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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==Joseph Stalin, the future leader as General Secretary of the Soviet Union, Bolshevik Party====Historians have 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 argued that the Tsarist Russian Empire. After leaving school, he Civil War was sent to a seminary. Instead of studying theology and won for the bible he embraced Marxism and became a follower of Vladimir Lenin, leader of Bolsheviks by the revolutionary Bolshevik PartyLeo Trotsky.<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 This interpretation is now believed to be an exaggeration of Nations]'Trotsky's role. (Viking-PenguinHowever, Hammondsworth, 1999), p. 112</ref> Stalin soon joined Trotsky did play a significant role in the Soviet's victory over the Bolshevik movement and was very active White's in violent attacks on the Tsarist government. He Civil War and was noted as a bank robber, these were undertaken significant figure in order to subvert the system Communist PARTY and gain funds for the revolutionrivaled Lenin in prestige. After being placed under surveillance by Russian secret police, Lenin was worried about the Ohrakaninfluence of Trotsky, and he employed Stalin to build up a base of support for his activities, he went underground <ref>Conquest, phim. 78</ref>. He became one of the Bolsheviks' leaders in Stalin did this but also at the Caucasussame time, organizing paramilitaries, and helped built up a body of supporters that were loyal to organize a terrorist campaign him in the regionParty. He In 1921, Stalin was involved in appointed to the notorious Tiflis bank robbery, during which 40 people were killedposition of General Secretary. This led to position gave him being rated very highly by great power in the Bolshevik leadershipParty.<ref>Conquest, pStalin created a network of supporters in the Party. 87 </ref> Lenin became suspicious of Stalin and was captured and exiled beginning to Siberia numerous timesmistrust his former protégée. In particular, but usually escaped. He eventually became one Lenin disliked the brutal methods of Vladimir Lenin's closest associatesStalin in his native Georgia, or so where he was later to vigorously claim which helped him rise brutally repressed those who opposed Bolshevism. Despite Lenin’s doubts, Stalin began to grow popular with the heights of power after the Russian Revolutionrank and file Party members. In 1910 Unlike Lenin and Trotsky, he changed his name to Stalin, meaning in Russian ‘Man of Steel’ supposedly adopted in was not an effort to protect his real identity from intellectual and had the police common touch, and perhaps also to create a public image as a true revolutionaryhe was well-liked by many. <ref>BoobyearConquest, p. 134114</ref>

==October revolution ==Lenin and Russian Civil WarStalin====[[File:Russian_Revolution_of_1917Lenin_and_stalin_crop.jpg|left|thumbnail|300px250px|Bolshevik troops Lenin and Stalin in red SquareGorki, 1922]]By 1917After the Revolution, Stalin was Lenin held power in Stthe new country. PetersburgHowever, which was soon to be renamed Petrograd. This was the capital of the revolutionary government that in 1922, after surgery, he had seized power from the Tsar a stroke, and his government in February 1917. The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky he was becoming unpopular despite ending the rule of never the Romanov’ssame. They had failed to end the war The stroke weakened Lenin, and many feared that he would not have long to redistributed land live. Lenin was largely confined to the Russian peasants. <ref> Montefiore, Simon Sebaga country retreat and cut off from politics. ''[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 ruling council of the Red Tsar]''. London: Weidenfeld & NicolsonBolshevik Party, 2003)the Politburo, p. 117</ref> ordered Lenin had returned from exile in Switzerland to Russia, with the aid of the German secret service. He along with the other Bolsheviks began planning to overthrow the Provisional Government avoid and install in its place the world’s first communist countryconcentrate on his recovery.

The Bolsheviks skillfully adopted a policy Stalin, the General Secretary of the Communist Party, was one of promising peace and land the few people who still had access to him. Stalin used his position to cut Lenin off from the war weary party and starving populationeffectively to isolate him. Their message made them very popular He knew that Lenin’s disliked him because Lenin perceived him as cruel and in October 1917, they stormed the Winter Place and declared that the Russian Empire was now the Soviet Unionauthoritarian. 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>MontefioreRead, pChristopher. 111<i>[https://ref> The exact role of Stalin in the Bolshevik Revolution is not known in any great detail. In later propaganda, Stalin was presented in posters and other images as being by Lenin’s side during the Revolutionwww. In fact, it seemed that Stalin only played a minor role in the Revolutionamazon.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]<ref/i>Montefiore(London: Routledge, 2005), p. 113112</ref>

HoweverAs the relationship between Lenin and Stalin deteriorated, Stalin Lenin dictated his Testament. This Testament was to make , in effect, his reputation in analysis of the current Bolshevik Part, the future of the Russian Civil WarRevolution and an indictment of Stalin's character. He In the Testament, Stalin was appointed castigated and denounced as a Political Commissar to several Generals self-serving and ensured that they were loyal to focused only on amassing personal power. Lenin called for the Bolsheviksremoval of Stalin as General Secretary. EventuallyBefore Lenin could publish the Testament, he was given suffered a military command heart attack and brutally suppressed White Counter-Revolutionaries and bandits. He was also instrumental in conquering his native Georgia, which had declared itself to be independentparalyzed. Stalin was later appointed to the army in received the Ukraine and he helped to push back a Polish invasion, howeverTestament from one of Lenin’s secretaries, he who was criticized for not defeating his agent. Stalin repressed Lenin’s criticism of him. If the Poles completely and exporting the revolution Testament had come to that country and elsewhere in Europelight Stalin’s career would have been finished.<ref>MontefioreRead, p. 118234</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 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 very important 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 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 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<dh-liked by many.<ref> Conquest, p. 114<ad/ref>

==Lenin and Allies of Stalin==[[File: 650px-JStalin Secretary general CCCP 1942 flippedcolluded to repress all mention of the document.jpg |thumbnail| Stalin as General Secretary]]Ultimate power lay with Lenin. However, in 1922, after surgery, he had died of a suspected strokeon January 21st, 1924. Stalin was given the honor of organizing the official funeral. He was never arranged the same again funeral and he was physically weakened and many feared that he would not have long to liveignored Lenin’s final wishes. Lenin was largely confined to a country retreat, cut off from politics. The ruling council of Stalin also gave an oration at the Bolshevik Partyfuneral, despite the Politburo, ordered that Lenin did not involve himself in politics or in public affairs but concentrate on his recoveryopposition of Lenin’s window. Stalin as General Secretary under the rules of the Communist Party was one now the de-facto successor of the few people who had access to himLenin. Stalin used his position to cut Lenin off from However, the party and effectively was not under his control, he had to isolate him. He had become aware of Lenin’s dislike share power with a collection of Stalin and that he believed that he was too cruel and authoritarian. One dayother Soviet leaders, Stalin berated Lenin's wife for breaching Politburo orders by helping Lenin communicate with others on public mattersincluding Trotsky, this angered LeninZinoviev and Kamenev.<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. 112236</ref>

As the relationship between Lenin and ====Stalin’s Rise to Power====Stalin deteriorated, Lenin dictated his testament. This was in effect his ideas analysis of officially the current Bolshevik Part, the future leader of the Revolution and especially on the character of Stalin. In the testamentCommunist party, Stalin was castigated and denounced as self-serving and seeking but to amass personal power many in the partParty, he was only a figurehead. Lenin called for the removal of Stalin Many dismissed him as General Secretary. Before Lenin could publish the testament, he suffered a heart attack nonentity and was paralyzeda political figure of no real substance. Many prominent Bolsheviks had always underestimated Stalin received the testament from one of Lenin’s secretaries, who because he was actually his agentnot well educated. Stalin repressed Lenin’s criticism of him if it had come to light Stalin’s career would have been finished.<ref>ReadTrotsky, Kamenev, p 234</ref> Late allies of Stalin colluded to repress and Zinoviev all mention of saw themselves as the document. Lenin died of a suspected stroke on January 21st, 1924. Stalin was given logical choice as the honor successor of organizing the official funeralLenin. He organized the funeral However, they were not as popular as they believed and ignored Lenin’s final wishes. that Stalin also gave an oration at was very popular with the funeral, despite the opposition of Lenin’s windowordinary Party member. Stalin under was shrewd enough not to appear to be seeking the rules leadership of the Party was now the de-facto successor of Lenin. HoweverFurthermore, the party was not under his controlStalin publically denounced Kamenev and Zinoviev, he had when they tried to share power with involve him in a collection of other Soviet leaders, including conspiracy against Trotsky in 1925. Only Stalin and Trotskyas the sole contenders for the leadership role.<ref> Felshtinsky, Zinoviev and KamenevYuri.<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>Read. Enigma Books, 2000), p. 236201</ref>

==The Party accepted Stalin’s rise to Power==Stalin was officially the leader of the Communist party, but to many in the Partyposition, he was only a figurehead. Many dismissed him as a nonentity and this meant that he Trotsky was not a political figure of real substanceincreasingly marginalized. Stalin had always been underestimated by many prominent Bolsheviks because he was not well educated. TrotskyHe then decided to organize public protests, Kamenevalong with others, and Zinoviev all saw themselves as against Stalin’s growing control of the logical choice as the successor of LeninParty. However, they were not as popular as they believed and that Stalin was very popular with , employed a law passed by Lenin, ordering unity in the ordinary Party member. Stalin asserted that Trotsky, was shrewd enough not trying to appear to be seeking split the leadership of the Party. Furthermore, he publically denounced Kamenev party and Zinoviev, when they tried this ploy managed to involve him in a conspiracy against sideline Trotsky even further. Another factor, in 1925. This only left Stalin and the growing isolation of Leon Trotsky as , despite his achievements during the sole contenders for the leadership roleRussian Civil War, was his Jewish heritage.<ref> Felshtinsky, Yurip. 203<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 > There was a great deal of antisemitism in Russian, and His Comrades: The Bolsheviks Take Over Russia 1917–1924]</i>this made Trotsky unpopular. Enigma BooksBy 1927, 2000)Stalin was so powerful that he could force Trotsky, pKamenev, and Zinoviev from the Politburo and later expelled from the Bolshevik Party. Trotsky was forced into exile and eventually later settled in Mexico. 201</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.

==Consolidating His Rule==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> Felshtinskyprevailed, 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 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====