stalin

Who was Stalin?

Leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953; known for dictatorship, industrialization, and mass repression.

How did Stalin rise to power?

Used his role as General Secretary to control the Communist Party and eliminate rivals like Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev, and Bukharin.

What happened after Lenin died?

A power struggle broke out; Stalin slowly outmaneuvered other leaders and became the unchallenged leader by the late 1920s.

: What was the Five-Year Plan?

A series of economic plans starting in 1928 to rapidly industrialize the USSR and increase production in heavy industry.

What was collectivization?

Stalin forced peasants into large state-run farms, leading to famine (especially in Ukraine) and millions of deaths.

What was the Great Purge (1936–1938)?

Stalin eliminated real and imagined enemies in the Communist Party, military, and society; over 1 million were killed or sent to gulags.

: What were gulags?

Harsh labor camps where Stalin sent political prisoners, enemies, or people accused of disloyalty.

How did Stalin use propaganda?

He created a “cult of personality” through posters, speeches, and films that glorified him as a hero and father of the USSR.

How did Stalin control education and youth?

He rewrote history, promoted loyalty to him, and used youth groups like the Komsomol to spread communist ideology.

What were Stalin's main impacts?

Turned USSR into a major world power but caused widespread suffering, famine, fear, and loss of freedom.

What kind of leader was Stalin?

A totalitarian dictator—he had total control over the government, economy, media, and people’s lives.

How did Stalin keep control?

Used secret police (NKVD), mass censorship, fear, and purges to eliminate opposition and control society.

What was Stalin’s leadership style?

Brutal and authoritarian—he demanded obedience, punished dissent, and ruled through intimidation and propaganda.

How did Stalin use the NKVD?

They spied on citizens, arrested "traitors," ran gulags, and carried out executions during the Great Purge.

What was Stalin’s cult of personality?

A strategy where Stalin was glorified as a wise and heroic leader; statues, portraits, and media praised him constantly.

: Did Stalin improve the USSR?

Yes and no—he industrialized the country and made it a superpower, but millions died due to his harsh policies.

How did Stalin deal with the economy?

He replaced the NEP with state control—launched Five-Year Plans and collectivization to grow industry and agriculture.

How did Stalin affect daily life?

He controlled education, limited religion, rewrote history, and demanded loyalty; people lived in constant fear.

How did Stalin handle World War II?

Initially signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact, but joined the Allies after Germany invaded; led USSR to victory but at great human cost.

What happened after Stalin’s death in

Soviet leaders began to de-Stalinize—removing his image and easing his harshest policies, revealing how feared he truly was.

What was Stalin’s real name?

Ioseb Jughashvili — he later changed it to Stalin, meaning “man of steel.”

When did Stalin join the Bolsheviks?

He joined the Bolshevik Party in 1903, the radical communist group led by Lenin.

What illegal acts did Stalin do early on?

He helped organize bank robberies (like the 1907 Tiflis heist) to raise money for the revolution.

Why was being General Secretary important?

As General Secretary, Stalin controlled party membership and promotions, helping him gain silent power.

What did Lenin say about Stalin before dying?

In his Testament, Lenin warned the party that Stalin was too rude and power-hungry to be trusted.

How did Stalin defeat his rivals?

He used “divide and conquer” tactics, turning Bolshevik leaders against each other to stay on top.

What was the Great Purge?

From 1936–1938, Stalin killed or imprisoned millions, including party members, generals, and citizens.

What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

In 1939, Stalin and Hitler agreed to split Poland and avoid war with each other (temporarily).

How did WWII start for the USSR?

Germany broke the pact in 1941, invading the USSR — this began their major role in WWII.

What was the Battle of Stalingrad?

A turning point in WWII (1942–43), where the USSR defeated Germany and began pushing them back.

What did Stalin do after WWII?

He took control of Eastern Europe, creating Soviet satellite states and helping start the Cold War.

What happened at Stalin’s funeral?

In 1953, a stampede during his funeral in Moscow killed hundreds of people.