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{{Contributors}} [[File: Stalin in exile 1915.jpg |thumbnail|275pxleft|200px|Stalin in Siberia]]On April 3, 1922, Joseph Stalin is remembered as took over control of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and by 1927, he had absolute power over the USSR and was its unquestioned ruler. How did Stalin rise to power so quickly after Lenin's death and usurp all of his challengers?  Stalin was one of the bloodiest tyrants in the world history of the world. He was the absolute ruler of the Soviet Union and later of the Communist bloc in Easter Eastern Europe. He rose to this unprecedented level of power as a result of his own personal capabilities and his understanding of the workings of the Communist Power that had Party. Stalin translated these strengths into total control of the Soviet Union after the Russian Civil War (1917-1920). Stalin was not the natural successor of [[How did Vladimir LeninRise To Power?|Vladimir 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. ''[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), p. 78</ref>  ====Stalin’s Early Life====Joseph Stalin, the future leader of the Soviet Union, often referred to as the ‘Red Tsar,' was born on 18 December 1878 to a Georgian cobbler in Gori, Georgia and his wife in a small, impoverished village. His real name was Josef Besarionis de Jughashvili. <ref> Boobyear, p. 111</ref> He was ethnically Georgian, but Georgia was part of the Tsarist Russian Empire. After leaving school, Stalin went to a seminary. Instead of studying theology and the Bible, he embraced Marxism and became a follower of Vladimir Lenin, leader of the revolutionary Bolshevik Party.<ref> 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), p. 112</ref>  Stalin soon joined the Bolshevik movement and was very active in violent attacks on the Tsarist government. He was a notorious bank robber, and he committed these robberies to subvert the Tsarist government and fund the revolution. After being placed under surveillance by Russian secret police, the Ohrakan, for his activities, he went underground.<ref>Conquest, p. 78</ref> He became one of the Bolsheviks' leaders in the Caucasus, organizing paramilitaries, and taking part in a terrorist campaign in the region. He was involved in the notorious Tiflis bank robbery where 40 people were killed. This robbery raised his standing among the Bolshevik leadership.<ref>Conquest, p. 87 </ref>  Stalin was captured and exiled to Siberia numerous times, but usually, he escaped. He eventually became one of Vladimir Lenin's closest associates, 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 Stalin, meaning in Russian ‘Man of Steel’ supposedly adopted to protect his real identity from the police and perhaps also to create a public image as a true revolutionary. <ref>Boobyear, p. 134</ref>

==Stalin’s Early Life==October Revolution and the Russian Civil War====[[File:Russian_Revolution_of_1917.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Bolshevik troops in Red Square]]Joseph By 1917, Stalinwas in St. Petersburg, which was soon to be renamed Petrograd. This city was the future leader capital of the Soviet Union, often referred to as revolutionary government that had seized power from [[Why did the Russian Romanov Dynasty collapse in 1917?|the ‘Red Tsar, was born on 18 December 1878 to a Georgian cobbler in Gori, Georgia ]] and his wife government in a small impoverished villageFebruary 1917. His real name The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky was Josef Besarionis de Jughashvili. <ref> Boobyear, p. 111</ref> He was ethnically Georgian, but Georgia was part becoming unpopular despite ending the rule of the Tsarist Russian EmpireRomanov’s. After leaving school, he was sent They had failed to a seminary. Instead of studying theology and end the bible he embraced Marxism war and became a follower of Vladimir Lenin, leader of to redistributed land to the revolutionary Bolshevik PartyRussian peasants.<ref> ConquestMontefiore, RobertSimon Sebag. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/01401695391400076781/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=01401695391400076781&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=78415985f069f734b98307b00183a2dd 8d302940930c5b356ba181d00bc19d29 Stalin: Breaker The Court of Nationsthe Red Tsar]''. Viking-PenguinLondon: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Hammondsworth, 19992003), p. 112117</ref> Stalin soon joined the Bolshevik movement The Bolsheviks skillfully adopted a policy of promising peace and was very active in violent attacks on the Tsarist government. He was noted as a bank robber, these were undertaken in order land to subvert the system war-weary and gain funds for the revolutionstarving population. After being placed under surveillance by Russian secret policeTheir message made them very popular, the Ohrakanand in October 1917, for his activities, he went underground <ref>Conquest, p. 78</ref>. He became one of the Bolsheviks' leaders in they stormed the Caucasus, organizing paramilitaries, Winter Place and helped to organize a terrorist campaign in declared that the region. He Russian Empire was involved in now the notorious Tiflis bank robbery, during which 40 people were killed. This led to him being rated very highly by the Bolshevik leadershipSoviet Union.<ref>ConquestMontefiore, p. 87 111</ref> Stalin was captured and exiled to Siberia numerous times, but usually escaped. He eventually became one of Vladimir Lenin's closest associates, or so he was later to vigorously claim which helped him rise to role in the heights of power after the Russian Bolshevik Revolutionis unknown. In 1910 he changed his name to later propaganda, Stalin, meaning was presented in Russian ‘Man of Steel’ supposedly adopted in an effort to protect his real identity from posters and other images as being by Lenin’s side during the police and perhaps also Revolution, but Stalin appears to create have played only a public image as a true revolutionaryminor role in the Revolution. <ref>BoobyearMontefiore, p. 134113</ref>

==October revolution and Russian Civil War==[[File:Russian_Revolution_of_1917.jpg|thumbnail|300px|Stalin as General Secretary of the Bolshevik troops in red Square]]Party====By 1917, Stalin Historians have often argued that the Russian Civil War was in Stwon for the Bolsheviks by the revolutionary Leo Trotsky. Petersburg, which was soon This interpretation is now believed to be renamed Petrogradan exaggeration of Trotsky's role. This was However, Trotsky did play a significant role in the Soviet's victory over the capital of White's in the revolutionary government that had seized power from Civil War and was a significant figure in the Tsar Communist PARTY and his government rivaled Lenin in February 1917prestige. The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky Lenin was becoming unpopular despite ending worried about the rule influence of the Romanov’sTrotsky, and he employed Stalin to build up a base of support for him. They had failed to end Stalin did this but also at the war and to redistributed land same time, built up a body of supporters that were loyal to him in the Russian peasantsParty. <ref> MontefioreIn 1921, Simon SebagStalin was appointed to the position of General Secretary. ''[https://wwwThis position gave him great power in the Party.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 created a network of supporters in the Red Tsar]''Party. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003), p. 117</ref> Lenin had returned from exile in Switzerland became suspicious of Stalin and was beginning to Russiamistrust his former protégée. In particular, with Lenin disliked the aid brutal methods of the German secret serviceStalin in his native Georgia, where he brutally repressed those who opposed Bolshevism. He along with the other Bolsheviks Despite Lenin’s doubts, Stalin began planning to overthrow grow popular with the Provisional Government rank and file Party members. Unlike Lenin and install in its place Trotsky, he was not an intellectual and had the world’s first communist countrycommon touch, and he was well-liked by many. <ref> Conquest, p. 114</ref>

The Bolsheviks skillfully adopted a policy of promising peace ====Lenin and land to the war weary and starving populationStalin====[[File:Lenin_and_stalin_crop. Their message made them very popular jpg|left|thumbnail|250px|Lenin and Stalin in October 1917Gorki, they stormed 1922]]After the Winter Place and declared that the Russian Empire was now the Soviet Union.<ref>MontefioreRevolution, p. 111</ref> The exact role of Stalin Lenin held power in the Bolshevik Revolution is not known in any great detailnew country. In later propagandaHowever, Stalin was presented in posters 1922, after surgery, he had a stroke, and other images as being by Lenin’s side during he was never the Revolutionsame. In factThe stroke weakened Lenin, it seemed and many feared that Stalin only played he would not have long to live. Lenin was largely confined to a minor role in country retreat and cut off from politics. The ruling council of the Bolshevik Party, the Revolution.<ref>MontefiorePolitburo, pordered Lenin to avoid and concentrate on his recovery. 113</ref>

HoweverStalin, Stalin was to make his reputation in the Russian Civil War. He was appointed as a Political Commissar to several Generals and ensured that they were loyal to General Secretary of the Bolsheviks. EventuallyCommunist Party, he was given a military command and brutally suppressed White Counter-Revolutionaries and bandits. He was also instrumental in conquering his native Georgia, which one of the few people who still had declared itself access to be independenthim. Stalin was later appointed used his position to cut Lenin off from the army in the Ukraine party and he helped to push back a Polish invasion, however, he was criticized for not defeating the Poles completely and exporting the revolution effectively to isolate him. He knew that country Lenin’s disliked him because Lenin perceived him as cruel and elsewhere in Europeauthoritarian. Stalin even berated Lenin's wife for breaching Politburo orders by helping Lenin communicate with others on public matters. Stalin's attack on his wife angered Lenin.<ref>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>Montefiore(London: Routledge, 2005), p. 118112</ref>

== As the relationship between Lenin and Stalin as General Secretary deteriorated, Lenin dictated his Testament. This Testament was, in effect, his analysis of the current Bolshevik Party==It has often been argued that Part, the Russian Civil War was won for future of the Bolsheviks by the revolutionary Leo Trotsky. This interpretation is now believed to be Revolution and an exaggeration indictment of TrotskyStalin's rolecharacter. HoweverIn the Testament, Trotsky, did play a significant role in the Soviet's victory over the White's in the Civil War Stalin was castigated and was a very important figure in the Communist PARTY denounced as self-serving and rivaled Lenin in prestigefocused only on amassing personal power. Lenin was worried about called for the influence removal of Trotsky and he employed Stalin to build up a base of support for himas General Secretary. Stalin did this but also at Before Lenin could publish the same timeTestament, built up he suffered a body of supporters that were loyal to him in the Party. In 1921, Stalin heart attack and was appointed to the position of General Secretary. This gave him great power in the Partyparalyzed. Stalin created a network of supporters in received the Party. Lenin became suspicious Testament from one of Stalin and Lenin’s secretaries, who was beginning to mistrust his former protégéeagent. In particular, Lenin disliked the brutal methods of Stalin in his native Georgia, where he brutally repressed those who opposed BolshevismLenin’s criticism of him. Despite Lenin’s doubts, Stalin began to grow popular with If the rank and file Party members. Unlike Lenin and Trotsky, he was not an intellectual and Testament had the common touch and he was well-liked by manycome to light Stalin’s career would have been finished.<ref> ConquestRead, p. 114234</ref>

==Lenin and Stalin==[[File: 650px-JStalin Secretary general CCCP 1942 flipped.jpg |thumbnail| Stalin as General Secretary]]Ultimate power lay with Lenin. However, in 1922, after surgery, he had a stroke. He was never the same again and he was physically weakened and many feared that he would not have long to live. Lenin was largely confined to a country retreat, cut off from politics. The ruling council of the Bolshevik Party, the Politburo, 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 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. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415206499/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415206499&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0cdh-20&linkId=d05be7a646c17cc922f1ffe49958037b Lenin: A Revolutionary Life]</i> (London: Routledge, 2005), p. 112<ad/ref>

As the relationship between Lenin and Stalin deteriorated, Lenin dictated his testament. This was in effect his ideas analysis of the current Bolshevik Part, the future of the Revolution and especially on the character of Stalin. In the testament, Stalin was castigated and denounced as self-serving and seeking to amass personal power in the part. 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 actually his agent. Stalin repressed Lenin’s criticism of him if it had come to light Stalin’s career would have been finished.<ref>Read, p 234</ref> Late allies Allies of Stalin colluded to repress all mention of the document. Lenin died of a suspected stroke on January 21st, 1924. Stalin was given the honor of organizing the official funeral. He organized arranged the funeral and ignored Lenin’s final wishes. Stalin also gave an oration 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 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’s rise to Power==Socialism in One Country====[[File:Stalin was officially the leader of the Communist party, but to many -Bukharin.jpg|left|thumbnail|250px|Stalin and Bukharin in the Party, he was only a figurehead. Many dismissed him as a nonentity 1928]]The rivalry between Trotsky and that he Stalin was not only a political figure personal because both men had radically different views on the nature of real substance. Stalin had always been underestimated by many prominent Bolsheviks because he was not well educatedCommunism. TrotskyMore importantly, Kamenev, and Zinoviev all saw themselves as they held antithetical ideas on the logical choice as future of the successor of Leninworldwide Communist revolt. HoweverInfluenced by Marx, the Bolsheviks, they were not as popular as they believed and that Stalin there was very popular with the ordinary Party membergoing to be a world-wide Communist Revolution. Stalin was shrewd enough not to appear to be seeking began advocating "Socialism in One Country," which says that the Bolsheviks should focus building communism in the leadership of countries they already controlled rather than spreading the Partyrevolution. FurthermoreThis view drew many like-minded Party members to Stalin, he publically denounced Kamenev especially the rank and Zinoviev, when they tried to involve him in a conspiracy against Trotsky in 1925file. This only left Stalin and placed himself in ideological opposition to 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. 201202</ref>

==Socialism in One Country==The rivalry between Trotsky and Stalin was not only a personal rivalry. Both men had different views on the nature of Communism and more importantly different ideas on the future of the worldwide Communist revolution. 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 building communism in the countries they already controlled rather than spreading the revolution. This drew to him many like-minded Party members, especially 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 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 that fact that he was his Jewishheritage.<ref> Felshtinsky, p. 203</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 Rule====<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. His 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.

==Consolidating His Rule==By 1927, Stalin was the unquestioned ruler of the Soviet Union. His 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 handsomeprevailed, 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. 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>

====Conclusion====By 1928, Stalin was the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union. In 1920, he managed to achieve this despite the opposition of Lenin and many of the senior leaders in the Party. 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 up his a power base in the country. Stalin was also generally popular among the ordinary Party Members , and this was crucialto his success. This meant that he had Stalin effectively built a powerful and influential following and this which allowed him to build up his power and influence until he was in gradually take total control of the partySoviet Union.

====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====