II. Lenin succession

A. Lenin's testament

B. Political alternatives

1. Lev Trotsky

2. Iosif Stalin

3. Grigorii Zinoviev

4. Lev Kamenev

5. Nikolai Bukharin

C. Trotsky: heir apparent or potential Napoleon?

III. Maneuvering for position

A. Stalin vs.Trotsky

B. Zinoviev-Kamenev-Bukharin vs. Trotsky

C. New Opposition: Zinoviev-Kamenev-Trotsky

D. 15th Party Congress -- December 1927

1. Losers: Zinoviev, Kamenev, Trotsky, Sapronov, Dune, et al.

2. Winners: Stalin and moderates

E. Stalin vs. Bukharin and the moderates

F. Stalin stands alone

IV. How did it happen?

A. Arena of struggle

B. Party unity

C. Oligarchs support Stalin