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Lev KamenevSoviet party and government figure, Bolshevik, revolutionary.
Date of Birth: 06.07.1883
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Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Political Involvement
- Revolutionary Activities and Bolshevik Leadership
- October Revolution and Soviet Leadership
- Role in Stalin's Rise
- Opposition to Stalin
- Persecution and Execution
- Rehabilitation
Early Life and Education
Lev Borisovich Kamenev (born Lev Borisovich Rozenfeld) was born on July 25, 1883, in Moscow, Russian Empire, to a Jewish family. His father worked as a mechanic. Kamenev completed his secondary education in Tiflis (modern Tbilisi, Georgia) and in 1901 enrolled in the Faculty of Law at Moscow University.
Political Involvement
While at university, Kamenev became involved in the student social-democratic movement and joined a student circle. He participated in a student demonstration on March 13, 1902, for which he was arrested and subsequently exiled to Tiflis in April. After a brief period of exile, he left for Paris later that year, where he met Vladimir Lenin.
Revolutionary Activities and Bolshevik Leadership
Kamenev played an active role in the revolutionary movement, working with the Caucasian, Moscow, and Saint Petersburg branches of the Bolsheviks. In 1914, he took over as editor of the Bolshevik newspaper, "Pravda." During World War I, Kamenev opposed Lenin's call for the defeat of Russia in the war.
In 1917, Kamenev had several disagreements with Lenin regarding the revolution and Russia's involvement in the war. He argued that the time was not yet right for an armed uprising and advocated for a more gradual approach.
October Revolution and Soviet Leadership
Despite his reservations about the timing of the uprising, Kamenev was elected chairman of the Petrograd Soviet on October 25 (November 7), 1917. However, he resigned from this position on November 4 (17), demanding the formation of a coalition socialist government.
After the October Revolution, Kamenev served as a member of the delegation that negotiated the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany. In January 1918, he became the head of the Soviet delegation to France. However, the French government refused to recognize his credentials. While returning to Russia, he was arrested on March 24, 1918, by Finnish authorities. He was later released in August 1918 in exchange for Finnish prisoners.
Kamenev held various positions in the Soviet government, including a member of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK), chairman of the Moscow Soviet (1918-1926), and a member of the Politburo of the Russian Communist Party (RKP(b)) from 1919 onward.
Role in Stalin's Rise
In 1922, Kamenev was instrumental in supporting Joseph Stalin's appointment as General Secretary of the RKP(b). He presided over the Politburo meetings during Lenin's illness.
Opposition to Stalin
However, in the mid-1920s, Kamenev became one of the leaders of the opposition to Stalin within the party. At the 14th Congress of the VKP(b) in December 1925, he criticized Stalin's leadership style and argued against the concept of a single leader.
His opposition led to his removal from the Politburo in December 1925 and his subsequent loss of government positions. In October 1927, he was expelled from the VKP(b).
Persecution and Execution
In June 1928, Kamenev was reinstated in the party. However, he was expelled again in 1932 and sent into exile. In December 1933, he was once more admitted to the party and appointed director of the "Academia" publishing house.
In December 1934, Kamenev was arrested and charged with treason as part of the "Moscow Center" case. He was sentenced to five years in prison, and later, in July 1935, to ten years in prison in connection with the "Kremlin Library and Kremlin Commandant's Office" case.
In 1936, Kamenev was accused of leading the "Trotskyist-Zinoviev United Center" and sentenced to death in the first Moscow Show Trial. He was executed on August 25, 1936.
