Lev Trotsky

Lev Trotsky was born Lev Daydovich Bronstein on October 26, 1879.  He changed his name to Trotsky in 1902, after escaping from prison in Siberia (the first time).  His first political writings appeared under the name Antid Oto, Italian for "antidote."

Trotsky was considered the closest revolutionary to Vladimir Lenin, but it wasn't always like that.  In fact, several of Lenin's more popular ideas were Trotsky's first!

For example:

In 1903, the Russian Social-Democratic Labor Party divided into two sects:  the Bolsheviks (led by Lenin) and the Mensheviks (supported by Trotsky).  Trotsky believed in a "Permanent Revolution" that would be fought by the peasants and the working class.  The Bolsheviks were more in tune to a bourgeoisie revolution.

Yet, when Lenin returned to Russia after the start of the revolution, he gave a fiery, and surprising speech to the masses gathered there.  He calls for the uprising of the working classes, and then brought the rest of the Bolsheviks to his side.  Trotsky broke with the Mensheviks.  He even told them to, "Go where you belong:  to the dustheap of history."

Trotsky organized the Red Army during Russia's Civil War (he was previously given credit for organizing the October Revolution).  He managed to bring many Tsarist officers into the Red Army, giving them much needed military experience.  His excellent strategies proved successful.

Unfortunately, his strategies didn't always work.  He made several costly mistakes during Iosif Stalin's rise to power.  Before his death, Lenin had wished Stalin to be removed as General Secretary, but his wish was never reported.  Trotsky remained silent, and Stalin was re-elected.

In 1926, the party split into two factions, with Stalin on one side.  Trotsky, however, refused to pick sides, and the party eventually came back together (the rival leaders were eventually executed).  This is another mistake of Trotsky's.  At this point, he was still popular enough to have taken control from Stalin.

In 1929, Trotsky was deported from Russia.  He spent the last few years of his life writing and continuing to fight for his cause.  He met Frida Kahlo in Mexico (one of the few countries that would let him in). 

He was assassinated on August 20, 1940 with an ice-pick to the back of the skull (ick).  He is buried in Mexico City.