Joseph Stalin

18 December 1878 – 5 March 1953

Joseph Stalin was a Georgian-born revolutionary and politician who led the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. His rule was marked by rapid industrialization, forced collectivization, mass political repression including the Great Purge, and Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Joseph Stalin.

Life events

Born in Gori, Georgia
18 December 1878

Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, later known as Stalin, was born in Gori in the Russian Empire.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Studied at Tiflis Theological Seminary
1894 – 1899

He attended the Orthodox seminary in Tiflis, where he was drawn to Marxist ideas.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined the Bolsheviks
1903

He became active in revolutionary politics, aligning with Lenin's Bolshevik faction.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became General Secretary of the Communist Party
3 April 1922

He was appointed General Secretary, a post he used to consolidate power within the party.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Launched forced collectivization and the first Five-Year Plan
1928

He initiated rapid industrialization and the collectivization of agriculture across the Soviet Union.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Great Purge
1936 – 1938

He directed a campaign of political repression, executions, and imprisonment across the Soviet Union.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Led the Soviet Union in World War II
22 June 1941 – 9 May 1945

He led the USSR to victory over Nazi Germany following the German invasion of 1941.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Attended the Yalta Conference
4 February 1945 – 11 February 1945

He met with Roosevelt and Churchill to plan the postwar reorganization of Europe.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Kuntsevo, near Moscow
5 March 1953

Stalin died following a stroke at his dacha near Moscow.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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