Iosif Stalin

Iosif Stalin was not only a ruthless killer, but was a two time winner of [Time Magazines Man Of The Year] in 1939 and 1942.  Before all of this fame, young Iosif was known as Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili.  He was born in Georgia, a small part of the [Russian Empire].  Stalin even tries his hand at seminary school, but gets the boot when he is found to be the leader of a [Marxist] group.

In 1903 he joins the [Bolshevik] party and throught the party connections he is able to meet [Vladimir Lenin].  In 1912, Lenin appoints Stalin to the "Central Committee" of their party, a leader of the underground Bolshevik network and on the editoral board of [Pravda].

In 1913, Stalin officially becomes the [Man Of Steel].  He is also exiled to [Siberia] until Tsar [Nicholas II] abdicates.  Stalin returns to help Lenin execute the [Bolshevik Revolution].  He gains more and more political power as he is given more duties within the party.  His most powerful post is the general secretary of the Central Committee.  This position will play an important role in his gaining control of the [USSR].  As general secretary, Stalin was able to appoint who he wanted into positions within the party.  These people were then indebted to Stalin and he cashed in when Lenin died and he was appointed to power.

Another power move that Stalin made was changing the city of Tsaritsin to [Stalingrad].  He also gave permission to begin a [Propaganda Campaign] on his behalf.

1929 brings about the idea of beefing up the [Gulag] Archipelago, which is a "work camp" set up by Lenin.  This camp will eventually kill millions of Soviets.  Stalin's wife, [Nadezhda Alliluyeva] commits suicide in 1932 and her death note is said to have a "shattering effect on him." 

After the "Congress of Victors" in 1934, Stalin became more and more paranoid about members of his party.  He begins to have those "suspected of disloyalty" assassinated or taken to the Gulag, where few will return.  He beings to hold trials for party leaders and when all is said and done, nearly every leader of the origional Bolsheviks has been killed.  The secret police, later to be known as the KGB patroled the communities and military, listening for tratiors.  This time of mass execution will be known as "[The Great Terror]."  9.5 million people are reported to be gone, eitherexiled or in work camps or dead.

Stalin also terrorizes his top military brass.  Nearly 37,000 officers are executed or dismissed.

Sensing a problem with Germany, Stalin and Hilter sign a "nonaggression pact" that divides Eastern Europe into a German and a Soviet section.  The USSR only gets half of Poland and Stalin wants it secure.  He kills or imprisions nearly 550,000 people who may resist him.  As WWII begins, Stalin wants to secure the west boundary without bothering Hitler (Apparently Stalin was afraid of Hitler?).

Stalin is still afraid that the Germans will attack the USSR, so he and Japan sign the "Japanese-Soviet Neutrality Pact" so that the Soviets will not have to worry about Japan and can focus on Germany.

The Germans do attact the Soviets and Stalin gives orders to "Die, But Do Not Retreat."  There is a bloody battle in Lenningrad where nearly 1.5 million die.  The Soviets take a Victory in the battle of [Stalingrad], which is a turning point the the overall war.

Stalin meets with Churchill and Roosevelt to discuss their move against Hitler.  At the Yalta conference, it is decided that the Soveits will get the eastern half of Poland and the Soviet army takes [Berlin] in May 1945.

After the war, Stalin begins to take away freedoms allowed during the war, such as church and collective farms.  Many people who joined to [Communist Party] during the war were ousted from the party when it was over.  The [Iron Curtain] falls as the Cold War begins to develop.  Stalin joins with North Korea to help then rejoin South Korea, however nothing is settled during the war.

In March of 1953, Stalin dies.  The cause of his death is said to be a cerebral hemorrage, however mystery surrounds the death.  Some say he may have been poisoned to "stop him from starting a nuclear war with the US."

Though Stalin was a ruthless killer, thousands came to see him in lie in state.  He was embalmed and laid beside Lenin in the Lenin mausoleum on the [Red Square] in Moscow.

It is thought that 20 million people died beause of Stalin's actions.  14.5 million of those may have starved to death.  9.5 million were deported and many of those were never heard from again.  Although Stalin was a ruthless killer, he was [Time Magazines Man Of The Year] and did come up with several clever quotes:

"Death solves all problems-no man, no problem"

"Gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs"

"One death is a tragedy; a million is a statistic"

"When we hang the capitalists they will sell us the rope we use"

It's hard to believe that a guy this clever could be a ruthless killer....

For little known facts about communism click [here].

For DYT: a Train Stamp collection from the Soviet Union.