Joseph Stalin, born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili on December 18, 1878, in Gori, Georgia, and died on March 5, 1953, in Moscow, Russia, was a Soviet statesman and politician who served as the leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death. Here are some key points about Joseph Stalin's life and political career:1. **Early Life**: Stalin was born into a poor family in the Russian Empire (now Georgia). He studied at a theological seminary but was expelled for revolutionary activities.2. **Revolutionary Activities**: Stalin joined the Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, and played a significant role in the Russian Revolution of 1917. He became a key figure in the Bolshevik government, particularly in the Red Army.3. **Rise to Power**: After Lenin's death in 1924, Stalin gradually consolidated power within the Communist Party through a series of political maneuvers and purges. He became the de facto leader of the Soviet Union by the late 1920s.4. **Five-Year Plans**: Stalin implemented a series of economic plans known as the Five-Year Plans, which aimed to rapidly industrialize and modernize the Soviet economy. This period saw the forced collectivization of agriculture and the construction of infrastructure.5. **Great Purge**: One of the darkest chapters of Stalin's rule was the Great Purge of the 1930s, during which he ordered the execution or imprisonment of perceived political opponents, intellectuals, and members of the Communist Party itself. Millions of people were affected.6. **Famine**: The policies of forced collectivization and grain requisitioning in Ukraine resulted in a devastating famine known as the Holodomor. Millions of Ukrainians died of starvation during this period.7. **World War II**: The Soviet Union, under Stalin's leadership, played a crucial role in defeating Nazi Germany during World War II. The Eastern Front was a major theater of the war, and the Soviet Red Army made significant contributions to the Allied victory.8. **Post-War Era**: After World War II, the Soviet Union emerged as one of the two superpowers, leading to the Cold War with the United States and its Western allies.9. **Cult of Personality**: Stalin's regime promoted a cult of personality around him, with propaganda portraying him as a heroic and infallible leader.10. **Death**: Stalin died on March 5, 1953, at the age of 74. His death marked the end of an era in Soviet politics.11. **Legacy**: Stalin's rule had a profound and lasting impact on the Soviet Union and the world. His policies led to significant industrialization but also caused immense human suffering, including the deaths of millions through famine, purges, and political repression.12. **De-Stalinization**: After Stalin's death, his successor, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated a process of de-Stalinization, denouncing some of Stalin's policies and crimes. Stalin's cult of personality was dismantled to some extent, and his legacy was reevaluated.Joseph Stalin remains a highly controversial figure, with opinions about his leadership and impact varying widely. While some view him as a ruthless dictator responsible for immense suffering, others credit him with the Soviet Union's transformation into a global superpower. His complex legacy continues to be a subject of historical debate and study.
Measures 20 x 30.

Good condition. No major rips, tears, etc.