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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 usurp all 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 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. ''[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>
==October revolution and Russian Civil War==Stalin’s Early Life====By 1917, Joseph Stalin was in St Petersburg, which was soon to be renamed Petrograd. This was the capital future leader of the revolutionary government that had seized power from Soviet Union, often referred to as the ‘Red Tsar ,' was born on 18 December 1878 to a Georgian cobbler in Gori, Georgia and his government wife in February 1917a small, impoverished village. His real name was Josef Besarionis de Jughashvili. The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky <ref> Boobyear, p. 111</ref> He was ethnically Georgian, but Georgia was becoming unpopular despite ending the rule part of the Romanov’sTsarist Russian Empire. They had failed After leaving school, Stalin went to end a seminary. Instead of studying theology and the war Bible, he embraced Marxism and to redistributed land to became a follower of Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Russian peasantsrevolutionary Bolshevik Party. <ref> MontefioreConquest, Simon SebagRobert. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/14000767810140169539/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=14000767810140169539&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8d302940930c5b356ba181d00bc19d29 78415985f069f734b98307b00183a2dd Stalin: The Court Breaker of the Red TsarNations]''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson(Viking-Penguin, Hammondsworth, 20031999), p. 117</ref> Lenin had returned from exile in Switzerland to Russia, with the aid of the German secret service. He along with the other Bolsheviks began planning to overthrow the Provisional Government and install in its place the world’s first communist country. The Bolsheviks skilfully adopted a policy of promising peace and land to the war weary and starving population. Their message made them very popular and in October 1917, they stormed the Winter Place and declared that the Russian Empire was now the Soviet Union.<ref>Montefiore, p. 111</ref> The exact role of Stalin in 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 Revolution.<ref>Montefiore, p. 113112</ref>
==Lenin ==October Revolution and Stalinthe Russian Civil War====[[File: 650px-JStalin Secretary general CCCP 1942 flippedRussian_Revolution_of_1917.jpg |thumbnail| Stalin as General Secretaryleft|300px|Bolshevik troops in Red Square]]Ultimate power lay with Lenin. HoweverBy 1917, Stalin was in 1922St. Petersburg, after surgery, he had a stroke. He was never the same again and he which was physically weakened and many feared that he would not have long soon to livebe renamed Petrograd. Lenin This city was largely confined to a country retreat, cut off from politics. The ruling council the capital of the Bolshevik Party, the Politburo, ordered revolutionary government that Lenin had seized power from [[Why did not involve himself the Russian Romanov Dynasty collapse in politics or 1917?|the Tsar]] and his government in public affairs but concentrate on his recoveryFebruary 1917. Stalin as General Secretary of The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky was becoming unpopular despite ending the Communist Party was one rule of the few people who Romanov’s. They had access to him. Stalin used his position failed to cut Lenin off from end the party war 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 Leninredistributed land to the Russian peasants.<ref>ReadMontefiore, ChristopherSimon Sebag. <i>''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/04152064991400076781/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=04152064991400076781&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d05be7a646c17cc922f1ffe49958037b Lenin8d302940930c5b356ba181d00bc19d29 Stalin: A Revolutionary LifeThe Court of the Red Tsar]</i> (''. London: RoutledgeWeidenfeld & Nicolson, 20052003), p. 112117</ref> The Bolsheviks skillfully adopted a policy of promising peace and land to the war-weary and starving population. Their message made them very popular, and in October 1917, they stormed the Winter Place and declared that the Russian Empire was now the Soviet Union.<ref>Montefiore, p. 111</ref>Stalin's role in the Bolshevik Revolution is unknown. In later propaganda, Stalin was presented in posters and other images as being by Lenin’s side during the Revolution, but Stalin appears to have played only a minor role in the Revolution. <ref>Montefiore, p. 113</ref>
====Stalin as General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party====
Historians have often argued that the Russian Civil War was won for the 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 Soviet's victory over the White's in the Civil War and was a significant figure in the Communist PARTY and rivaled Lenin in prestige. Lenin was worried about the influence of Trotsky, and he employed Stalin to build up a base of support for him. Stalin did this but also at the same time, built up a body of supporters that were loyal to him in the Party. In 1921, Stalin was appointed to the position of General Secretary. This position gave him great power in the Party. Stalin created a network of supporters in the Party. Lenin became suspicious of Stalin and was beginning to mistrust his former protégée. In particular, Lenin disliked the brutal methods of Stalin in his native Georgia, where he brutally repressed those who opposed Bolshevism. Despite Lenin’s doubts, Stalin began to grow popular with the rank and file Party members. Unlike Lenin and Trotsky, he was not an intellectual and had the common touch, and he was well-liked by many.<ref> Conquest, p. 114</ref>
==Stalin’s rise to Power==Lenin and Stalin====[[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>
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 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====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. Only 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> ====Socialism in One Country====[[File:Stalin-Bukharin.jpg|left|thumbnail|250px|Stalin and Bukharin in 1928]]The rivalry between Trotsky and Stalin was not only a personal because both men had radically different views on the nature of Communism. 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 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, 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==References==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. 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 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 gradually take total control of the Soviet Union. {{Template:Survey1}} ====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]<references/i>(London: Routledge, 2005)
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Updated January 28, 2019