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[[File: Stalin in exile 1915.jpg |thumbnail|left|275px200px|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 [[How did Vladimir Lenin Rise 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_tlchallengers?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415182980&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=10976fbde66cefcc9a2808e5d094f993 The Stalin Era]'' (Routledge, London, 2000), p. 78</ref>
== What was Stalin’s Early Life like? ==Joseph Stalin soon joined , the Bolshevik movement and future leader of the Soviet Union, often referred to as the ‘Red Tsar,' was very active in violent attacks born on the Tsarist government. He was noted as 18 December 1878 to a bank robber, these were undertaken Georgian cobbler in order to subvert the system and gain funds for the revolution. After being placed under surveillance by Russian secret policeGori, the OhrakanGeorgia, for and his activitieswife in a small, he went underground impoverished village. His real name was Josef Besarionis de Jughashvili. <ref>ConquestBoobyear, p. 78111</ref>. He became one was ethnically Georgian, but Georgia was part of the Bolsheviks' leaders in the CaucasusTsarist Russian Empire. After leaving school, organizing paramilitaries, and helped Stalin went to organize a terrorist campaign in the regionseminary. He was involved in Instead of studying theology and the notorious Tiflis bank robberyBible, he embraced Marxism and became a follower of Vladimir Lenin, during which 40 people were killed. This led to him being rated very highly by the revolutionary Bolshevik leadershipParty leader.<ref>Conquest, pRobert. ''[https://www.amazon. 87 <com/gp/product/0140169539/ref> =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0140169539&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=78415985f069f734b98307b00183a2dd Stalin was captured and exiled to Siberia numerous times, but usually escaped. He eventually became one : Breaker of Vladimir LeninNations]''s closest associates. (Viking-Penguin, 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 StalinHammondsworth, 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>Boobyear1999), p. 134112</ref>
==Lenin and How did Stalinbecome General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party after the Russian Revolution? ==[[File: 650px-JStalin Secretary general CCCP 1942 flippedHistorians have often argued that the Russian Civil War was won for the Bolsheviks by the revolutionary Leo Trotsky.jpg |thumbnail| Stalin as General Secretary]]Ultimate power lay with LeninThis interpretation is now believed to be an exaggeration of Trotsky's role. However, Trotsky did play a significant role in the Soviet's victory over the White's in 1922, after surgery, he had a stroke. He was never the same again Civil War and he was physically weakened a significant figure in the Communist PARTY and many feared that he would not have long to liverivaled Lenin in prestige. Lenin was largely confined worried about Trotsky's influence, and he employed Stalin to build up a country retreat, cut off from politicsbase of support for him. The ruling council of the Bolshevik PartyStalin did this but also, at the Politburosame time, ordered built up a body of supporters that Lenin did not involve himself were loyal to him 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=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d05be7a646c17cc922f1ffe49958037b Lenin: A Revolutionary Life]</i> (London: Routledge, 2005), p. 112</ref>
==Stalin’s rise to PowerHow did Stalin become Lenin's potential heir? ==[[File:Lenin_and_stalin_crop.jpg|left|thumbnail|250px|Lenin and Stalin was officially in Gorki, 1922]]After the leader of Revolution, Lenin held power in the Communist partynew country. However, but to many in the Party1922, after surgery, he was only had a figurehead. Many dismissed him as a nonentity stroke, and that he was not a political figure of real substancenever the same. Stalin had always been underestimated by The stroke weakened Lenin, and many prominent Bolsheviks because feared that he was would not well educatedhave long to live. 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 was largely confined to a country retreat and that Stalin was very popular with the ordinary Party membercut off from politics. Stalin was shrewd enough not to appear to be seeking the leadership The ruling council of the Bolshevik Party. Furthermore, he publically denounced Kamenev and Zinoviev, when they tried 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> FelshtinskyPolitburo, 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 ordered Lenin to avoid and His Comrades: The Bolsheviks Take Over Russia 1917–1924]</i>. Enigma Books, 2000), pconcentrate on his recovery. 201</ref>
==ConclusionHow did Stalin eliminate his competitors for control of the Soviet Union?==By 1928After Lenin's death, Stalin was given the undisputed ruler honor of organizing the Soviet Unionofficial funeral. He arranged the funeral and ignored Lenin’s final wishes. In 1920Stalin also gave a speech at the funeral, he managed to achieve this 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 many Kamenev.<ref>Read, p. 236</ref> Stalin was officially the leader of the senior leaders Communist party, but to many in the Party, he was only a figurehead. He Many dismissed him as a nonentity and a political figure of no real substance. Many prominent Bolsheviks had always underestimated Stalin because he was widely seen not well educated. Trotsky, Kamenev, and Zinoviev all saw themselves as the logical choice as an uneducated peasantthe successor of Lenin. However, he managed 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 turn this appear to his advantage be seeking the leadership of the Party. Furthermore, Stalin publically denounced Kamenev and Zinoviev when they tried to involve him in his 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 General Secretarythe 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 built up his power base 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 countrycountries they already controlled rather than spreading the revolution. This view drew many like-minded Party members to Stalin was also generally popular among , especially the ordinary rank and file. Stalin placed himself in ideological opposition to Trotsky.<ref> Felshtinsky, p. 202</ref> The Party Members accepted Stalin’s position, and this meant that Trotsky was crucialincreasingly 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. This meant Stalin asserted that he had a powerful and influential following Trotsky was trying to split the party, and this allowed him ploy managed to build up sideline Trotsky even further. Another factor, in the growing isolation of Leon Trotsky, despite his power 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 influence until he 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 total control of the party.Soviet Union? ==<div class="portal" style="'float:right; width:8535%;"'>====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[What were the goals of the Axis powers and the Soviet Union during World War Two?]]*[[How Did What is the German Military Develop BlitzkriegHistory 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}}
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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====
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