...Joseph Stalin was one of the most important leaders that was at the head of the USSR. He established the political and economic structure that remained in place until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. As Bruce Pawley states, “The Politburo, the Party’s leading organ, had become his rubber stamp. Now, at last, he no longer had to play the role of a moderate”[1], Stalin was very sly and gained his position by “stabbing in the back” his rivals, of any type. Historians all agree that the conditions that enabled Stalin’s rise to power were mainly three; Stalin and Lenin’s relationship combined to Lenin’s death (1924), the unpopularity of Trotsky and ultimately his ability as persuader. Stalin success in rising to power could be mostly attributed to Lenin’s decision and to his death in 1924. In 1917, Stalin – not yet a full member of the Communist party leadership – was appointed Commissar for Nationalities. Stalin had supported the idea of gaining control in October and had been an old member of the Bolshevik Party. However, Stalin started to disagree with Lenin when he gained the title of National Commissar. Lenin alleged that republics of Russian Empire were able to clasp a communist revolution and could be trusted in joining the Soviet Union. However, Stalin had a more pragmatic view. He wanted to be sure that all republics would bind tightly to the Bolshevik Party. Lenin mainly considered the idea of having a federation of “autonomous states”. However, Stalin was confident...
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...Joseph Stalin became the most important figure in the political direction of one-third of the people of the world. He was one of a group of hard revolutionaries that established the first important Marxist state and, as its dictator, he carried forward its socialization and industrialization with vigour and ruthlessness. During the second World War, Stalin personally led his country's vast armed forces to victory. When Germany was defeated, he pushed his country's frontiers to their greatest extent and fostered the creation of a buffer belt of Marxist-oriented satellite states from Korea to the Baltic Sea. Probably no other man ever exercised so much influence over so wide a region. In the late Nineteen Forties, when a world, predominantly non-Communist, saw no end to the rapid advance of the Soviet Union, there was a frightened grouping of forces to form a battle line against the Marxist advance. Stalin stood tall, grand and bold, completely alone. Opposed to him stood the United States, keystone in the arch of non-Marxist states. Stalin took and kept the power in his country through a mixture of character, intelligence and bravery. He outlasted his country's intellectuals, if indeed, he did not contrive to have them shot. He could exercise great charm when he wanted to. President Harry Truman once said in an unguarded moment: "I like old Joe. Joe is a decent fellow, but he is a prisoner of the Politburo." But the Stalin that the world knew best was hard, mysterious...
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..."After the death of Lenin in 1924, Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union with an iron fist for 24 years. Stalin rarely appeared to be what he really was and consistently was underestimated by his opponents. Stalin pushed the Solviet Union into world power, but with this power he forced his nation upon one of the most ruthless reigns in history. He was born as Joseph Vissarionovich Djugashvili on December 21, 1879, in the Georgian hill town of Gori. His father was a very poor and very unsuccessful shoemaker. He was an alcoholic and constantly beat his son. His father died in a fight when Stalin was 11 years old. Ekaterina, Stalin's mother, was a washer woman who hoped her son would grow up to be a priest. Although his parents spoke no Russian, he was forced to learn it because it was the language taught at the Gori Church School that he attended. Stalin was the best pupil in his school and at the age of 14 he earned a full scholarship to the Tbilisi Theological Seminary. During the year of 1898, he became involved in radical political activity. The following year he left the Tbilisi Theological Seminary without graduating and became a full-time revolutionary organizer. By 1901, Stalin became a member of the Georgian branch of the Social Democratic Party. Stalin was always helping with strikes, and spreading socialist literature. Stalin did not have a strong voice or charisma, but had a practical talent at organizing activities." Source:...
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...Stalin and Mao Every country has experienced and needed one or two remarkable leaders at one point or another. Some countries are very lucky to have a great leader at an important time and make full use of the leaders; however, other countries are unfortunate to have the good leader become weak and powerless. Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin are two of the greatest leader of China and Soviet Union all over the world. A great leader can influence a country for a long period of time and the impact can ever last for generations, for instance Mao’s impact on China which lasts for years until now. As the leader of the World Communist Party and the leader of Communist Party in China, Stalin and Mao share very similar thought and concept about the path of developing and Communist revolution, however, there is more divergence between them. Some scholars believe that they are both partners and competitors and this can be proved through many evidences. Although Mao and Stalin were two legend leaders of the Communist Party, it could not be denied that there are merits and demerits through their entire life. In the beginning, Mao was not as infusive as Stalin in the world in many aspects and he made important and strategic decisions with listening to the Stalin’s advices. There are few records or letters recording the communications between Mao and Stalin, however the left ones show that they once had very close and frequent communication with each other. Some scholars also believe that Stalin...
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...birth: Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili Ruthless and ambitious, Joseph Stalin grabbed control of the Soviet Union after the death of V.I. Lenin in 1924. As a member of the Bolshevik party, Joseph Stalin (his adopted name, meaning "Man of Steel") had an active role in Russia's October Revolution in 1917. He maneuvered his way up the communist party hierarchy, and in 1922 was named General Secretary of the Central Committee. By the end of the 1920s, Joseph Stalin had expelled his rival Leon Trotsky, consolidated power, and was the de facto dictator of the Soviet Union. In the 1930s Stalin executed his political enemies and started aggressive industrial and agricultural programs that were supposed to lead to miraculous improvements in production, but instead left untold thousands of peasants dead. During World War II, Joseph Stalin was the commander of the Soviet military, first making a non-aggression pact with Adolf Hitler (1939) and then joining the Allies after Germany invaded Russia in 1941. Stalin attended the postwar conferences at Yalta, Teheran and Potsdam that determined the shape of the postwar world. He endured as maximum leader until his death in 1953; years later he was denounced by his successor, Nikita Khrushchev, and "Stalinism" was officially condemned. Brief Bio Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) was the dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1929 to 1953. Under Stalin, the Soviet Union was transformed from a peasant society into an industrial...
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...Joseph Stalin (1879 - 1953) was not the major player of the October Revolution of 1917, however, he later grew through the ranks of the Bolshevik party and became one of the most powerful dictators that the world had ever encountered. His path to the dictator of the Soviet Union began when he was appointed to the position of the general secretary of the Communist Party in 1922. A lot of Bolsheviks criticize Stalin in the 1920s, but this did not prevent him from getting the power. Lenin was the first Bolshevik’s leader who foreshadowed Stalin’s dictatorship inclination by writing in his “Testament”: “Comrade Stalin … has concentrated an enormous power in his hand; and I am not sure that he always know how to use that power with sufficient caution.” (CP I, 64) Further in the testament Lenin suggested to remove Stalin from the post: “I propose to the comrades to find the way to remove Stalin from that position and appoint to it another man…”(CP I, 64) After the death of Lenin in 1924, Stalin started to destroy his opponents. Stalin was very skillful in maneuvering around situation to make his opponents look bad. Also, he was constantly changing his theory depends on whom he needed to destroy. The first Stalin’s target was Trotsky who wrote “theory of permanent revolution” where he elaborated on his concerns that the Soviet regime, being unsupported by international revolution, was in threat of losing its social qualities. Stalin criticized Trotsky’s publication and accused...
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...Joseph Stalin (Dzhugashvili) (1878 - 1953) - political, military leader, General Secretary of the Communist Party, head of the Soviet government. Was born on December 6, in the Georgian city of Gori in a poor family. There he studied in a religious school, then in Orthodox school in Tbilisi. Like Lenin, Stalin was one of the employees of the newspaper "Pravda". After his work "Marxism and the National Question", Lenin saw Stalin as helper in the solving of Bolshevik problems. From 1908 to 1910 Stalin was in exile in the town Solvychegodsk, and from 1913 to 1917 - in the village Kureyka. As a result of the February Revolution he became one of the leaders of the Central Committee, and after the October - he was appointed as Commissar for Nationalities. During the Civil War, Stalin was ordered to look after economic affairs in southern provinces. In 1922 he was elected as a General Secretary of the Central Committee. When Lenin refused from politics, power actually went to the Politburo (consisting of - Stalin, Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Tomsk, Bukharin). At the XIII Congress of the Russian Communist Party, Stalin resigned, but by the decision of the majority he stayed. After taking over the power Stalin adopted a policy of collectivization, industrialization. Then began the cult of Stalin. Economic development was going according to the plan - Stalin was resurrecting heavy industry. At that time the collective farms were formed, there was cannibalization. As a result...
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...teachings. He led demonstrations and private meetings where he taught Marxist ideals inside the seminaries locked gates. In 1912, Josef Vissarionvich Djugashivili changed his name and became Joseph Stalin, Russia’s “Man of Steel” (Brent, 2008, pg. 72). Heavily influenced by his Marxist teachings and the mentorship of Lenin, he became the most revered and the most feared leader of the Soviet Union. Stalin became leader of the Soviet Union during hard economic times when their industries were fifty years behind other nations. Stalin implemented a series of five year plans to help bring the Soviet Union up to date with the rest of the World. Although is five year plans helped the Soviet Union industrialize quickly, they had a severe impact on his countries citizens. Stalin wanted to be the one and only leader of the Soviet Union and persecuted anyone who did not remain totally loyal to him or his philosophy. The policies of Joseph Stalin had a severe impact on the Soviet Union and left them unprepared for World War II. In 1889, Stalin was expelled from the seminary for missing exams but he claimed it was for his Marxist propaganda (Marrin, 1988, pg. 107). After leaving school, Stalin became an underground political agitator taking part in labor strikes and demonstrations. Stalin...
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...would live without. Despite the Soviet people’s lack of freedom, they rallied around Stalin and the Bolshevik party, thus creating a seemingly unified nation. The Soviet people, without any outward opposition, obeyed the state and devoted themselves to the Revolution and ideology that Joseph Stalin worked endlessly to impart within each citizen. The people of Russia were limited in every aspect of life. They could only read what the state allowed, see what the state allowed, and listen to what the...
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...athan Ferro Fulton High School Joseph Stalin had a harsh early life. Joseph Stalin was born Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvili on December 18, 1878, or December 6, 1878, according to the Old Style Julian calendar. He was born in small town of Gori, Georgia, and then part of the Russian empire. When Joseph was born, he was born into poverty and he then became involved in revolutionary politics, as well as criminal activities, as a young man. Stalin’s father was a shoemaker and beat Stalin all the time. Joseph also liked to keep his life personal and very private. “Stalin had no close friends; he was sullen, rude, and had other (unspecified) character traits that made many party comrades shun his company.” (Young, M. 2005) Joseph...
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...Was Joseph Stalin a hero or a heartless murderer? To some people, he was a hero, while to others he was a coldblooded slaughterer. Joseph’s time as dictator of the Soviet Union deeply impacted the whole world. By using force and installing fear into everyone around him, Joseph tried to achieve his goal to change the world. His time as dictator is now known as Stalin’s reign of terror. Joseph was born on December 18, 1878 in Gori, Georgia. Although he was born into a life of poverty, he never let that impede him. While attending school, Joseph was constantly bullied and treated inadequately. It did not help that Joseph had gotten smallpox as a child that left him with numerous scars on his face. When Joseph was 12, he was in a horse-drawn carriage accident. Consequently, one of his arms was considerably shorter than the other. Joseph was always really self-conscious of these flaws. Later in Joseph’s schooling, his mother wished him to become a priest. For a brief period, Joseph attended priest school, but he soon dropped out and never became a priest. Joseph did not return to school and instead began working....
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...Joseph Stalin: Man of Steel Only a few years after the end of World War I, a new leader came to power in Russia. This man quickly became a threat to any potential enemies of the Soviet Union by showing his competence militarily. His military leadership would prove itself more admirable in World War II. Also, being a leader in a leader in an underground revolutionary group and a member of the Bolsheviks could only add to his intimidating persona. The name most commonly matched to said persona is that of an important, tyrannical former leader of the Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin’s political reign is that of violence and war, but his story still influences politics today and influenced the decisions of other world leaders along the way. Joseph Stalin lived a fairly normal early life. He was born on December 21, 1879. His birthplace was Gori, a small town in the Russian province Georgia. Only later did he adopt the surname ‘Stalin’. His actual birth name was Joseph Vissarianovich Dzhugashvili (Schlesinger 14). So how does a boy from a small town grow up to kill millions in a military dictatorship? Stalin is the perfect example of someone being influenced by the media. One particular book made a huge influence on his future and his feelings towards Russia. When Stalin was young, he read a book about a character by the name of Koba, a Georgian equivalent to Robin Hood. This Robin Hood-like character despised Russians and how they treated the people of Georgia (Schlesinger 16). The...
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...Weston Tkac Mr. Montey World Lit P.6 21 March 2017 Atrocities of Stalins Reign Joseph Stalin savagely starved millions of people until they slowly dropped dead like flies. Joseph Stalin’s motives for his genocidal tendencies came from the Country’s need to be strong and unified. In order to put forward a plan of being strong and unified Stalin starts a mass genocidal famine that killed many people and nearly destroyed Russia. Stalins collectivized farms and the famines that were caused by it created genocide rivaled by few tyrants before and even after. The main topics we will be going over will be Collectivized Farms; Deportation of Farmers; The mass Famine; Response to Famine; and the Aftermath. Stalin made a Five Year Plan that called...
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...Joseph Stalin, originally named Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, was born on December 18, 1879 in a peasant village called Gori, Georgia. When he was a child, Dzhugashvili’s personality that he carried on throughout his adult life was established as the young of the village treated him poorly. The cruelty Dzhugashvili endured created a child with insecurity, making him seek out respect and power. The hunger for power promoted an anger for any one who wronged him. As Dzhugashvili continued his schooling, he joined a secret group whose goal was to gain Georgian independence from Russia. Here, Dzhugashvili was taught the teachings of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. As his career in revolutionary work developed, he was arrested in 1902 and exiled to Siberia for organizing a labor strike. Over the course of a few more years, Dzhugashvili was arrested and exiled multiple...
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...The Soviet economy after Stalin: how could Khrushchev de-Stalinise the Stalinist system? Author(s): Jonathan Davis Source: 20th Century History Review. 4.1 (Sept. 2008): p21. Document Type: Article Full Text: When Nikita Khrushchev came to power after Josef Stalin's death in 1953, the new Soviet leader hoped to restructure the USSR along less harsh Stalinist, lines. Khrushchev famously sought to de-Stalinise the USSR and part of his reforms saw him demand changes to an economy that had a less than successful agricultural sector and industries that prioritised heavy machinery over everything else. While some aspects of the Stalinist economy were regarded as successful and therefore continued (for example, heavy industry remained a priority), it was now recognised that other areas were in much need of improvement. Heavy industry had always been favoured over light industry and this led to a severe lack of consumer goods. The brutal methods used by the Stalinist government to collectivise the agricultural sector left millions of peasants bitter and resentful; the agricultural question remained one of the most difficult problems for leaders and policy makers. Moreover, the supposedly planned economy was, in places, more improvised than planned, causing numerous difficulties. Rectifying the problems in the Stalinist economy was crucial for Khrushchev, for the Soviet people and for the Soviet Union. The USSR had to maintain its position as a superpower during the Cold...
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