Stalin

Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1922 and the leader of the USSR from 1924 to 1953. Known in particular for his rule of terror over the USSR, Stalin governed Russia with an iron fist, propelling the country into rapid industrialization through his infamous five-year plans, introducing forced labor camps known as gulags and committing a string a brutal crimes and atrocities. In just 50 minutes, you will learn about Stalin’s legacy and find out how his policies completely transformed his country.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough discussion of the key moments in Stalin’s bloody political career, including his non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany, his forced collectivization of the countryside and his brutal purges. It also features a full biography, a valuable introduction to the political, social and economic context and an evaluation of the impact of Stalin’s dictatorship, giving you all the essential information about the Man of Steel.

About Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin was born on 18 December 1879 in Georgia, which was at that time part of the Russian Empire. His family was very poor, and so the young Stalin quickly turned to crime. He also began to campaign as part of small underground socialist groups, because of which he was arrested by the Okhrana and sentenced to three years exile in Siberia. After this, he joined the Bolshevik party, and met Lenin some time later. He made a name for himself during the Russian Civil War due to his penchant for random arrests, obsession with conspiracies and his poor military results. After Lenin’s death, he managed to get rid of his rivals and seize power for himself.

This clear and accessible 49-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to Joseph Stalin
• Biography of Joseph Stalin
  • From the Church to Marxism
  • From the underground movement to supreme power
  • A chaotic personal life
  • Thirty years of dictatorship
• Political, social and economic context
  • The Russian Empire in crisis
  • The development of socialist ideas in Russia
  • From the Russian Empire to the USSR
  • The utopia of a global revolution and the construction of socialism
  • The Second World War
• Highlights
  • From Lenin to Stalin: seizing power
  • The establishment of a dictatorship
  • Rapid industrialisation
  • The forced collectivisation of the countryside
  • Governing through terror
  • Stalin against Hitler: the ‘Great Patriotic War’
  • A divide between two worlds
• Impact of Joseph Stalin
  • A society suffering from shortages
  • An appalling death toll
  • De-Stalinisation and continuity
  • Communism after Stalin
  • Stalin and modern-day Russia
• Summary