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Joseph Stalin was born on December 18, 1878 in Gori, Georgia (then part of the Russian Empire). His father was a shoemaker and his mother was a housekeeper. Stalin grew up in poverty and had a difficult childhood, as his father was abusive and his mother died when he was 11 years old.

Stalin became involved in revolutionary activities in his youth and joined the Bolshevik Party in 1898. Stalin rose through the ranks of the party during the Russian Revolution of 1917, which overthrew the Russian monarchy and led to the establishment of the Soviet Union. Eventually he became a member of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body in the party. He also served as General Secretary of the party, which gave him control over the appointments and promotions of party officials.


                                       

In 1922, Lenin, the leader of the Soviet Union, suffered a stroke that left him incapacitated. During his recovery, Stalin formed a coalition with other party leaders, including Lev Kamenev and Grigory Zinoviev, to take control of the party.

In 1927, after Lenin's death, Stalin began to consolidate his power by purging his rivals from the party and government. He used his control over the party to eliminate anyone who opposed him, including prominent figures like Trotsky and Bukharin.

By the 1930s, Stalin had become the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union, ruling with an iron fist and suppressing any opposition. He implemented a series of policies known as the "Five Year Plans" which aimed to industrialize and modernize the country. He also implemented forced collectivization of agriculture, which led to widespread famine and the deaths of millions of people.

During his time in power, Stalin also suppressed political opposition, imprisoned and executed political enemies, and implemented policies that led to widespread human rights abuses.


                                      

Stalin died on 5th March 1953. Stalin's death was a significant event in world history as it marked the end of a period of intense totalitarian rule in the Soviet Union and signaled the beginning of a period of political and economic liberalization, known as the "Thaw," which lasted until the mid-1960s.

After Stalin's death, Nikita Khrushchev emerged as the leader of the Soviet Union and implemented a number of significant political and economic reforms, including the partial de-Stalinization of the country. However, Khrushchev's rule was eventually brought to an end in 1964 by a group of hardline Communist Party officials who were unhappy with his policies.



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SEE Also:

10 Major Events That Occurred in 1953

1953 Cards & Gifts