Leon Trotsky

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Trotsky Portrait.jpg Trotsky in 1920

Leon Trotsky (born Lev Davidovich Bronstein; 7 November 1879 – 21 August 1940) was a Russian Marxist revolutionary, politician, and theorist. He was a key figure in the Russian Revolution of 1917, the founding leader of the Red Army, and a major figure in the early years of the Soviet Union. Trotsky was a proponent of permanent revolution and a critic of the Stalinist regime.

Early Life

Trotsky was born in Yanovka, a small village in the Kherson Governorate of the Russian Empire. He was the fifth child of a wealthy but illiterate Jewish farmer. Trotsky was educated in Odessa and later in Nikolayev, where he became involved in revolutionary activities.

Revolutionary Activities

Trotsky joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) in 1897 and was arrested and exiled to Siberia in 1900. He escaped in 1902 and fled to London, where he met Vladimir Lenin and other Marxist leaders. Trotsky played a significant role in the 1905 Russian Revolution and developed his theory of permanent revolution.

Role in the 1917 Revolution

In 1917, Trotsky returned to Russia and joined the Bolsheviks. He played a crucial role in the October Revolution, which led to the overthrow of the Provisional Government and the establishment of Soviet power. Trotsky was appointed as the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs and later as the People's Commissar of Military and Naval Affairs, where he organized and led the Red Army during the Russian Civil War.

Exile and Assassination

After the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924, Trotsky was outmaneuvered by Joseph Stalin and his allies. He was expelled from the Communist Party and exiled from the Soviet Union in 1929. Trotsky lived in various countries, including Turkey, France, and Norway, before settling in Mexico in 1937. He continued to write and criticize the Stalinist regime until he was assassinated by a Soviet agent, Ramón Mercader, in 1940.

Legacy

Trotsky's ideas and writings have had a significant impact on Marxist theory and leftist movements worldwide. His theory of permanent revolution and his critique of Stalinism continue to influence Trotskyist groups and individuals.

Related Pages

• Russian Revolution
• Bolsheviks
• Red Army
• Joseph Stalin
• Vladimir Lenin
• Trotskyism
• Russian Civil War
• Communist Party of the Soviet Union