Stalin died after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.

The Soviet Union declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria.

Berlin fell to the Soviet Union, and Germany surrendered on May 7.

The Allies invaded Normandy.

The Tehran Conference took place, where Stalin met with Churchill and Roosevelt.

The German forces attacking Stalingrad surrendered.

Germany invaded the Soviet Union, initiating the war on the Eastern Front.

Germany invaded Poland, and the Soviet Union followed suit on September 17.

Nadezhda Alliluyeva, Stalin's second wife, committed suicide.

Stalin removed Bukharin from the Politburo.

Lenin died, and Stalin took charge of the funeral.

Stalin was appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party.

The October Revolution began, with Stalin playing a key role in the Bolshevik coup.

Stalin married Ekaterina Svanidze.

Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia, then part of the Russian Empire.