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{{Contributors}} [[File: Stalin in exile 1915.jpg |thumbnail|left|275px200px|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 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_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> ====October Revolution and the Russian Civil War====[[File:Russian_Revolution_of_1917.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Bolshevik troops in Red Square]]By 1917, Stalin was in St. Petersburg, which was soon to be renamed Petrograd. This city was the capital of the revolutionary government that had seized power from [[Why did the Russian Romanov Dynasty collapse in 1917?|the Tsar]] and his government in February 1917. The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky was becoming unpopular despite ending the rule of the Romanov’s. They had failed to end the war and to redistributed 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: The Court of the Red Tsar]''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003), p. 117</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> However, Stalin made his reputation during the Russian Civil War. He was appointed as a Political Commissar to several Generals and ensured that they were loyal to the Bolsheviks. Eventually, he was given a military command and brutally suppressed White Counter-Revolutionaries and bandits. He was also instrumental in conquering his native Georgia, which had declared itself to be independent. Stalin was later appointed to the army in Ukraine, and he helped to push back a Polish invasion. However, he was criticized for not routing the Poles and exporting the revolution to that country and elsewhere in Europe.<ref>Montefiore, p. 118</ref>
==Stalin’s Early Life==Stalin as General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party====Joseph Stalin, Historians have often argued that the Russian Civil War was won for the Bolsheviks by the future leader 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 Union, often referred to as 's victory over the White's in the ‘Red Tsar, Civil War and was born on 18 December 1878 to a Georgian cobbler significant figure in Gori, Georgia the Communist PARTY and his wife rivaled Lenin in a small impoverished villageprestige. His real name Lenin was Josef Besarionis de Jughashvili. <ref> Boobyearworried about the influence of Trotsky, pand he employed Stalin to build up a base of support for him. 111</ref> He was ethnically GeorgianStalin did this but also at the same time, but Georgia was part built up a body of supporters that were loyal to him in the Tsarist Russian EmpireParty. After leaving schoolIn 1921, he Stalin was sent appointed to the position of General Secretary. This position gave him great power in the Party. Stalin created a seminarynetwork of supporters in the Party. Instead Lenin became suspicious of studying theology Stalin and was beginning to mistrust his former protégée. In particular, Lenin disliked the bible brutal methods of Stalin in his native Georgia, where he embraced Marxism brutally repressed those who opposed Bolshevism. Despite Lenin’s doubts, Stalin began to grow popular with the rank and became a follower of Vladimir file Party members. Unlike Leninand Trotsky, leader of he was not an intellectual and had the revolutionary Bolshevik Partycommon touch, and he was well-liked by many.<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. 112114</ref>
====Lenin and Stalin soon joined the Bolshevik movement ====[[File:Lenin_and_stalin_crop.jpg|left|thumbnail|250px|Lenin and was very active Stalin in violent attacks on Gorki, 1922]]After the Tsarist government. He was noted as a bank robberRevolution, these were undertaken Lenin held power in order to subvert the system and gain funds for the revolutionnew country. After being placed under surveillance by Russian secret policeHowever, the Ohrakanin 1922, for his activitiesafter surgery, he went underground <ref>Conquest, p. 78</ref>. He became one of the Bolsheviks' leaders in the Caucasus, organizing paramilitarieshad a stroke, and helped to organize a terrorist campaign in the region. He he was involved in never the notorious Tiflis bank robbery, during which 40 people were killedsame. This led to him being rated very highly by the Bolshevik leadership.<ref>ConquestThe stroke weakened Lenin, p. 87 </ref> Stalin was captured and exiled many feared that he would not have long to Siberia numerous times, but usually escapedlive. He eventually became one of Vladimir Lenin's closest associates, or so he was later to vigorously claim which helped him rise largely confined to a country retreat and cut off from politics. The ruling council of the heights of power after Bolshevik Party, the Russian Revolution. In 1910 he changed his name to StalinPolitburo, meaning in Russian ‘Man of Steel’ supposedly adopted in an effort ordered Lenin to protect avoid and concentrate on his real identity from the police and perhaps also to create a public image as a true revolutionary. <ref>Boobyear, precovery. 134</ref>
==Lenin and Stalin==Stalin’s Rise to Power====[[File: 650px-JStalin Secretary general CCCP 1942 flipped.jpg |thumbnail| Stalin as General Secretary]]Ultimate power lay with Lenin. Howeverwas officially the leader of the Communist party, but to many in 1922, after surgerythe Party, he had was only a strokefigurehead. He was never the same again Many dismissed him as a nonentity and a political figure of no real substance. Many prominent Bolsheviks had always underestimated Stalin because he was physically weakened and many feared that he would not have long to livewell educated. Lenin was largely confined to a country retreatTrotsky, Kamenev, cut off from politics. The ruling council of and Zinoviev all saw themselves as the Bolshevik Party, logical choice as the Politburosuccessor of Lenin. However, ordered they were not as popular as they believed and that Lenin did not involve himself in politics or in public affairs but concentrate on his recovery. Stalin as General Secretary of was very popular with the Communist ordinary Party member. Stalin was one shrewd enough not to appear to be seeking the leadership of the few people who had access to himParty. Furthermore, Stalin used his position to cut Lenin off from the party publically denounced Kamenev and effectively Zinoviev, when they tried to isolate involve himin a conspiracy against Trotsky in 1925. He had become aware of Lenin’s dislike of Only Stalin and that he believed that he was too cruel and authoritarian. One day, Stalin berated Lenin's wife Trotsky as the sole contenders for breaching Politburo orders by helping Lenin communicate with others on public matters, this angered Leninthe leadership role.<ref>ReadFelshtinsky, ChristopherYuri. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/04152064991929631952/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=04152064991929631952&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d05be7a646c17cc922f1ffe49958037b 8e5c4b8740fbfc8f691fb6ae90aae02b Leninand His Comrades: A Revolutionary LifeThe Bolsheviks Take Over Russia 1917–1924]</i> (London: Routledge. Enigma Books, 20052000), p. 112201</ref>
==Socialism in One Country==Consolidating His Rule====<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'>====Related Articles====The rivalry between Trotsky and Stalin was not only a personal rivalry. Both men had different views on * [[What were the nature goals of Communism the Axis powers and more importantly different ideas on the future Soviet Union during World War Two?]]* [[What is the History of US Presidential Scandals?]]* [[How did Winston Churchill become Prime Minister of the worldwide Communist revolution. Influenced by MarxUnited 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 Bolsheviks, believed that there was going to be a world-wide Communist RevolutionSoviet Union. Stalin began advocating "Socialism in One Country," which says that His had filled the Bolsheviks should focus building communism in administration of the countries they already controlled rather than spreading the revolution. This drew Party with people who were loyal to him many like-minded Party members. Increasingly, especially Stalin appointed his loyalists to the rank and file and this put him in ideological opposition to TrotskyPolitburo.<ref> Felshtinsky, p. 202</ref> The Part accepted Stalin’s position and this meant Many of Lenin’s former lieutenants realized that Trotsky Stalin was increasingly marginalizedmaking himself a de-facto dictator. He then decided to organize public protests, along with others, against Stalin’s growing control Bukharin was something of a darling in the Party. HoweverHe was handsome, Stalin, employed charismatic and a law passed by favorite of Lenin, ordering unity in the Party. Stalin asserted that Trotsky, was trying to split He led the party and this ploy managed opposition to sideline Trotsky even further. Another factor, Stalin in the growing isolation of Leon Trotsky, despite his achievements during the Russian Civil War, was that fact that he was JewishPolitburo.<ref> Felshtinsky, p. 203204</ref> There was a great deal He opposed Stalin’s policy of the rapid industrialization 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 Soviet Union and later expelled from called for the Bolshevik Party. Trotsky was forced into exile and eventually later settled in Mexicogradual introduction of industrialization.
====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====
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