How did Stalin 's death affect some historians ' views on the Bolshevik victory ?
To strengthened the system of centralized decision - making , Stalin strengthened the Politburo by appointing his allies to high standing offices outside the Politburo ; for instance , Molotov succeeded Rykov as Chairman of the Council of People 's Commissar in 1930 , to reduce the chance of another independent locus of centralized power coming into form which could threatened him and the Politburo , Secretariat and the Orgburo .