Josef Stalin
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Dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1929-1953 (See: Communism)
Josef Stalin (derived from combining Russian stal, "steel" with "Lenin), born Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili to a cobbler in Gori, Georgia. He was the second leader of the Soviet Union. Rise to Power: 1899–1909 - Worked with the political underground in the Caucasus 1902-13 – Participated in criminal activities (bank heists, etc..) to help fund the Bolshevik Party 1922 - General secretary of the Communist Party 1924 – Took control of the Communist Party 1929 - Declared himself Dictator of the Soviet Socialist Republics 1941–53 - Premier of the Soviet state During his rise to power, Josef Stalin employed brutality to crush opponents, purging the country of the opposition by means of mass executions, and deportations Stalin during World War II 1939 - Joseph Stalin and German dictator Adolf Hitler signed a nonaggression pact. Stalin proceeded to annex · Poland · Romania · Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. · Launched an invasion of Finland. Untrusting of the British and United States reports, and ignoring Russian intelligence, that Germany would invade Russia, Stalin dismissed the warnings. 1941 – Russia was invaded by Germany (In direct defiance to the Nazi-Soviet Pact) The battle of Stalingrad in 1942-43, showed Stalin’s Iron will, where he sacrificed an estimated 1 million men and women to defend the city. In Tehran, Iran (1943) Stalin met with the Allies Britain and the United States to strategy against Germany, Stalin wanted a second front in Europe to divide German forces. This resulted in the Allies agreeing to a major offensive in 1944. 1943 – The Red Army succeeded in pushing the German invaders from Russia Towards the end of the war, the Allies met again in Yalta, Crimea (1945). The Allies felt that the war with Germany was coming to an end and were looking to have Stalin commit to war in the Pacific. This resulted in Stalin showing his increased negotiating leverage. This agreement was the major accomplishment of the Yalta Conference. Soviets would be granted a sphere of influence in Manchuria following Japan’s surrender. Also discussed: · The future of Germany · Eastern Europe borders · The United Nations. · War reparations Post War Due to Stalin, Russia emerged from World War II as a Superpower Stalin’s paranoia after the war 1945-48 lead to the growth of the Cold War. Stalin was obsessed by the threat of an offensive from the West. He established communist regimes in:
In opposition to the Yalta agreement, Stalin also looked to influence full control over Berlin, causing the Allies to establish a massive airlift of supplies. Stalin removed the blockade soon after. Stalin's paranoia was a leading factor in the cold war between Communist Russia and the Democratic United States which divided the world. |
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Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/562617/Joseph-Stalin
Source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/stalin.html
Source: http://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/leaders/joseph-stalin/
Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/562617/Joseph-Stalin
Source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/stalin.html
Source: http://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/leaders/joseph-stalin/