An important leader in the
Bolshevik revolution was Leon Trotsky who also fell victim to the purge. Leon
Trotsky worked with Lenin before his death and was the founder and leader of
the Red Army. Trotsky was a key part of the revolution and was working his way
up however, Stalin did not allow him. “Trotsky was the first, and on the face
of it the most dangerous of Stalin’s opponents” (8, Conquest The Great Terror). When Stalin was put
in power, Trotsky did not agree with his policies and soon spoke out against
him. Trotsky was a part of the left opposition and in 1929 was deported from
Russia because he wanted more bureaucracy in the Soviet Union and opposed the
policies of Stalin. Trotsky moved from different countries until he was invited
to go to Mexico. Trotsky did not stop opposing Stalin and “remained politically
active in exile” (119, Getty). Trotsky established his own beliefs that were
soon called Trotskyism, which was similar to Marxism and opposed the theories
of Stalinism. Stalin regretted sending Trotsky out of the Soviet Union because
he could not be purged. Stalin could get rid of all his old Bolshevik opponents
except Trotsky since he was on the other side of the world. As Trotsky was
actively opposing Stalin and his views, he soon crossed the line. Stalin had
enough of him and in 1940; Stalin had a soviet agent go to Mexico and assassinate
Trotsky and finally had him silenced.