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Question:What was the Significance of Joseph Stalin ?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: What was the Significance of Joseph Stalin ?

Joseph Stalin (December 18, 1878 – March 5, 1953) (Russian: Иосиф Сталин; Georgian: was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee from 1922 until his death in 1953. During that time he established the regime now known as Stalinism. As one of several Central Committee Secretariats, Stalin's formal position was originally limited in scope, but he gradually consolidated power and became the de facto party leader and ruler of the Soviet Union

Stalin launched a command economy in the Soviet Union, forced rapid industrialization of the largely rural country and collectivization of its agriculture. While the Soviet Union transformed from an agrarian economy to a major industrial powerhouse in a short span of time, millions of people died from hardships and famine that occurred as a result of the severe economic upheaval and party policies. At the end of 1930s, Stalin launched the Great Purges, a major campaign of repression. Millions of people who were suspected of being a threat to the party were executed or exiled to Gulag labor camps in remote areas of Siberia or Central Asia. A number of ethnic groups in Russia were also forcibly
During Stalin's reign, the Soviet Union played a major role in the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War (1939–1945) (more commonly known in Russia and post-Soviet republics as the Great Patriotic War). Under Stalin's leadership, the Soviet Union went on to achieve recognition as one of just two superpowers in the post-war era, a status that lasted for nearly four decades after his death until the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

* Born: 1879
* Birthplace: Gori, Georgia, Russia (now Republic of Georgia)
* Died: 5 March 1953
* Best Known As: Leader of the U.S.S.R. from 1928 to 1953

Name at birth: Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili

Ruthless and ambitious, Joseph Stalin grabbed control of the Soviet Union after the death of V.I. Lenin in 1924. As a member of the Bolshevik party, Stalin (his adopted name meaning "Man of Steel") had an active role in Russia's October Revolution in 1917. He maneuvered his way up the communist party hierarchy, and in 1922 was named General Secretary of the Central Committee. By the end of the 1920s Stalin had expelled his rival Leon Trotsky, consolidated power, and was the de facto dictator of the Soviet Union. In the 1930s Stalin summarily executed his political enemies and started aggressive industrial and agricultural programs that left untold thousands of peasants dead. During World War II Stalin was the commander of the Soviet military, and attended the postwar conferences at Yalta, Teheran and Potsdam. After Stalin's death he was denounced by his successor, Nikita Khrushchev, and "Stalinism" was officially condemned.

the epitome of unscrupulous, blood thirsty murderous genocidal psychopathic politician in a one-party undemocratic totalitarian dictatorship, terrorizing his own country, posing to be the ruler, administrator, leader of it, and trying to take over the rest of the world for more, more, more of all that.

Got it ?

He was a ruthless commie dictator that influence many other commie leaders such as Mao and Kim Jong.

Apart from his cruel policies that have already been discussed he pushed Russia into becoming a Superpower that could threaten the US.
He was hugely successful in this regard, if you disregard his human rights record he was a very successful leader. His policies of collectivisation and such changed the nature of Russia as a country.
He was also fairly insane with a huge persecution complex, this doesn't really make him significant though.
He created a cult of personality, which hadn't really been done before then. His use of propoganda in his own country was unprecedented.

he turned Russia into world power

Research Stalin's infamous 'ten year plan.' Scary in its vision and execution.