet Union in 1929.

Exile and Assassination

Trotsky spent the rest of his life in exile. He lived in Turkey, France, Norway, and Mexico. He continued to write and speak out against Stalin and the Soviet regime. In 1940, he was assassinated in Mexico City by a Soviet agent. Trotsky was 60 years old at the time of his death.

Legacy

Leon Trotsky was a complex and controversial figure. He was a brilliant revolutionary and a gifted orator. He was also a ruthless political operator who was willing to use violence to achieve his goals. Trotsky's legacy is still debated today. Some see him as a hero of the Russian Revolution, while others see him as a traitor to the cause of socialism.

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Further Reading

• Leon Trotsky on Britannica.com
• Leon Trotsky Archive
• Leon Trotsky: A Biography by Isaac Deutscher

Leon Trotsky: A Life From Beginning to End

by Hourly History

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1503 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	47 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE