Trotsky had succeeded Lenin and not Stalin?
Was quite close, as Lenin actually left Trotsky a letter in which he recommended Stalin be expelled from the party, which, for whatever reason, Trotsky didn't publish at the time of Lenin's death, when it was still level pegging between him and Stalin.
(I know that may not have mattered, but for the sake of argument lets assume Trotsky published it and ousted Stalin)
Was quite close, as Lenin actually left Trotsky a letter in which he recommended Stalin be expelled from the party, which, for whatever reason, Trotsky didn't publish at the time of Lenin's death, when it was still level pegging between him and Stalin.
(I know that may not have mattered, but for the sake of argument lets assume Trotsky published it and ousted Stalin)