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{{Mediawiki__NOTOC__[[File:kindleoasis}}Stalin in exile 1915.jpg |thumbnail|left|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 of the Communist Power that had total control usurp all 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 ''The Stalin Era'' (Routledge, London, 2000), p. 78</ref>challengers?

==Stalin’s Early Life==[[File: Stalin was one of the bloodiest tyrants in exile 1915world history.jpg |thumbnail| Stalin in Siberia]]Joseph Stalin, He was the future leader absolute ruler of the Soviet Union, often referred to as and later of the ‘Red Tsar, was born on 18 December 1878 to a Georgian cobbler in Gori, Georgia and his wife Communist bloc in a small impoverished village. His real name was Josef Besarionis de JughashviliEastern Europe. <ref> Boobyear, p. 111</ref> He was ethnically Georgian, but Georgia was part rose to this unprecedented level of the Tsarist Russian Empire. After leaving school, he was sent to power as a seminary. Instead result of studying theology his capabilities and his understanding of the bible he embraced Marxism and became a follower of Vladimir Lenin, leader workings of the revolutionary Bolshevik Communist Party.<ref> Conquest, Robert, Stalin, ''Breaker translated these strengths into total control of Nations''. Vikingthe Soviet Union after the Russian Civil War (1917-Penguin, Hammondsworth, 19991920), p. 112</ref> Stalin soon joined was not the Bolshevik movement and natural successor of [[How did Vladimir Lenin Rise To Power?|Vladimir Lenin]], but he was very active in violent attacks on able to use his position within the Tsarist government. He was noted as a bank robber, these were undertaken in order Soviet Communist Party to subvert become the system and gain funds for undisputed leader of the revolutionSoviet Union. After being placed under surveillance by Russian secret police, the Ohrakan, for his activities, he went underground <ref>ConquestBoobbyer, pPhillip. 78<''[https://ref>www. He became one of the Bolsheviks' leaders in the Caucasus, organizing paramilitaries, and helped to organize a terrorist campaign in the regionamazon. He was involved in the notorious Tiflis bank robbery, during which 40 people were killed. This led to him being rated very highly by the Bolshevik leadership.<ref>Conquest, p. 87 <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 was captured and exiled to Siberia numerous times, but usually escaped. He eventually became one of Vladimir LeninEra]''s closest associates(Routledge, 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 StalinLondon, 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>Boobyear2000), p. 13478</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. The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky His real name 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 peasantsJosef Besarionis de Jughashvili. <ref> Montefiore, Simon Sebag. ''Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003)Boobyear, p. 117111</ref> Lenin had returned from exile in Switzerland to RussiaHe was ethnically Georgian, with the aid but Georgia was part of the German secret serviceTsarist Russian Empire. He along with the other Bolsheviks began planning After leaving school, Stalin went to overthrow the Provisional Government and install in its place the world’s first communist countrya seminary. The Bolsheviks skilfully adopted a policy Instead of promising peace studying theology and land to the war weary Bible, he embraced Marxism and starving population. Their message made them very popular and in October 1917became a follower of Vladimir Lenin, they stormed leader of the Winter Place and declared that the Russian Empire was now the Soviet Unionrevolutionary Bolshevik Party. <ref> MontefioreConquest, pRobert. ''[https://www.amazon. 111<com/gp/product/0140169539/ref> The exact role =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0140169539&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=78415985f069f734b98307b00183a2dd Stalin: Breaker of Stalin in the Bolshevik Revolution is not known in any great detailNations]''. In later propaganda(Viking-Penguin, Stalin was presented in posters and other images as being by Lenin’s side during the Revolution. In factHammondsworth, it seemed that Stalin only played a minor role in the Revolution.<ref> Montefiore1999), p. 113112</ref>

However, Stalin soon joined the Bolshevik movement and was to make his reputation very active in violent attacks on the Russian Civil WarTsarist government. He was appointed as a Political Commissar notorious bank robber, and he committed these robberies to several Generals subvert the Tsarist government and ensured that they were loyal to fund the Bolsheviksrevolution. Eventually After being placed under surveillance by Russian secret police, the Ohrakan, for his activities, he was given a military command and brutally suppressed White Counter-Revolutionaries and banditswent underground. He was also instrumental in conquering his native Georgia<ref>Conquest, which had declared itself to be independentp. Stalin was later appointed to 78</ref> He became one of the army Bolsheviks' leaders in the Ukraine Caucasus, organizing paramilitaries, and he helped to push back taking part in a Polish invasion, however, he terrorist campaign in the region. He was criticized for not defeating involved in the Poles completely and exporting notorious Tiflis bank robbery where 40 people were killed. This robbery raised his standing among the revolution to that country and elsewhere in EuropeBolshevik leadership.<ref> MontefioreConquest, p. 11887 </ref>.

== Stalin as General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party==It has often been argued that the Russian Civil War was won for the Bolsheviks by the revolutionary Leo Trotskycaptured and exiled to Siberia numerous times, but usually, he escaped. This interpretation is now believed to be an exaggeration He eventually became one of TrotskyVladimir Lenin's role. Howeverclosest associates, Trotsky, did play a significant role in the Soviet's victory over the White's in the Civil War and or so he was a very important figure in the Communist PARTY and rivaled Lenin in prestige. Lenin was worried about the influence of Trotsky and he employed Stalin later to build up a base of support for vigorously claim which helped him. Stalin did this but also at rise to the same time, built up a body heights of supporters that were loyal to him in power after the PartyRussian Revolution. In 1921, Stalin was appointed 1910 he changed his name to the position of General Secretary. This gave him great power in the Party. Stalin created a network of supporters , meaning in the Party. Lenin became suspicious Russian ‘Man of Stalin and was beginning Steel’ supposedly adopted to mistrust protect his former protégée. In particular, Lenin disliked real identity from the brutal methods of Stalin in his native Georgia, where he brutally repressed those who opposed Bolshevism. Despite Lenin’s doubts, Stalin began police and perhaps also to grow popular with the rank and file Party memberscreate a public image as a true revolutionary. Unlike Lenin and Trotsky, he was not an intellectual and had the common touch and he was well-liked by many<ref> ConquestBoobyear, p. 114134</ref>.

==Lenin ==October Revolution and Stalinthe Russian Civil War====Ultimate power lay with Lenin[[File:Russian_Revolution_of_1917. Howeverjpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Bolshevik troops in Red Square]]By 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 failed to him. Stalin used his position 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 authoritarianredistributed land to the Russian peasants. One day, Stalin berated Lenin's wife for breaching Politburo orders by helping Lenin communicate with others on public matters, this angered Lenin<ref> ReadMontefiore, ChristopherSimon Sebag. Lenin''[https: A Revolutionary Life (//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: RoutledgeWeidenfeld & Nicolson, 20052003), p. 112117</ref>. As the relationship between Lenin The Bolsheviks skillfully adopted a policy of promising peace and Stalin deteriorated, Lenin dictated his testament. This was in effect his ideas analysis of land to the current Bolshevik Part, the future of the Revolution war-weary and especially on the character of Stalinstarving population. In the testamentTheir message made them very popular, Stalin was castigated and denounced as self-serving and seeking to amass personal power in October 1917, they stormed the part. Lenin called for Winter Place and declared that the removal of Stalin as General Secretary. Before Lenin could publish the testament, he suffered a heart attack and Russian Empire was paralyzed. Stalin received now the testament from one of Lenin’s secretaries, who was actually his agentSoviet Union. Stalin repressed Lenin’s criticism of him if it had come to light Stalin’s career would have been finished<ref>ReadMontefiore, p 234. 111</ref>. Late allies of Stalin colluded to repress all mention of 's role in the documentBolshevik Revolution is unknown. Lenin died of a suspected stroke on January 21stIn later propaganda, 1924. Stalin was given the honor of organizing the official funeral. He organized the funeral presented in posters and ignored other images as being by Lenin’s final wishes. Stalin also gave an oration at side during the funeralRevolution, despite the opposition of Lenin’s window. but Stalin under appears to have played only a minor role in the rules of the Party was now the de-facto successor of LeninRevolution. 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> ReadMontefiore, p. 236113</ref>. [[File: 650px-JStalin Secretary general CCCP 1942 flipped.jpg |thumbnail| Stalin as General Secretary]]

==Stalin’s rise to Power==However, Stalin was officially made his reputation during the leader of the Communist party, but to many in the Party, he Russian Civil War. He was only a figurehead. Many dismissed him appointed as a nonentity Political Commissar to several Generals and ensured that they were loyal to the Bolsheviks. Eventually, he was not given a political figure of real substancemilitary command and brutally suppressed White Counter-Revolutionaries and bandits. Stalin had always been underestimated by many prominent Bolsheviks because he He was not well educated. Trotskyalso instrumental in conquering his native Georgia, Kamenev, and Zinoviev all saw themselves as the logical choice as the successor of Leninwhich had declared itself to be independent. However, they were not as popular as they believed and that Stalin was very popular with later appointed to the ordinary Party member. Stalin was shrewd enough not army in Ukraine, and he helped to appear to be seeking the leadership of the Partypush back a Polish invasion. FurthermoreHowever, he publically denounced Kamenev was criticized for not routing the Poles and Zinoviev, when they tried exporting the revolution to involve him that country and elsewhere in a conspiracy against Trotsky in 1925Europe. This only left Stalin and Trotsky as the sole contenders for the leadership role<ref> Felshtinsky, Yuri. Lenin and His Comrades: The Bolsheviks Take Over Russia 1917–1924. Enigma Books, 2000)Montefiore, p. 201118</ref>.

==Socialism in One Country==The rivalry between Trotsky and Stalin was not only a personal rivalry. Both men had different views on as General Secretary of the nature of Communism and more importantly different ideas on Bolshevik Party====Historians have often argued that the future of Russian Civil War was won for the worldwide Communist revolution. Influenced Bolsheviks by Marx, the Bolsheviks, revolutionary Leo Trotsky. This interpretation is now believed that there was going to be a world-wide Communist Revolutionan exaggeration of Trotsky's role. Stalin began advocating "Socialism in One CountryHowever," which says that the Bolsheviks should focus building communism Trotsky did play a significant role in the countries they already controlled rather than spreading Soviet's victory over the revolution. This drew to him many like-minded Party members, especially White's in the rank Civil War and file was a significant figure in the Communist PARTY and this put him rivaled Lenin in ideological opposition to prestige. Lenin was worried about the influence of Trotsky<ref> Felshtinsky, pand he employed Stalin to build up a base of support for him. 202</ref>. The Part accepted Stalin’s position and Stalin did this meant but also at the same time, built up a body of supporters that Trotsky were loyal to him in the Party. In 1921, Stalin was increasingly marginalized. He then decided appointed to organize public protests, along with others, against Stalin’s growing control the position of General Secretary. This position gave him great power in the Party. However, Stalin, employed created a law passed by Lenin, ordering unity network of supporters in the Party. Lenin became suspicious of Stalin asserted that Trotsky, and was trying beginning to split mistrust his former protégée. In particular, Lenin disliked the party and this ploy managed to sideline Trotsky even furtherbrutal methods of Stalin in his native Georgia, where he brutally repressed those who opposed Bolshevism. Another factorDespite Lenin’s doubts, in Stalin began to grow popular with the growing isolation of Leon rank and file Party members. Unlike Lenin and Trotsky, despite his achievements during he was not an intellectual and had the Russian Civil Warcommon touch, was that fact that and he was Jewishwell-liked by many.<ref> FelshtinskyConquest, p. 203114</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==Lenin and Stalin====By 1927[[File:Lenin_and_stalin_crop.jpg|left|thumbnail|250px|Lenin and Stalin in Gorki, Stalin was 1922]]After the unquestioned ruler of Revolution, Lenin held power in the Soviet Unionnew country. His However, in 1922, after surgery, he had filled the administration of a stroke, and he was never the Party with people who were loyal to himsame. IncreasinglyThe stroke weakened Lenin, Stalin appointed his loyalists and many feared that he would not have long to the Politburolive. Many of Lenin’s former lieutenants realized that Stalin Lenin was making himself largely confined to a de-facto dictatorcountry retreat and cut off from politics. Bukharin was something The ruling council of a darling in the Bolshevik 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 ordered Lenin to avoid 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 concentrate 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>recovery.

==Conclusion==By 1928Stalin, the General Secretary of the Communist Party, Stalin was the undisputed ruler one of the Soviet Unionfew people who still had access to him. In 1920, he managed Stalin used his position to achieve this despite cut Lenin off from the opposition of Lenin party and many of the senior leaders in the Partyeffectively to isolate him. He was widely seen knew that Lenin’s disliked him because Lenin perceived him as an uneducated peasantcruel and authoritarian. Stalin even berated Lenin's wife for breaching Politburo orders by helping Lenin communicate with others on public matters. However, he managed to turn this to Stalin's attack on his advantage and in his role as General Secretarywife angered Lenin.<ref>Read, he built up his power base in the countryChristopher. <i>[https://www. Stalin was also generally popular among the ordinary Party Members and this was crucialamazon. This meant that he had a powerful and influential following and this allowed him to build up his power and influence until he was in total control of the partycom/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 Part, 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>  <dh-ad/> 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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