Birth of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin was born on December 18, 1878, in Gori, Georgia, then part of the Russian Empire.
1878
1899
Expulsion from Seminary
Joseph Stalin was expelled from the Tiflis Theological Seminary for his revolutionary activities and anti-Tsarist sentiments.
1903
Joining the Bolsheviks
Joseph Stalin joined the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, aligning himself with Vladimir Lenin.
1912
Appointment to Central Committee
Joseph Stalin was appointed to the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party, marking the beginning of his rise within the party leadership.
1917
October Revolution
Joseph Stalin played a significant role in the Bolshevik seizure of power during the October Revolution, leading to the establishment of Soviet rule.
1922
General Secretary of the Communist Party
Joseph Stalin was appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, a position he used to consolidate power.
1924
Death of Lenin
Following Vladimir Lenin's death, Joseph Stalin began to outmaneuver his political rivals to become the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union.
1928
First Five-Year Plan
Joseph Stalin launched the First Five-Year Plan, aiming to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union and collectivize agriculture.
1934
Kirov Assassination
The assassination of Sergei Kirov, a prominent Bolshevik leader, led to the Great Purge, orchestrated by Joseph Stalin to eliminate potential threats to his power.
1939
Nazi-Soviet Pact
Joseph Stalin signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany, a non-aggression treaty that temporarily secured Soviet borders.
1941
Operation Barbarossa
Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, leading to the Great Patriotic War. Joseph Stalin took direct command of the Soviet military effort.
1945
Victory in World War II
Under Joseph Stalin's leadership, the Soviet Union emerged victorious in World War II, significantly expanding its influence in Eastern Europe.
1949
Soviet Atomic Bomb
The Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, successfully tested its first atomic bomb, marking its entry into the nuclear arms race.
1950
Korean War
Joseph Stalin supported North Korea in the Korean War, furthering Cold War tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States.
1953
Death of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin died on March 5, 1953, ending his nearly three-decade-long rule over the Soviet Union.
