Joseph Stalin

Intro Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin[f][g] (born Dzhugashvili;[h] 18 December [O.S. 6 December] 1878 – 5 March 1953) was a Soviet politician, revolutionary and political theorist who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1922 to 1952 and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1941 until his death. He initially governed as part of a collective leadership, but consolidated power to become a dictator by the 1930s. Stalin codified his interpretation of Marxism as Marxism–Leninism, while the totalitarian political system he established is known as Stalinism.