1. No. It was meant to represent Trotsky and considering Orwell was quite sympathetic to them since he was in a Trotsky brigade when he was in Spain. I doubt he made it that snowball came back. Rather it was used by Napoleon (Stalin) to use force, and restrict the animals control. Considering that Orwell viewed Stalin negatively, and paranoid this does seem to be the implications.

2. I doubt it. Be aware that Orwell was captured by Stalin supporters in Spain, and developed this animosity towards those who venerated Stalin. So I doubt the animals actually did that stuff, and it was more consolidation of power done by Napoleon in his paranoia.

I should specify the book isn't anti communist but rather anti stalinist. Orwell was a socialist, and Trotsky sympathizer.