Changes

On April 3, 1922, Joseph Stalin 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 world history. He was the absolute ruler of the Soviet Union and later of the Communist bloc in Eastern Europe. He rose to this unprecedented level of power as a result of due to his capabilities and his understanding of the workings of the Communist 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 could 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, soon joined the future leader of Bolshevik movement and was very active in violent attacks on the Soviet UnionTsarist government. He was a notorious bank robber, often referred and he committed these robberies to as subvert the Tsarist government and fund the ‘Red Tsarrevolution. After being placed under surveillance by Russian secret police,' was born on 18 December 1878 to a Georgian cobbler in Gorithe Ohrakan, Georgia and for his wife in a smallactivities, impoverished village. His real name was Josef Besarionis de Jughashvilihe went underground. <ref> BoobyearConquest, p. 11178</ref> He was ethnically Georgian, but Georgia was part became one of the Tsarist Russian Empire. After leaving schoolBolsheviks' leaders in the Caucasus, Stalin went to organizing paramilitaries and taking part in a seminaryterrorist campaign in the region. Instead of studying theology and He was involved in the Biblenotorious Tiflis bank robbery, he embraced Marxism and became a follower of Vladimir Lenin, leader of where 40 people were killed. This robbery raised his standing among the revolutionary Bolshevik Partyleadership.<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. 11287 </ref>

Stalin soon joined the Bolshevik movement and was very active in violent attacks on the Tsarist government. He was a notorious bank robber, captured and he committed these robberies exiled to subvert the Tsarist government and fund the revolution. After being placed under surveillance by Russian secret police, the OhrakanSiberia numerous times, for his activitiesbut usually, he went underground.<ref>Conquest, pescaped. 78</ref> He eventually became one of the BolsheviksVladimir Lenin' leaders in the Caucasuss closest associates, organizing paramilitariesor so he was later to claim vigorously, and taking part in a terrorist campaign in which helped him rise to the heights of power after the regionRussian Revolution. He was involved In 1910 he changed his name to Stalin, meaning in the notorious Tiflis bank robbery where 40 people were killed. This robbery raised Russian ‘Man of Steel’ supposedly adopted to protect his standing among real identity from the Bolshevik leadershippolice and perhaps also to create a public image as a true revolutionary.<ref>ConquestBoobyear, p. 87 134</ref>

== What was Stalin was captured 's role during the October Revolution and exiled to Siberia numerous timesRussian Civil War? ==[[File:Russian_Revolution_of_1917.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Bolshevik troops in Red Square]]By 1917, but usuallyStalin was in St. Petersburg, he escapedwhich was soon to be renamed Petrograd. He eventually became one of Vladimir LeninThis city was the revolutionary government's closest associates, or so he 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 later becoming unpopular despite ending the rule of the Romanov’s. They had failed to end the war and to vigorously claim which helped him rise redistributed land to the heights 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 power after the Russian RevolutionRed Tsar]''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003), p. In 1910 he changed his name 117</ref> The Bolsheviks skillfully adopted a policy of promising peace and land to Stalinthe war-weary and starving population. Their message made them very popular, meaning and in October 1917, they stormed the Winter Place and declared that the Russian ‘Man of Steel’ supposedly adopted to protect his real identity from Empire was now the Soviet Union.<ref>Montefiore, p. 111</ref>Stalin's role in the police Bolshevik Revolution is unknown. Stalin was presented in posters and perhaps also other images in later propaganda as being by Lenin’s side during the Revolution. Still, Stalin appears to create have played only a public image as a true revolutionaryminor role in the Revolution. <ref>BoobyearMontefiore, p. 134113</ref>

====October Revolution and However, Stalin made his reputation during the Russian Civil War====[[File:Russian_Revolution_of_1917.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Bolshevik troops in Red Square]]By 1917, Stalin He was in St. Petersburg, which was soon appointed as a Political Commissar to be renamed Petrograd. This city was the capital of the revolutionary government several Generals and ensured 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 they were loyal to end the war and to redistributed land to the Russian peasantsBolsheviks. <ref> MontefioreEventually, 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 he was given a policy of promising peace military command and land to the warbrutally suppressed White Counter-weary Revolutionaries and starving populationbandits. Their message made them very popular, and He was also instrumental in October 1917conquering his native Georgia, they stormed the Winter Place and which had declared that the Russian Empire itself to be independent. Stalin was now later appointed to the Soviet Union.<ref>MontefioreUkraine army, pand he helped to push back a Polish invasion. 111</ref>Stalin's role in the Bolshevik Revolution is unknown. In later propaganda However, Stalin he was presented in posters criticized for not routing the Poles and other images as being by Lenin’s side during exporting the Revolution, but Stalin appears revolution to have played only a minor role that country and elsewhere in the RevolutionEurope. <ref>Montefiore, p. 113118</ref>

However, == How did Stalin made his reputation during become General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party after the Russian Revolution? ==Historians have often argued that the Russian Civil War. He was appointed as a Political Commissar to several Generals and ensured that they were loyal to won for the Bolsheviksby the revolutionary Leo Trotsky. This interpretation is now believed to be an exaggeration of Trotsky's role. EventuallyHowever, he was given Trotsky did play a military command and brutally suppressed significant role in the Soviet's victory over the White Counter-Revolutionaries 's in the Civil War and bandits. He was also instrumental a significant figure in the Communist PARTY and rivaled Lenin in conquering his native Georgia, which had declared itself to be independentprestige. Stalin Lenin was later appointed to the army in Ukraineworried about Trotsky's influence, and he helped employed Stalin to push back build up a Polish invasionbase of support for him. HoweverStalin did this but also, he was criticized for not routing at the Poles and exporting the revolution same time, built up a body of supporters that were loyal to that country and elsewhere him in Europe.<ref>Montefiore, pthe Party. 118</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 Stalin's 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>

====How did Stalin become Lenin and Stalin=='s potential heir? ==

Stalin, the General Secretary of the Communist Party, was one of the few people who still had access to him. Stalin used his position to cut Lenin off from the party and effectively to isolate him. He knew that Lenin’s disliked him because Lenin perceived him as cruel and authoritarian. Stalin even berated Lenin's wife for breaching Politburo orders by helping Lenin communicate with others on public matters. Stalin's attack on his wife 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>

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 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/>

== How did Stalin eliminate his competitors for control of the Soviet Union?==After Lenin's death, Stalin was given the honor of organizing the official funeral. He arranged the funeral and ignored Lenin’s final wishes. Stalin also gave a speech 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 fully under his control. He had to share power with a collection of other Soviet leaders, including Trotsky, Zinoviev, and Kamenev.<ref>Read, p. 236<dh-ad/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 officially the honor leader of organizing the official funeral. He arranged the funeral and ignored Lenin’s final wishes. Stalin also gave an oration at the funeralCommunist party, despite the opposition of Lenin’s window. Stalin under the rules of but to many in the Party , he was now the de-facto successor only a figurehead. Many dismissed him as a nonentity and a political figure of Leninno real substance. However, the party Many prominent Bolsheviks had always underestimated Stalin because he was not under his control, he had to share power with a collection of other Soviet leaders, including well educated. Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev.<ref>Read, pand Zinoviev all saw themselves as the logical choice as the successor of Lenin. 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 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>

====Socialism in One Country==When did Stalin come to Power as the Ruler of the Soviet Union? ==

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 had to eliminate Trotsky from the competition. The rivalry between Trotsky and Stalin was not only a personal because both men had radically different views on the Communism's 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 positionStalin began advocating "Socialism in One Country, and this meant " which says 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 Bolsheviks should focus on building communism in the countries they already controlled rather than spreading the revolution. This view drew many like-minded Party. members to Stalin asserted that Trotsky, was trying to split especially the party rank and this ploy managed to sideline Trotsky even furtherfile. Another factor, Stalin placed himself in the growing isolation of Leon ideological opposition to Trotsky, despite his achievements during the Russian Civil War, was his Jewish heritage.<ref> Felshtinsky, p. 203202</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.

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, 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. ====Consolidating How did Stalin Consolidate His Rule==Power in the Soviet Union? ==

By 1927, Stalin was the unquestioned ruler of the Soviet Union. His 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. He was A Soviet Agent later killed by a Soviet Agent 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 circumstancecircumstances, 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 Lenin's opposition of Lenin and many of the Party's 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 Membersmembers, and this was crucial to his success. Stalin effectively built a powerful and influential following , which allowed him gradually to take total control of the Soviet Uniongradually.

{{Contributors}}Updated January 28December 11, 20192020