Stalin emerged as the leader of the Soviet Union from "summary" of A People's Tragedy by Orlando Figes
Stalin’s rise to power in the Soviet Union was a process that began long before the death of Lenin in 1924. Born in Georgia in 1879, Stalin joined the Bolshevik party in 1903 and quickly rose through the ranks, establishing himself as a loyal follower of Lenin. However, Stalin was not initially seen as a likely successor to Lenin, as other prominent figures such as Trotsky and Bukharin were considered more prominent and experienced leaders. After Lenin's death, a power struggle ensued among the Bolshevik leadership, with Trotsky, Bukharin, and Stalin all vying for control. Stalin, despite his lack of charisma and intellectual prowess compared to Trotsky, was able to outmaneuver his rivals through a combination of cunning political tactics, alliances with key party members, and a ruthless willingness to eliminate his opponents. Stalin’s consolidation of power was marked by the Great Purge of the late 1930s, during which he ordered the arrest, imprisonment, and execution of millions of Soviet citizens, including party members, military leaders, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens. This campaign of terror served to eliminate any potential threats to Stalin’s rule and solidify his position as the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union. Stalin’s leadership style was characterized by a cult of personality, with propaganda portraying him as a hero of the people and a visionary leader. He implemented policies such as collectivization and industrialization that resulted in widespread suffering and hardship for the Soviet population, but also enabled the country to rapidly modernize and industrialize. Despite the brutal nature of his rule, Stalin was able to maintain power for over two decades, transforming the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state controlled by the Communist Party and his own iron-fisted grip. His legacy is one of immense human suffering and political repression, but also of rapid industrialization and modernization that laid the foundation for the superpower that the Soviet Union would become in the 20th century.
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