Joseph Stalin

In 1879 the world received the eventual leader of the USSR, Joseph Stalin. However, his mother was worried about him living through infancy much less surviving to become the leader of the country. The reason his mother was so concerned is because she delivered four children in less than four years and all of them died except Stalin, although he was very sickly and caused his family concern. The family had very little money for medical care due to the poverty they lived in, much like all of Russia during the 19th century. Stalin's family was especially poor as his mother washed clothes for other families and his father was a simple bookmaker.

When Stalin was seven years old he contracted the very contagious and often deadly smallpox. This of course caused severe concern within his family, however Stalin managed to survive although his face was scarred for the rest of his life. This in fact became a trademark of his, despite the fact many children and even adults made fun of him through childhood and even adulthood calling him names.

Stalin did not begin school until 1888 because there was no money to send him. However, Stalin's mother was determined her son would be educated and being the devout religious woman that she was she somehow managed to reserve a spot for young Joseph in the local church school. Although Stalin was not in robust health during his childhood he did manage to attend school on a regular basis and progressed very well. He did so well in fact that his efforts were eventually rewarded with a scholarship to seminary. He studied there for some time and it was there he first came into contact with the ideas of Karl Marx. Stalin was introduce to the Marxist ideology when he joined a private organization called the Messamme Dessy. The other members of this organization were supporters of a Georgia completely independent from Russia while others were revolutionaries.

Stalin really took to the ideal of Marxism and began reading books that were not allowed as well as trying to convert other students to Marxism. He also was not respecting those in authority at the seminary and as a result he was expelled from the seminary. Being expelled from the seminary had some negative results for Stalin, but just for a short while as he was unemployed for months. He then pulled himself up by the bootstraps and found work teaching middle class children. He later began working with an observatory and writing for a Georgian Socialist newspaper.

Russia was ruled by tsarism during this time frame and Stalin revolted against these ideals. As a result he became a member of the Social Democratic Labour Party and instead of going into exile like many of his compatriots who also opposed tsarism, Stalin stayed in the country to build a resistance and eventually change the country.

Stalin was doing everything in his power to fight tsarism and even helped plan a strike at the Rothschild plant. He was arrested for his involvement and was sentenced to a year and a half in prison. After he was released from prison he was deported to Siberia where he stayed until 1904 when he escaped. A dispute that erupted in 1903 between Vladimir Lenin and Julius Martov would result in Stalin's next political move. The dispute could not be resolved and as a result two parties resulted, the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. Stalin became a supported of the Bolsheviks, which supported Vladimir Lenin.

In 1904 Stalin escaped from Siberia and almost as soon as he arrived he began planning strikes as he had before. Even his deportation to Siberia could not tame his political fervor and desire to change Russia the way he wanted it to be. Stalin's efforts were noticed by Lenin who was so impressed he invited him to Finland for a meeting. This inspired Stalin more and he continued his strikes and political efforts for the next eight years when he would be arrested four more times. Despite being arrested he always escaped, until the fifth time when he was deported again for life to the North of Siberia in 1913.

However, Stalin was not out of the limelight. His power as editor of Pravda allowed him to become part of the political movement. A dispute raised again, with Lenin, and Stalin was in a sticky situation. He resolved to support Lenin and because of this action he was rewarded with a post as commissioner of nationalities. This role put him in charge of all of the nationalities living in Russia that were not Russian. Later he would be promoted to General Secretary which was essentially Lenin's mouthpiece. People joked of this position, however soon Stalin was paralyzed and unable to speak after a blood vessel in his brain broke. At this time Stalin was in a very important role that would eventually catapult him to power.

As General Secretary Stalin had power over the political positions of many others. He removed supporters of Trotsky, promoted his own supporters, and made everyone aware their political success was based on his. Lenin began to become concerned and wanted to work with Trotsky to remove Stalin from the party. He also decided not to allow Stalin to become leader of the party upon his death and wrote a last will and testament detailing this. However, Lenin died, no action was taken regarding the letter, and Stalin became the country's leader.

Quick Facts: 

• Name: Joseph Stalin
• Nation: Soviet Union
• Born (Date): December 18th, 1878
• Born (Place): Gori Georgia
• Death (Date): March 5th, 1953

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