Stalin’s journey to the top could not be completed without allies. He found one with Kamenev and fellow pallbearer at Lenin’s funeral, Zinoviev who spoke out for him. His further rise to power is also attributed to Trotski’s decline “to take the fight to the ‘troika’ of Stalin, Zinoviev and Kamenev” (Service, Stalin 223). Although Stalin did not chair the Politburo after Lenin’s death, he strategized in how to secure his future. According to Robert Service, Stalin replaced his rivals if they failed to show up with appointees to his liking. He also continued to build his group of supporters in the Central Committee where he first received his appointed position from Lenin. These supporters were loyal to Stalin and from them, he demanded efficiency
