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[[File:683px-Lenin.jpg|thumbnail|270px250px|left|Vladimir Lenin]]Undoubtedly in the ranks of the turbulent 20th century’s decades a few names emerge as some of the most significant key revolutionaries known in the history of mankind: Lenin, Mandela, Stalin, Hitler, Mao to name a few. Yet some of them share and spread out that specific spirit able to spark a fire on a global scale, conquer minds and inspire millions of people effectively having them bent to their absolute will. But what does it take to be a true revolutionary and change the fate of those millions, to define the very course of the history itself and/or even shape entire countries? How does one bring down emblematic well-established ‘status quos’ and regimes to build one’s own upon former remains and ashes? What is it like to be a true visionary, to lead, inspire and motivate millions of people to follow you?

In 1917, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (later known as alias Lenin as he solely nicknamed himself) seized Russia's control in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, created the Soviet Union, and ruled it until his death in 1924. Lenin was one of the leading political figures in the course of the 20th century. He was the revolutionary thinker behind the USSR idea (a.k.a. The Great Soviet Union), fought to materialize it , and masterminded the Bolshevik bloody takeover of power in Russia after Russia's withdrawal from World War One. And although Lenin died in his mid-50s's reign as the head of the newly created Soviet Union was brief, but his ideas influenced and marked influence stretched throughout the following generations’ fate, development and lives for quite many decades that came after20th century.

==Lenin’s Early LifeHow did Lenin become a Marxist?==[[File:Lenin-circa-1887.jpg|thumbnail|220px|Vladimir Lenin in 1887]]Lenin Ilyich Ulyanov was born on 22 April 1870 in Simbirsk on the Volga River into a well-educated family. Once he He excelled at school, he and chose to pursue a law studies and a career. However, later in while he was at university, angered and influenced by the cruel public execution of his brother (being a member of a revolutionary group himself) at the hands of the ruling Tsarist regime, Lenin became far more radical in his thinking.<ref>Lenin’s older brother - Aleksandr Ulyanov, was involved with “Narodovoltsy” – a revolutionary terrorist society and in . In 1891 , he was arrested and executed for taking part in an assassination plot against Tsar Alexander III.</ref> That eventHis brother's execution radicalized Vladimir. He turned his anger towards =the ruling Tsarist regime. His brother's execution, together along with his father’s death, marked a turning point in young Lenin’s his life and broadly determined shaped his path of in the future revolutionary we know today. [[File:Lenin-circa-1887.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Vladimir Lenin in 1887]] Shortly Soon after these critical eventshis brother's execution, Lenin was expelled from the university for his active participation to participate in student protests against the Tsarist regime and . He was forced to continue his law studies as an external student at St. Petersburg University. Around that this time , he also became passionately interested in Karl Marx’s works. Unsurprisingly, even before concluding his education, young Lenin He joined the Marxists Marxist groups at the age of when he was 21 as to become and, in essence, became a professional revolutionary. Lenin quickly got became involved with various Marxist societies and radical groups and even published several his writings of his own. Almost all of them were immediately banned and restricted by the ruling regime, declared illegal and only passed from hand to hand. And because he caught the eye of the Russian radicals, Lenin was declared “enemy of the state” by the Russian police. He was mercilessly chased by the Tsarists for his radical views and ideas and soon he was arrested on politics and exiled to SiberiaMarxism. During his Siberian exile Vladimir adopted the famous “Lenin” pseudonym himself – the nick-name he’s become best known for<ref>Throughout his life Lenin often used many different pseudonyms for work or for security reasons</ref>

==Lenin - Almost all of his writing was immediately banned and restricted by the Young Revolutionary== [[File:Vladimir_Lenin_plays_chess_with_Alexander_Bogdanov_during_a_visit_to_Maxim_Gorky_(April_,10_(23)_-_April,_17_(30)_1908)Tsarist regime.jpg|thumbnail|325px|Vladimir Lenin plays chess with Alexander Bogdanov in 1908]]Once Lenin The only way to get a hold of his writings was released, he continued to passionately work on his views regarding social imbalance and formed pass them by hand from person to person. His writings quickly caught the famous Bolsheviks group of supporters – a major faction eye of other Russian Marxistsradicals, later shaping and he was declared an “enemy of the whole Communist Party.<ref>Initially establishing state” by the so-called Russian Social Democratic Worker's Party police. Tsarists police arrested him in St. Petersburg and later – Communist Partyimprisoned him for a year for sedition.</ref> The synthesis of Lenin’s After his release, he was again arrested in 1897 for his radical views combined together and ideas and sent to exile in Siberia for three years. Lenin and their family were sent to Siberia, where he lived in Shushenskoye. During his Siberian exile, Vladimir adopted the famous moniker “Lenin.” While in Siberia, Lenin regularly wrote with those of Karl Marx created what we now know as “Marxism-Leninism” or the basis of whole Communist doctrine throughout the 20th centuryhis wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya. His exile did little to damper his revolutionary zeal.

His teachings attracted more ==Why did Lenin leave Russia?== Once Lenin was released, he continued to work on his views regarding social imbalance passionately and more passionate followers and were not popular with formed the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks would become the preeminent party of Russian authorities at all – he was, after all, against Marxists shaped the future Communist Party.<ref>Initially establishing the ruling Tsarist regime so-called Russian Social Democratic Worker's Party and class divisions in societylater – Communist Party. Vladimir aimed at total state ownership </ref> The synthesis of goods, abolishing Tsarists privileges, equal rights for all and lack Lenin’s views combined with those of workless personnel Karl Marx created what we now know as “Marxism- even if that meant going to extremes like poets serving in army Leninism” or getting involved with peasant work. As the tension grew, Lenin decided to leave the country for security reasons and move to Western Europe. He spent there most basis of whole Communist doctrine throughout the subsequent decade and a half and continued to play a key role also in the international revolutionary movement20th century.

Away from Russia he created his own propaganda means and won even more followers on his side. <ref>E.g. published his legendary newspaper “Iskra” [[File:Vladimir_Lenin_plays_chess_with_Alexander_Bogdanov_during_a_visit_to_Maxim_Gorky_(April_,10_(“Spark”23) in Munich with the motto “From Spark to Flame!”</ref> Aided by foreign funds_-_April, Lenin actively challenged the established doctrine, policy and institution of the ruling Tsarist regimes_17_(30)_1908). jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Vladimir quickly learnt, that the real force was within the proletariat – workers, soldiers and peasants – masses who would become his revolution’s weapons and dictatorship’s instruments later.Lenin plays chess with Alexander Bogdanov in 1908]]

==World War I Fatigue==[[File:Russian_prisoners_tannenbergHis teachings attracted more and more passionate followers.jpg|thumbnail|350px|Unsurprisingly, his writing unpopular with the Russian prisoners after the disastrous defeat at the Battle authorities. Vladimir argued in favor of total state ownership of Tanneburg in 1914]]In 1917all property, exhausted by World War Oneabolishing Tsarists privileges, Russia was up equal rights for a changeall, and eliminating unemployment. It was As the tension grew, Lenin decided to leave the perfect chaos moment country for Lenin security reasons and move to return homeWestern Europe. He was additionally funded by the Germans who hoped that he would undermine the Russian war efforts. Instead spent there most of arrested and exiled again, Lenin was warmly welcomed home and supported by other radical thinkers (e.g. Leon Trotsky) he led the Bolsheviks subsequent 15 in the bloody violent Red October Revolutionself-imposed exile. Lenin, much After his move to his own surprise, effectively ended the Russian Empire rather easily and established the Soviet state that would soon become a global superpower. Masses loved himEastern Europe, he had won their full support and devotion with his speeches and “illegal” writings calling for became a change. In the following almost three years of civil war, the Bolsheviks assumed total control of the country. Vladimir acted as the first head of this new socialistic regime and was the architect prominent member of the USSR itself. Lenin also commanded and led the famous Red Army - established immediately after the 1917 October Revolution. <ref>A.k.ainternational revolutionary movement. Red October or Bolshevik Revolution </ref>

Lenin proved decisive and ruthless Away from the very beginning: Russia, he neglected his fellow countrymen sufferings and mercilessly crushed any opposition or riots. The Red Army or as it was also commonly referred continued to - The Great Workers’ publish and Peasants’ Red Army - was raised by Lenin’s Bolsheviks to oppose the various military collectively known as the White army during the Russian Civil Warwon more followers on his side. After 1922 He published his newspaper “Iskra” (“Spark”) in Munich with the Red Army became the army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics established motto “From Spark to Flame!” Aided by foreign funds, Lenin actively challenged the new regime. In February 1946 it effectively transformedruling Tsarist regimes' doctrine, policy, embodied and led the Soviet Armed Forces or Soviet Army. Historically, the Red Army is also credited as being the decisive land force in the Allied victory in World War II during the operations on the Eastern Frontinstitution.

==Lenin’s Cult of PersonalityWhy did World War I weaken the Romanov Regieme?== In 1917, exhausted by World War One, Tsarist Russia was a wreck. It was the perfect chaotic moment for Lenin to return home. Germany, in an attempt to destabilize Russia, sent Lenin back to Russia. They hoped Lenin would undermine the Russian war efforts. Instead of being arrested and exiled again, Lenin was welcomed home and supported by other radical thinkers such as Leon Trotsky. He quickly became the Marxist movement leader and led the Bolsheviks in the bloody, violent Red October Revolution. Lenin, much to his surprise, effectively ended the Russian Empire rather easily and established the Soviet state. [[Why did the Russian Romanov Dynasty collapse in 1917?|The Romanov Dynasty]] had become brittle and incredibly unpopular and Russians were willing to embrace Lenin's revolution. [[File:Russian_prisoners_tannenberg.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Russian prisoners after the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914]]In the following three years of civil war, the Bolsheviks successfully assumed total control of Russia. Lenin acted as the first head of this new socialistic regime and was the USSR architect. Lenin also commanded and led the famous Red Army - established immediately after the 1917 October Revolution. <ref>A.k.a. Red October or Bolshevik Revolution </ref>

Lenin had an amazing power over proved decisive and ruthless from the crowds – very beginning. He neglected his fellow countrymen's sufferings because he was focused on crushing any internal opposition or riots. The Red Army or as it was also commonly referred to - The Great Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army - was raised by Lenin’s Bolsheviks to oppose the various military collectively known as the White army during the Russian Civil War. After 1922, the Red Army was transformed into the Army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by the new regime. ==Did Lenin create a great Cult of Personality?== Lenin was a powerful and gifted orator with truly inspirational power. From an early age , Vladimir was capable of effectively transmitting communicating complicated concepts and simplifying any complicated matter ideas to the masses until people lost their will and eventually got their minds enslavedhis audience. But make no mistake: some may celebrate Lenin as a defendant of workers’ rightscould effectively communicate with Russians who had limited education. Unfortunately, but he Lenin was much more decisive and prepared to cause horrific mass suffering and sacrifice countless human lives interested in the pursuit building a country around his persona instead of Communist goalsimproving Russian citizens' lives. Lenin was fairly ruthless with any opposition to his rule. Millions of free-will poets, philosophers , or priests lost their life lives or were forced to emigrate.<ref>Church The orthodox church was almost completely entirely banned.</ref>

Lenin’s absolute authoritarian regime soon gained lots of opponents generated opposition, and he narrowly survived a few assassination attempts. In one of these attempts, Vladimir Lenin was severely wounded , and his long -term health was affected. However, Lenin was a true 's injury and workaholic, which in effect further ruined nature eroded his health. In May 1922 , he suffered a stroke from which he never fully recovered. He lost his power of speech , and his right arm and leg were paralyzed. In December came , he had another stroke. The third followed in March 1923 and turned him into a living corpse. Lenin died on 24 January 1924. His corpse body was embalmed and emblematically placed in a mausoleum in his memoriam on Moscow's Red Square. St Petersburg was named renamed Leningrad (The City of Lenin)in his honor.

==ConclusionHow did Lenin become the leader of the Soviet Union? == If we measure greatness by the power of will and the scale of damage, then Lenin was truly by all means one of the most remarkable politicians. He destroyed one powerful empires transformed himself from an imprisoned radical to create another based on extreme violencean absolute ruler in three decades. In many ways he defined Lenin's shadow hung over the development of world history throughout the 20th centurySoviet Union and Europe for another 70 years. Certainly, While Lenin was the founder of the idea a remarkable orator and the guiding spirit of the Soviet Republics for many decades that followed - a communist philosopherwriter, disciple his takeover of Karl Marx, Russia was a leader of the Bolshevik (Communist) Party and the mastermind of the fluke. In 1917 Red October Revolution. Some may consider him a defender, others - the Russian Empire was a tyrant; some call him a saint, many more – a devildisaster. But all in all Lenin played an enormous role in It was led by the history of the 20th centuryRomanov's who were unpopular, foolish, and incompetent. He applied communist ideas to real life and his “experiment” forever changed World War I had also fatally weakened the face of the worldRussian Empire. Not only did he reshape all Russia but also Lenin's revolution would have been quickly snuffed out if it had millions of people bent to his will, changing the very course of occurred at any other time in Russian history in his own regard. Lenin was 's timing could not have been better. Lenin's luck allowed him to become the first revolutionary dictator of the century with global influence on a global scale. He was not the last and paved the way for Stalin, Hitler, Mao and many others that followed as his Marxism-Leninism ideas and works were refreshed and broadly adopted afterwards during the Cold War. Nonetheless, it took over 70 years and millions of lives to put an end to Lenin’s era and forced utopia<div class="portal" style="width:85%;"> ====Related DailyHistory.org Articles===={{#dpl:category=Russian History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=16}}</div>

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