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[[File: Stalin in exile 1915.jpg |thumbnail|275pxleft|200px|Stalin in Siberia]]On April 3, 1922, Joseph Stalin is remembered as one took over control of the bloodiest tyrants in the history of the world. He was the absolute ruler Communist Party of the Soviet Union , and later of by 1927, he had absolute power over the Communist bloc in Easter EuropeUSSR and was its unquestioned ruler. He rose How did Stalin rise to this unprecedented level of power as a result of his own personal capabilities so quickly after Lenin's death and his understanding of the workings of the Communist Power that had total control of the Soviet Union after the Russian Civil War (1917-1920). Stalin was not the natural successor usurp all of Lenin, but he was able to use his position within the Soviet Communist Party to become the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union.<ref>Boobbyer, Phillip ''The Stalin Era'' (Routledge, London, 2000), p. 78</ref>challengers?

==Stalin’s Early Life==Joseph Stalin, was one of the bloodiest tyrants in world history. He was the future leader absolute ruler of the Soviet Union, often referred to as and later of the ‘Red Tsar, was born on 18 December 1878 to a Georgian cobbler in Gori, Georgia and his wife Communist bloc in a small impoverished villageEastern Europe. His real name was Josef Besarionis de Jughashvili. <ref> Boobyear, p. 111</ref> He was ethnically Georgian, but Georgia was part rose to this unprecedented level of the Tsarist Russian Empire. After leaving school, he was sent power due to a seminary. Instead his capabilities and understanding of studying theology and the bible he embraced Marxism and became a follower of Vladimir Lenin, leader workings of the revolutionary Bolshevik Communist Party.<ref> Conquest, Robert, ''Stalin: Breaker translated these strengths into total control of Nations''. Vikingthe Soviet Union after the Russian Civil War (1917-Penguin, Hammondsworth, 19991920), p. 112</ref> Stalin soon joined the Bolshevik movement and was very active in violent attacks on not the Tsarist government. He was noted as a bank robbernatural successor of [[How did Vladimir Lenin Rise To Power?|Vladimir Lenin]], these were undertaken in order but he could use his position within the Soviet Communist Party to subvert become the system and gain funds for undisputed leader of the revolutionSoviet Union. After being placed under surveillance by Russian secret police, the Ohrakan, for his activities, he went underground <ref>ConquestBoobbyer, pPhillip. 78<''[https://ref>www. He became one of the Bolsheviks' leaders in the Caucasus, organizing paramilitaries, and helped to organize a terrorist campaign in the regionamazon. He was involved in the notorious Tiflis bank robbery, during which 40 people were killed. This led to him being rated very highly by the Bolshevik leadership.<ref>Conquest, p. 87 <com/gp/product/0415182980/ref> =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415182980&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=10976fbde66cefcc9a2808e5d094f993 The Stalin was captured and exiled to Siberia numerous times, but usually escaped. He eventually became one of Vladimir LeninEra]''s closest associates(Routledge, or so he was later to vigorously claim which helped him rise to the heights of power after the Russian Revolution. In 1910 he changed his name to StalinLondon, meaning in Russian ‘Man of Steel’ supposedly adopted in an effort to protect his real identity from the police and perhaps also to create a public image as a true revolutionary. <ref>Boobyear2000), p. 13478</ref>

==October revolution Stalin soon joined the Bolshevik movement and Russian Civil War==By 1917, Stalin was very active in St Petersburg, which was soon to be renamed Petrograd. This was the capital of the revolutionary government that had seized power from violent attacks on the Tsar and his Tsarist government in February 1917. The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky He was becoming unpopular despite ending the rule of the Romanov’s. They had failed a notorious bank robber, and he committed these robberies to end subvert the war Tsarist government and to redistributed land to fund the revolution. After being placed under surveillance by Russian peasantssecret police, the Ohrakan, for his activities, he went underground. <ref> Montefiore, Simon Sebag. ''Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003)Conquest, p. 11778</ref> Lenin had returned from exile in Switzerland to Russia, with the aid He became one of the German secret service. He along with the other Bolsheviks began planning to overthrow ' leaders in the Provisional Government Caucasus, organizing paramilitaries and install taking part in its place the world’s first communist country. The Bolsheviks skilfully adopted a policy of promising peace and land to terrorist campaign in the war weary and starving populationregion. Their message made them very popular and He was involved in October 1917, they stormed the Winter Place and declared that the Russian Empire was now the Soviet Union. <ref> Montefiorenotorious Tiflis bank robbery, pwhere 40 people were killed. 111</ref> The exact role of Stalin in This robbery raised his standing among the Bolshevik Revolution is not known in any great detail. In later propaganda, Stalin was presented in posters and other images as being by Lenin’s side during the Revolution. In fact, it seemed that Stalin only played a minor role in the Revolutionleadership.<ref> MontefioreConquest, p. 11387 </ref>

However, Stalin was to make his reputation in the Russian Civil War. He was appointed as a Political Commissar to several Generals captured and ensured that they were loyal exiled to the Bolsheviks. EventuallySiberia numerous times, but usually, he was given a military command and brutally suppressed White Counter-Revolutionaries and banditsescaped. He eventually became one of Vladimir Lenin's closest associates, or so he was also instrumental in conquering his native Georgialater to claim vigorously, which had declared itself to be independent. Stalin was later appointed helped him rise to the army in heights of power after the Ukraine and Russian Revolution. In 1910 he helped changed his name to push back a Polish invasionStalin, however, he was criticized for not defeating meaning in Russian ‘Man of Steel’ supposedly adopted to protect his real identity from the Poles completely police and exporting the revolution perhaps also to that country and elsewhere in Europecreate a public image as a true revolutionary. <ref> MontefioreBoobyear, p. 118134</ref>.

== What was Stalin as General Secretary of 's role during the Bolshevik PartyOctober Revolution and Russian Civil War? ==It has often been argued that the Russian Civil War [[File:Russian_Revolution_of_1917.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Bolshevik troops in Red Square]]By 1917, Stalin was won for the Bolsheviks by the revolutionary Leo Trotskyin St. This interpretation is now believed Petersburg, which was soon to be an exaggeration of Trotsky's rolerenamed Petrograd. However, Trotsky, did play a significant role in This city was the Sovietrevolutionary government's victory over capital that had seized power from [[Why did the White's Russian Romanov Dynasty collapse in 1917? |the Civil War Tsar]] and was a very important figure in the Communist PARTY and rivaled Lenin his government in prestigeFebruary 1917. Lenin The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky was worried about becoming unpopular despite ending the influence rule of Trotsky the Romanov’s. They had failed to end the war and he employed Stalin to build up a base of support for himredistributed land to the Russian peasants. <ref> Montefiore, Simon Sebag. ''[https://www.amazon. com/gp/product/1400076781/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1400076781&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8d302940930c5b356ba181d00bc19d29 Stalin did this but also at : The Court of the same timeRed Tsar]''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, built up 2003), p. 117</ref> The Bolsheviks skillfully adopted a body policy of supporters that were loyal promising peace and land to him in the Partywar-weary and starving population. In 1921Their message made them very popular, and in October 1917, Stalin they stormed the Winter Place and declared that the Russian Empire was appointed to now the position of General SecretarySoviet Union. This gave him great power in the Party<ref>Montefiore, p. 111</ref>Stalin created a network of supporters 's role in the PartyBolshevik Revolution is unknown. Lenin became suspicious of Stalin was presented in posters and was beginning to mistrust his former protégée. In particular, Lenin disliked other images in later propaganda as being by Lenin’s side during the brutal methods of Stalin in his native Georgia, where he brutally repressed those who opposed BolshevismRevolution. Despite Lenin’s doubtsStill, Stalin began appears to grow popular with have played only a minor role in the rank and file Party membersRevolution. Unlike Lenin and Trotsky, he was not an intellectual and had the common touch and he was well-liked by many<ref> ConquestMontefiore, p. 114113</ref>.

==Lenin and Stalin==Ultimate power lay with Lenin. However, in 1922, after surgery, he had a strokeStalin made his reputation during the Russian Civil War. He was never the same again and he was physically weakened appointed as a Political Commissar to several Generals and many feared ensured that he would not have long they were loyal to livethe Bolsheviks. Lenin was largely confined to a country retreat, cut off from politics. The ruling council of the Bolshevik Party, the PolitburoEventually, ordered that Lenin did not involve himself in politics or in public affairs but concentrate on his recovery. Stalin as General Secretary of the Communist Party was one of the few people who had access to him. Stalin used his position to cut Lenin off from the party and effectively to isolate him. He had become aware of Lenin’s dislike of Stalin and that he believed that he was too cruel given a military command and authoritarian. One day, Stalin berated Lenin's wife for breaching Politburo orders by helping Lenin communicate with others on public matters, this angered Lenin<ref> Read, Christopher. Lenin: A Revolutionary Life (London: Routledge, 2005), p. 112</ref>. As the relationship between Lenin brutally suppressed White Counter-Revolutionaries and Stalin deteriorated, Lenin dictated his testamentbandits. This He was also instrumental in effect conquering his ideas analysis of the current Bolshevik Partnative Georgia, the future of the Revolution and especially on the character of Stalinwhich had declared itself to be independent. In the testament, Stalin was castigated and denounced as self-serving and seeking later appointed to amass personal power in the part. Lenin called for the removal of Stalin as General Secretary. Before Lenin could publish the testamentUkraine army, and he suffered a heart attack and was paralyzed. Stalin received the testament from one of Lenin’s secretaries, who was actually his agent. Stalin repressed Lenin’s criticism of him if it had come helped to light Stalin’s career would have been finished<ref>Read, p 234</ref>. Late allies of Stalin colluded to repress all mention of the document. Lenin died of push back a suspected stroke on January 21st, 1924Polish invasion. Stalin was given the honor of organizing the official funeral. He organized the funeral and ignored Lenin’s final wishes. Stalin also gave an oration at the funeralHowever, despite the opposition of Lenin’s window. Stalin under the rules of the Party he was now criticized for not routing the de-facto successor of Lenin. However, Poles and exporting the party was not under his control, he had revolution to share power with a collection of other Soviet leaders, including Trotsky, Zinoviev that country and Kamenevelsewhere in Europe.<ref> ReadMontefiore, p. 236118</ref>. [[File: 650px-JStalin Secretary general CCCP 1942 flipped.jpg |thumbnail| Stalin as General Secretary]]

==Stalin’s rise to PowerHow did Stalin become General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party after the Russian Revolution? ==Stalin Historians have often argued that the Russian Civil War was officially won for the leader Bolsheviks by the revolutionary Leo Trotsky. This interpretation is now believed to be an exaggeration of Trotsky's role. However, Trotsky did play a significant role in the Communist party, but to many Soviet's victory over the White's in the Party, he was only a figurehead. Many dismissed him as a nonentity Civil War and that he was not a political significant figure of real substancein the Communist PARTY and rivaled Lenin in prestige. Stalin had always been underestimated by many prominent Bolsheviks because he Lenin was not well educated. worried about Trotsky, Kamenev's influence, and Zinoviev all saw themselves as the logical choice as the successor of Lenin. However, they were not as popular as they believed and that Stalin was very popular with the ordinary Party member. he employed Stalin was shrewd enough not to appear to be seeking the leadership build up a base of the Partysupport for him. FurthermoreStalin did this but also, he publically denounced Kamenev and Zinovievat the same time, when they tried built up a body of supporters that were loyal to involve him in a conspiracy against Trotsky in 1925. This only left Stalin and Trotsky as the sole contenders for the leadership role<ref> Felshtinsky, Yuri. Lenin and His Comrades: The Bolsheviks Take Over Russia 1917–1924. Enigma Books, 2000), p. 201</ref>Party.

==Socialism in One Country==The rivalry between Trotsky and In 1921, Stalin was not only a personal rivalry. Both men had different views on appointed to the nature position of Communism and more importantly different ideas on General Secretary. This position gave him great power in the future Party. Stalin created a network of supporters in the worldwide Communist revolutionParty. Influenced by Marx, the Bolsheviks, believed that there Lenin became suspicious of Stalin and was going beginning to be a world-wide Communist Revolutionmistrust his former protégée. In particular, Lenin disliked Stalin began advocating "Socialism 's brutal methods in One Countryhis native Georgia," which says that the Bolsheviks should focus building communism in the countries they already controlled rather than spreading the revolutionwhere he brutally repressed those who opposed Bolshevism. This drew Despite Lenin’s doubts, Stalin began to him many like-minded Party members, especially grow popular with the rank and file and this put him in ideological opposition to Trotsky<ref> Felshtinsky, p. 202</ref>. The Part accepted Stalin’s position and this meant that Trotsky was increasingly marginalized. He then decided to organize public protests, along with others, against Stalin’s growing control of the Partymembers. However, Stalin, employed a law passed by Unlike Lenin, ordering unity in the Party. Stalin asserted that and Trotsky, he was trying to split the party not an intellectual and this ploy managed to sideline Trotsky even further. Another factor, in the growing isolation of Leon Trotsky, despite his achievements during had the Russian Civil Warcommon touch, was that fact that and he was Jewishwell-liked by many.<ref> FelshtinskyConquest, p. 203114</ref>. There was a great deal of antisemitism in Russian and this made Trotsky unpopular. By 1927, Stalin was so powerful that he could force Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev from the Politburo and later expelled from the Bolshevik Party. Trotsky was forced into exile and eventually later settled in Mexico.

==Consolidating His RuleHow did Stalin become Lenin's potential heir? ==By 1927[[File:Lenin_and_stalin_crop.jpg|left|thumbnail|250px|Lenin and Stalin in Gorki, Stalin was 1922]]After the unquestioned ruler of Revolution, Lenin held power in the Soviet Unionnew country. His However, in 1922, after surgery, he had filled the administration of a stroke, and he was never the Party with people who were loyal to himsame. IncreasinglyThe stroke weakened Lenin, Stalin appointed his loyalists and many feared that he would not have long to the Politburolive. Many of Lenin’s former lieutenants realized that Stalin Lenin was making himself largely confined to a de-facto dictatorcountry retreat and cut off from politics. Bukharin was something The ruling council of a darling in the Bolshevik Party. He was handsome, charismatic and a favorite of Lenin. He led the opposition to Stalin in the Politburo<ref> Felshtinsky, p. 204</ref>. He opposed Stalin’s policy of the rapid industrialization of the Soviet Union ordered Lenin to avoid and called for the gradual introduction of industrialization. Stalin prevailed and later he had Bukharin expelled. All those who had crossed Stalin in some way were to be murdered concentrate on his orders. Some years later, Stalin sent an assassin to murder Trotsky. He was later killed by a Soviet Agent with an ice pick. Kamenev, Bukharin, and Zinoviev were all later put on trial, in a show trial and executed, on the trumped charges of plotting against the state. Lenin’s widow also died in suspicious circumstance and many believed that she was poisoned on Stalin’s orders<ref>Read, p 235</ref>recovery.

==Conclusion==By 1928Stalin, the General Secretary of the Communist Party, Stalin was the undisputed ruler one of the Soviet Unionfew people who still had access. In 1920, he managed Stalin used his position to achieve this despite cut Lenin off from the opposition of Lenin party and many of the senior leaders in the Partyeffectively to isolate him. He was widely seen knew that Lenin’s disliked him because Lenin perceived him as an uneducated peasantcruel and authoritarian. Stalin even berated Lenin's wife for breaching Politburo orders by helping Lenin communicate with others on public matters. However, he managed to turn this to Stalin's attack on his advantage and in his role as General Secretarywife angered Lenin.<ref>Read, he built up his power base in the countryChristopher. <i>[https://www. Stalin was also generally popular among the ordinary Party Members and this was crucialamazon. This meant that he had a powerful and influential following and this allowed him to build up his power and influence until he was in total control of the partycom/gp/product/0415206499/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415206499&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d05be7a646c17cc922f1ffe49958037b Lenin: A Revolutionary Life]</i> (London: Routledge, 2005), p.112</ref>

As the relationship between Lenin and Stalin deteriorated, Lenin dictated his Testament. This Testament was, in effect, his analysis of the current Bolshevik Party, the future of the Revolution, and an indictment of Stalin's character. In the Testament, Stalin was castigated and denounced as self-serving and focused only on amassing personal power. Lenin called for the removal of Stalin as General Secretary. Before Lenin could publish the Testament, he suffered a heart attack and was paralyzed. Stalin received the Testament from one of Lenin’s secretaries, who was his agent. Stalin repressed Lenin’s criticism of him. If the Testament had come to light, Stalin’s career would have been finished.<ref>Read, p 234</ref> Allies of Stalin colluded to repress all mention of the document. Lenin died of a suspected stroke on January 21st, 1924. <dh-ad/> == How did Stalin eliminate his competitors for control of the Soviet Union?==After Lenin's death, Stalin was given the honor of organizing the official funeral. He arranged the funeral and ignored Lenin’s final wishes. Stalin also gave a speech at the funeral, despite the opposition of Lenin’s window. Stalin, under the rules of the Party, was now the de-facto successor of Lenin. However, the party was not fully under his control. He had to share power with a collection of other Soviet leaders, including Trotsky, Zinoviev, and Kamenev.<ref>Read, p. 236</ref> Stalin was officially the leader of the Communist party, but to many in the Party, he was only a figurehead. Many dismissed him as a nonentity and a political figure of no real substance. Many prominent Bolsheviks had always underestimated Stalin because he was not well educated. Trotsky, Kamenev, and Zinoviev all saw themselves as the logical choice as the successor of Lenin.  However, they were not as popular as they believed, and that Stalin was very popular with the ordinary Party member. Stalin was shrewd enough not to appear to be seeking the leadership of the Party. Furthermore, Stalin publically denounced Kamenev and Zinoviev when they tried to involve him in a conspiracy against Trotsky in 1925. That left Stalin and Trotsky as the sole contenders for the leadership role.<ref> Felshtinsky, Yuri. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1929631952/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1929631952&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8e5c4b8740fbfc8f691fb6ae90aae02b Lenin and His Comrades: The Bolsheviks Take Over Russia 1917–1924]</i>. Enigma Books, 2000), p. 201</ref> == When did Stalin come to Power as the Ruler of the Soviet Union? ==[[File:Stalin-Bukharin.jpg|left|thumbnail|250px|Stalin and Bukharin in 1928]]Trotsky and Stalin began to vie against each other for control of the Soviet Union in 1925. By 1927, Stalin would emerge as the unquestioned leader of the Soviet, but first, he had to eliminate Trotsky from the competition. The rivalry between Trotsky and Stalin was personal because both men had radically different views on Communism's nature. More importantly, they held antithetical ideas on the future of the worldwide Communist revolt. Influenced by Marx, the Bolsheviks believed that there was going to be a world-wide Communist Revolution.  Stalin began advocating "Socialism in One Country," which says that the Bolsheviks should focus on building communism in the countries they already controlled rather than spreading the revolution. This view drew many like-minded Party members to Stalin, especially the rank and file. Stalin placed himself in ideological opposition to Trotsky.<ref> Felshtinsky, p. 202</ref>  The Party accepted Stalin’s position, and this meant that Trotsky was increasingly marginalized. He then decided to organize public protests, along with others, against Stalin’s growing control of the Party. However, Stalin employed a law passed by Lenin, ordering unity in the Party. Stalin asserted that Trotsky was trying to split the party, and this ploy managed to sideline Trotsky even further.  Another factor, in the growing isolation of Leon Trotsky, despite his achievements during the Russian Civil War, was his Jewish heritage.<ref> Felshtinsky, p. 203</ref> There was a great deal of antisemitism in Russian, which made Trotsky unpopular. By 1927, Stalin was so powerful that he could force Trotsky, Kamenev, and Zinoviev from the Politburo and later expelled them from the Bolshevik Party. Trotsky was forced into exile and eventually later settled in Mexico. == How did Stalin Consolidate His Power in the Soviet Union? ==<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'>====Related Articles====* [[What were the goals of the Axis powers and the Soviet Union during World War Two?]]* [[What is the History of US Presidential Scandals?]]* [[How did Winston Churchill become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in World War Two?]]* [[How did Vladimir Lenin Rise To Power?]]{{#dpl:category=Russian History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=4}}</div>By 1927, Stalin was the unquestioned ruler of the Soviet Union. He had filled the administration of the Party with people who were loyal to him. Increasingly, Stalin appointed his loyalists to the Politburo. Many of Lenin’s former lieutenants realized that Stalin was making himself a de-facto dictator. Bukharin was something of a darling in the Party. He was handsome, charismatic, and a favorite of Lenin. He led the opposition to Stalin in the Politburo.<ref> Felshtinsky, p. 204</ref> He opposed Stalin’s policy of the rapid industrialization of the Soviet Union and called for the gradual introduction of industrialization.  Stalin prevailed, and later, he had Bukharin expelled. All those who had crossed Stalin in some way were to be murdered on his orders. Some years later, Stalin sent an assassin to murder Trotsky. A Soviet Agent later killed him with an ice pick. Kamenev, Bukharin, and Zinoviev were all later put on trial, in a show trial and executed, on the trumped charges of plotting against the state. Lenin’s widow also died in suspicious circumstances, and many believed that she was poisoned on Stalin’s orders.<ref>Read, p. 235</ref> == Conclusion ==By 1928, Stalin was the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union. In 1920, he managed to achieve this despite Lenin's opposition and many of the Party's senior leaders. He was widely seen as an uneducated peasant. However, he managed to turn this to his advantage, and in his role as General Secretary, he built a power base in the country. Stalin was also generally popular among the ordinary Party members, and this was crucial to his success. Stalin effectively built a powerful and influential following, which allowed him to take total control of the Soviet Union gradually. ====Suggested Readings====* Boobbyer, Phillip. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415182980/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415182980&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=10976fbde66cefcc9a2808e5d094f993 The Stalin Era]'' (Routledge, London, 2000)* Conquest, Robert. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140169539/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0140169539&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=78415985f069f734b98307b00183a2dd Stalin: Breaker of Nations]''. (Viking-Penguin, Hammondsworth, 1999)* Felshtinsky, Yuri. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1929631952/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1929631952&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8e5c4b8740fbfc8f691fb6ae90aae02b Lenin and His Comrades: The Bolsheviks Take Over Russia 1917–1924]</i>. Enigma Books, 2000) * Montefiore, Simon Sebag. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400076781/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1400076781&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8d302940930c5b356ba181d00bc19d29 Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar]''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003)* Read, Christopher. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415206499/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415206499&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d05be7a646c17cc922f1ffe49958037b Lenin: A Revolutionary Life]</i> (London: Routledge, 2005) ====References====