Trotsky vs. Stalin: The Red Army Power Struggle The power struggle between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin in the early years of the Soviet Union was a defining conflict following Lenin's death in 1924. Trotsky, a key revolutionary leader and the architect of the Red Army, advocated for "permanent revolution," believing that socialism should spread internationally to succeed. In contrast, Stalin promoted "socialism in one country," focusing on strengthening the Soviet state before supporting revo