Born: December 18, 1878, in Gory, Georgia (Russian Empire)
Family Background: Poor family
Health: Contracted smallpox at age 7, resulting in a pockmarked face
Mother's Influence: Devout Russian Orthodox Christian; wanted him to become a priest
Education: Sent to study in Tiflis, the Georgian capital in 1895
Political Awakening
Influence of Marxism: Began reading Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin's writings after joining a secret organization for Georgian independence
Political Activity:
Joined the Social Democratic Labor Party in 1901
Organized protests and strikes against czarism
Arrest: Coordinated a strike, arrested, and sent to prison
Rise to Power
Bolshevik Party: Joined during the Russian Revolution of 1905; utilized guerrilla warfare
Criminal Activities: Raised funds for the party through kidnapping and robbery
Notably robbed a bank in Tiflis, securing 250,000 rubles
Adoption of Name: Took the name "Stalin," meaning "steel" in Russian
Key Events During Leadership
Bolshevik Revolution: Ran the Bolshevik newspaper Pravda; Bolsheviks gained control in October 1917
Civil War: Followed the revolution; Bolshevik victory
General Secretary: Appointed in 1922; manipulated the position for power
Trotsky's Exile: Removed Leon Trotsky and other rivals from the Central Committee
Economic Policies
Five-Year Plans: Aimed to industrialize the Soviet Union rapidly (1928-1938)
Increased production in coal, oil, steel, and electricity
Harsh consequences for workers who failed to meet targets
Collectivization: Seized land from peasants for collective farms
Resulted in mass famine and millions of deaths
Cult of Personality and Political Repression
Paranoia: Increased due to the establishment of a cult of personality; portraits of Stalin everywhere
Political Purges: Executed or sent to gulags millions, including many party members and military leaders
Sergei Kirov's Assassination: Killed in 1934, seen as a threat to Stalin's power
World War II and Aftermath
Nazi-Soviet Pact: Made a deal with Adolf Hitler in 1939
German Invasion: Soviet forces unprepared in 1941; high casualties due to previous purges
Battle of Stalingrad: Critical turning point; Red Army held the city at all costs
Post-War Tensions: Yalta and Potsdam conferences; growing distrust of the West and the start of the Cold War
Health and Death
Declining Health: Paranoia over health issues, including distrust of doctors
Death: Died of a stroke on March 5, 1953
Funeral: Large crowds; tragedy as 500 people were crushed
Aftermath of Leadership
Power Struggle: Following Stalin's death, Nikita Khrushchev succeeded him
De-Stalinization: Khrushchev denounced Stalin’s policies of terror and fear
Conclusion
Stalin's legacy is marked by his brutal policies, significant industrialization, and the establishment of the Soviet Union as a superpower during the Cold War.