Joseph Stalin, born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili, was a pivotal figure in Soviet history, leading the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. His life was marked by significant events that shaped his rise to power and his tenure as a dictator.
Birth
18 December 1878
Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia, to a poor cobbler and a house cleaner. His early life was marked by poverty and abuse from his father, who was an alcoholic.
Education at Gori Church School
1888-1894
Stalin attended the Gori Church School, where he excelled academically and learned Russian, which he spoke with a Georgian accent.
Tiflis Theological Seminary
1894-1899
Stalin enrolled at the Tiflis Theological Seminary to be educated for the priesthood but became more interested in communism. He was expelled in 1899 for revolutionary activity.
Joining the Bolsheviks
1903
Stalin joined the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, marking the beginning of his rise within the party.
October Revolution
1917
The October Revolution led to the Bolsheviks seizing power, with Stalin playing a crucial role in the Caucasus. He became one of Lenin's closest associates.
General Secretary of the Communist Party
1922
Stalin was appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party, a position he used to consolidate his power within the party and state.
Lenin's Death and Stalin's Rise
1924
Following Lenin's death, Stalin won the struggle to lead the country, initially as part of a collective leadership but eventually becoming a dictator by the 1930s.
Famine and Collectivization
1932-1933
Stalin's agricultural collectivization policies led to a devastating famine, including the Holodomor in Ukraine, resulting in millions of deaths.
The Great Purge
1936-1938
Stalin eradicated his political opponents and those deemed 'enemies of the working class' in the Great Purge, solidifying his absolute control over the party and government.
World War II
1941-1945
Stalin played a crucial role in the Soviet victory over Germany during World War II, extending Soviet control over Eastern Europe.
Death
5 March 1953
Joseph Stalin died in Moscow, triggering a leadership scramble within the Soviet Communist Party, with Nikita Khrushchev eventually emerging as his successor.
