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{{Mediawiki:banner}}Undoubtedly in the ranks of the turbulent 20th century’s decades a few names emerge as some of the most significant key revolutionaries known in the history of mankind: Lenin, Mandela, Stalin, Hitler, Mao to name a few. Yet some of them share and spread out that specific spirit able to spark a fire on a global scale, conquer minds and inspire millions of people effectively having them bent to their absolute will. But what does it take to be a true revolutionary and change the fate of those millions, to define the very course of the history itself and/or even shape entire countries? How does one bring down emblematic well-established ‘status quos’ and regimes to build one’s own upon former remains and ashes? What is it like to be a true visionary, to lead, inspire and motivate millions of people to follow you? __NOTOC__[[File: 683px-Lenin.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Vladimir Lenin]]Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (later known as Lenin as he solely nicknamed himself) was one of the leading political figures in the course of the 20th century. He was the revolutionary thinker behind the USSR idea (a.k.a. The Great Soviet Union), fought to materialize it and masterminded the Bolshevik bloody takeover of power in Russia after World War One. And although Lenin died in his mid-50s, his ideas influenced and marked the following generations’ fate, development and lives for quite many decades that came after.

==How did Lenin become a Marxist?==Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov was born on 22 April 1870 in Simbirsk on the Volga River into a well-educated family. Once he He excelled at school, he and chose to pursue a law studies and a career. However, later in while he was at university, angered and influenced by the cruel public execution of his brother (being a member of a revolutionary group himself) at the hands of the ruling Tsarist regime, Lenin became far more radical in his thinking.<ref>Lenin’s older brother - Aleksandr Ulyanov, was involved with “Narodovoltsy” – a revolutionary terrorist society and in . In 1891 , he was arrested and executed for taking part in an assassination plot against Tsar Alexander III.</ref> That eventHis brother's execution radicalized Vladimir. He turned his anger towards =the ruling Tsarist regime. His brother's execution, together along with his father’s death, marked a turning point in young Lenin’s his life and broadly determined shaped his path of in the future revolutionary we know today. [[File:Lenin-circa-1887.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Vladimir Lenin in 1887]] Shortly Soon after these critical eventshis brother's execution, Lenin was expelled from the university for his active participation to participate in student protests against the Tsarist regime and . He was forced to continue his law studies as an external student at St. Petersburg University. Around that this time , he also became passionately interested in Karl Marx’s works. Unsurprisingly, even before concluding his education, young Lenin He joined the Marxists Marxist groups at the age of when he was 21 as to become and, in essence, became a professional revolutionary. Lenin quickly got became involved with various Marxist societies and radical groups and even published several his writings of his own. Almost all of them were immediately banned on politics and restricted by the ruling regime, declared illegal and only passed from hand to handMarxism. And because he caught the eye of the Russian radicals, Lenin was declared “enemy of the state” by the Russian police. He was mercilessly chased by the Tsarists for his radical views and ideas and soon he was arrested and exiled to Siberia. During his Siberian exile Vladimir adopted the famous “Lenin” pseudonym himself – the nick-name he’s become best known for<ref>Throughout his life Lenin often used many different pseudonyms for work or for security reasons</ref>

==Almost all of his writing was immediately banned and restricted by the Tsarist regime. The only way to get a hold of his writings was to pass them by hand from person to person. His writings quickly caught the eye of other Russian radicals, and he was declared an “enemy of the state” by the Russian police. Tsarists police arrested him in St. Petersburg and imprisoned him for a year for sedition. After his release, he was again arrested in 1897 for his radical views and ideas and sent to exile in Siberia for three years. Lenin - and their family were sent to Siberia, where he lived in Shushenskoye. During his Siberian exile, Vladimir adopted the Young Revolutionary== famous moniker “Lenin.” While in Siberia, Lenin regularly wrote with his wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya. His exile did little to damper his revolutionary zeal.

==Why did Lenin leave Russia?== Once Lenin was released, he continued to passionately work on his views regarding social imbalance passionately and formed the famous Bolsheviks group of supporters – a major faction . The Bolsheviks would become the preeminent party of Russian Marxists, later shaping shaped the whole future Communist Party.<ref>Initially establishing the so-called Russian Social Democratic Worker's Party and later – Communist Party.</ref> The synthesis of Lenin’s views combined together with those of Karl Marx created what we now know as “Marxism-Leninism” or the basis of whole Communist doctrine throughout the 20th century. His teachings attracted more and more passionate followers and were not popular with the Russian authorities at all – he was, after all, against the ruling Tsarist regime and class divisions in society. Vladimir aimed at total state ownership of goods, abolishing Tsarists privileges, equal rights for all and lack of workless personnel - even if that meant going to extremes like poets serving in army or getting involved with peasant work. As the tension grew, Lenin decided to leave the country for security reasons and move to Western Europe. He spent there most of the subsequent decade and a half and continued to play a key role also in the international revolutionary movement.

Away from Russia he created his own propaganda means and won even more followers on his side. <ref>E.g. published his legendary newspaper “Iskra” [[File:Vladimir_Lenin_plays_chess_with_Alexander_Bogdanov_during_a_visit_to_Maxim_Gorky_(April_,10_(“Spark”23) in Munich with the motto “From Spark to Flame!”</ref> Aided by foreign funds_-_April, Lenin actively challenged the established doctrine, policy and institution of the ruling Tsarist regimes_17_(30)_1908). jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Vladimir quickly learnt, that the real force was within the proletariat – workers, soldiers and peasants – masses who would become his revolution’s weapons and dictatorship’s instruments later.Lenin plays chess with Alexander Bogdanov in 1908]]

==World War I Fatigue== In 1917His teachings attracted more and more passionate followers. Unsurprisingly, exhausted by World War One, Russia was up for a change. It was the perfect chaos moment for Lenin to return home. He was additionally funded by the Germans who hoped that he would undermine his writing unpopular with the Russian war effortsauthorities. Instead Vladimir argued in favor of arrested and exiled againtotal state ownership of all property, abolishing Tsarists privileges, equal rights for all, Lenin was warmly welcomed home and supported by other radical thinkers (eeliminating unemployment.g. Leon Trotsky) he led As the Bolsheviks in the bloody violent Red October Revolution. tension grew, Lenin, much decided to his own surprise, effectively ended leave the Russian Empire rather easily country for security reasons and established move to Western Europe. He spent there most of the Soviet state that would soon become a global superpowersubsequent 15 in self-imposed exile. Masses loved himAfter his move to Eastern Europe, he had won their full support and devotion with his speeches and “illegal” writings calling for became a change. In the following almost three years prominent member of civil war, the Bolsheviks assumed total control of the country. Vladimir acted as the first head of this new socialistic regime and was the architect of the USSR itself. Lenin also commanded and led the famous Red Army - established immediately after the 1917 October Revolution. <ref>A.k.ainternational revolutionary movement. Red October or Bolshevik Revolution </ref>

Lenin proved decisive and ruthless Away from the very beginning: Russia, he neglected his fellow countrymen sufferings and mercilessly crushed any opposition or riots. The Red Army or as it was also commonly referred continued to - The Great Workers’ publish and Peasants’ Red Army - was raised by Lenin’s Bolsheviks to oppose the various military collectively known as the White army during the Russian Civil Warwon more followers on his side. After 1922 He published his newspaper “Iskra” (“Spark”) in Munich with the Red Army became the army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics established motto “From Spark to Flame!” Aided by foreign funds, Lenin actively challenged the new regime. In February 1946 it effectively transformedruling Tsarist regimes' doctrine, policy, embodied and led the Soviet Armed Forces or Soviet Army. Historically, the Red Army is also credited as being the decisive land force in the Allied victory in World War II during the operations on the Eastern Frontinstitution.

==Lenin’s Cult of PersonalityWhy did World War I weaken the Romanov Regieme?== In 1917, exhausted by World War One, Tsarist Russia was a wreck. It was the perfect chaotic moment for Lenin to return home. Germany, in an attempt to destabilize Russia, sent Lenin back to Russia. They hoped Lenin would undermine the Russian war efforts. Instead of being arrested and exiled again, Lenin was welcomed home and supported by other radical thinkers such as Leon Trotsky. He quickly became the Marxist movement leader and led the Bolsheviks in the bloody, violent Red October Revolution. Lenin, much to his surprise, effectively ended the Russian Empire rather easily and established the Soviet state. [[Why did the Russian Romanov Dynasty collapse in 1917?|The Romanov Dynasty]] had become brittle and incredibly unpopular and Russians were willing to embrace Lenin's revolution. [[File:Russian_prisoners_tannenberg.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Russian prisoners after the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914]]In the following three years of civil war, the Bolsheviks successfully assumed total control of Russia. Lenin acted as the first head of this new socialistic regime and was the USSR architect. Lenin also commanded and led the famous Red Army - established immediately after the 1917 October Revolution. <ref>A.k.a. Red October or Bolshevik Revolution </ref>

Lenin had an amazing power over proved decisive and ruthless from the crowds – very beginning. He neglected his fellow countrymen's sufferings because he was a great orator with truly inspirational power. From early age Vladimir was capable of effectively transmitting and simplifying focused on crushing any complicated matter to the masses until people lost their will and eventually got their minds enslavedinternal opposition or riots. But make no mistake: some may celebrate Lenin The Red Army or as a defendant of workers’ rights, but he it was much more decisive and prepared also commonly referred to cause horrific mass suffering - The Great Workers’ and sacrifice countless human lives in the pursuit of Communist goals. Millions of freePeasants’ Red Army -will poets, philosophers or priests lost their life or were forced to emigrate.<ref>Church was almost completely banned.</ref> raised by Lenin’s absolute authoritarian regime soon gained lots of opponents and he narrowly survived a few assassination attemptsBolsheviks to oppose the various military collectively known as the White army during the Russian Civil War. In one of these attemptsAfter 1922, Vladimir the Red Army was severely wounded and his long term health was affected. However, Lenin was a true workaholic, which in effect further ruined his health. In May 1922 he suffered a stroke from which he never fully recovered. He lost his power transformed into the Army of speech and his right arm and leg were paralyzed. In December came another stroke. The third followed in March 1923 and turned him into a living corpse. Lenin died on 24 January 1924. His corpse was embalmed and emblematically placed in a mausoleum in his memoriam on Moscow's Red Square. St Petersburg was named Leningrad (The City the Union of Lenin)Soviet Socialist Republics by the new regime.

==ConclusionDid Lenin create a Cult of Personality?== Lenin was a powerful and gifted orator. From an early age, Vladimir was capable of effectively communicating complicated concepts and ideas to his audience. Lenin could effectively communicate with Russians who had limited education. Unfortunately, Lenin was more interested in building a country around his persona instead of improving Russian citizens' lives. Lenin was fairly ruthless with any opposition to his rule. Millions of free-will poets, philosophers, or priests lost their lives or were forced to emigrate. The orthodox church was almost entirely banned.

If we measure greatness by the power of will Lenin’s authoritarian regime generated opposition, and the scale of damage, then Lenin was truly by all means one of the most remarkable politicianshe narrowly survived a few assassination attempts. He destroyed In one powerful empires to create another based on extreme violence. In many ways he defined the development of world history throughout the 20th century. Certainlythese attempts, Lenin was the founder of the idea severely wounded, and the guiding spirit of the Soviet Republics for many decades that followed his long- a communist philosopher, disciple of Karl Marx, a leader of the Bolshevik (Communist) Party term health was affected. Lenin's injury and the mastermind of the 1917 Red October Revolutionworkaholic nature eroded his health. Some may consider him a defenderIn May 1922, others - he suffered a tyrant; some call him a saint, many more – a devilstroke from which he never fully recovered. But all in all Lenin played an enormous role in the history He lost his power of the 20th century. He applied communist ideas to real life speech, and his “experiment” forever changed the face of the worldright arm and leg were paralyzed. Not only did In December, he reshape all Russia but also had millions of people bent to his will, changing the very course of history another stroke. The third followed in his own regardMarch 1923 and turned him into a living corpse. Lenin died on 24 January 1924. His body was the first revolutionary dictator of the century with influence embalmed and emblematically placed in a mausoleum on a global scaleMoscow's Red Square. He St Petersburg was not the last and paved the way for Stalin, Hitler, Mao and many others that followed as renamed Leningrad in his Marxism-Leninism ideas and works were refreshed and broadly adopted afterwards during the Cold War. Nonetheless, it took over 70 years and millions of lives to put an end to Lenin’s era and forced utopiahonor.

==BibliographyHow did Lenin become the leader of the Soviet Union? ==Lenin transformed himself from an imprisoned radical to an absolute ruler in three decades. Lenin's shadow hung over the Soviet Union and Europe for another 70 years. While Lenin was a remarkable orator and writer, his takeover of Russia was a fluke. In 1917, the Russian Empire was a disaster. It was led by the Romanov's who were unpopular, foolish, and incompetent. World War I had also fatally weakened the Russian Empire. Lenin's revolution would have been quickly snuffed out if it had occurred at any other time in Russian history. Lenin's timing could not have been better. Lenin's luck allowed him to become the first revolutionary dictator of the century with global influence. <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">

#http://www.biography.com/people/vladimir-lenin-9379007#young-revolutionary#http://www.britannica====Related DailyHistory.com/biography/Vladimir-Ilich-Leninorg Articles===={{#httpdpl://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Vladimir_Ilyich_Lenin.aspxcategory=Russian History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=16}}#http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ki-Lo</Lenin-Vladimir.htmldiv>

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