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[[File: Stalin in exile 1915.jpg |thumbnail|left|200px|Stalin in Siberia]]
== 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 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 undergroundimpoverished 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 Tsarist Russian Empire. After leaving school, Stalin went to a seminary. Instead of studying theology and the Caucasus, organizing paramilitariesBible, he embraced Marxism and became a terrorist campaign in the region. He was involved in the notorious Tiflis bank robberyfollower of Vladimir Lenin, during which 40 people were killed. This raised his standing among 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>
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 claim vigorously, 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> ===What was Stalin's role during the 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 's capital 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>The exact Stalin's role of Stalin in the Bolshevik Revolution is not known in any great detailunknown. In later propaganda, Stalin was presented in posters and other images in later propaganda as being by Lenin’s side during the Revolution. In factStill, it seemed that Stalin appears to have played only played 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 Ukraine army, 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> == How did Stalin become General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party after the Russian Revolution? ==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 Trotsky's influence, 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.
===How did Stalin as General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party=become Lenin's potential heir? ==Historians have often argued that [[File:Lenin_and_stalin_crop.jpg|left|thumbnail|250px|Lenin and Stalin in Gorki, 1922]]After the Russian Civil War was won for the Bolsheviks by Revolution, Lenin held power in the revolutionary Leo Trotsky. This interpretation is now believed to be an exaggeration of Trotsky's rolenew country. However, Trotskyin 1922, after surgery, did play he had a significant role in the Soviet's victory over the White's in the Civil War stroke, and he was a very important figure in never the Communist PARTY and rivaled Lenin in prestigesame. The stroke weakened Lenin was worried about the influence of Trotsky , and many feared that he employed Stalin would not have long to build up a base of support for himlive. 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 Lenin was appointed largely confined to the position of General Secretary. This gave him great power in the Partya country retreat and cut off from politics. Stalin created a network The ruling council of supporters in the Bolshevik 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 GeorgiaPolitburo, where he brutally repressed those who opposed Bolshevism. Despite Lenin’s doubts, Stalin began ordered Lenin to grow popular with the rank avoid 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, pconcentrate on his recovery. 114</ref>
As the relationship between Lenin and Stalin deteriorated, Lenin dictated his Testament. This Testament was, in effect, his analysis of the current Bolshevik PartParty, the future of the Revolution , and an indictment of Stalin's character. In the Testament, Stalin was castigated and denounced as self-serving and focused only on amassing personal power. 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 the Testament had come to light , Stalin’s career would have been finished.<ref>Read, p 234</ref> Allies of Stalin colluded to repress all mention of the document. Lenin died of a suspected stroke on January 21st, 1924. <dh-ad/>
Another factor, in the growing isolation of Leon Trotsky, despite his achievements during the Russian Civil War, was his Jewish heritage.<div class="portal" style="width:85%;"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 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 the Soviet Union? ==<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'>====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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Updated December 11, 2020