Early Lives
JOSEPH STALIN
ADOLF HITLER
Family life
Family life
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Born in 1879 in Georgia, which was part of
the Russian Empire.
Original name was Iosif Dzhugashvili.
Changed his name to Stalin (which means
‘man of steel’).
His father was a shoemaker and alcoholic.
He abandoned the family when Stalin was
a young child.
Early political life
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Stalin made his name by taking part in
violent bank raids to raise money for the
Communist Party which was trying to
overthrow the Tsar (the rule of Russia).
He was twice exiled to Siberia by the
Tsar’s secret police but he managed to
escape each time.
Stalin became a leading communist after
playing an important role in defending the
city of Tsaritsyn (later Stalingrad) during
the Civil War.
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Early political life
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Leadership qualities
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Not rated highly by Lenin (the leader of the
Communist Party) or other leading
communists. In 1923 Lenin had called for
Stalin to be replaced. Stalin was seen as
being slow, steady, dull and unimaginative.
He was not a great public speaker.
Ruthless and devious. He held grudges and
was determined to make his enemies suffer.
Hardworking and a clever politician. He
was very good at using his power within the
Communist Party. He took on many boring
but important jobs such as General
Secretary. He used this position to put his
own supporters into important posts within
the Party.
Born in 1889 in Austria. He got on badly
with his father who died in 1903.
Unhappy and lonely at school. He was
moody, shy and poor at most subjects.
Hitler left school with no qualifications.
Hitler failed to get a place at art school.
For the next few years he struggled to
make a living on the streets of Vienna.
In 1914 he joined the army. He fought in
the First World War and won a medal for
bravery.
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After the war Hitler was sent by the army
to spy on a meeting of the German
Workers’ Party (DAP). He found himself
agreeing with many of their ideas and
joined the party. He was given membership
card 555.
The Party was renamed the National
Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP).
Hitler became leader of the Party in 1921.
By the end of 1922 the Party had 20,000
members.
In 1923, during the Munich Putsch, the Nazis
attempted to overthrow the government by
force. The Putsch failed and Hitler was sent
to prison. However, he only received a
short sentence and was soon back as
leader of the Nazi Party.
Leadership qualities
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Energetic and charismatic. Hitler was a
great public speaker. His timing, the style
of his delivery and the content of his
speeches captivated his listeners.
Single-minded and very suspicious of
others.
Devious and ruthless.
What did Stalin believe in?
Joseph Stalin was a member of Russia’s Communist Party. Karl Marx developed the idea of communism in
the nineteenth century.
The world is run by capitalists, who own the banks
and factories. They make huge profits and
become very rich. The people who work in these
factories have to put up with terrible working
conditions and receive very little pay. Eventually
these workers will not accept this situation any
longer and there will be a revolution. The workers
will rise up and take power themselves. This will
lead to a communist society in which a workers’
government will share out the wealth fairly. There
will not be a division between rich and poor.
↑ Karl Marx
At the start of the twentieth century Russia was a large but backward country. It was ruled by a Tsar who
had complete power. Factory and mine workers were badly paid and had to put up with poor working
conditions. Most of the population were peasant farmers who were very poor and lived in dreadful
conditions. In 1917 the Tsar was overthrown during the Russian Revolution. Eventually, after a civil war,
the communists, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power. Lenin made a number of changes to the way that the
country was ruled.
The workers have been told to take control of the factories
and to run them by committees. The peasants have been
told to share out the land between themselves. Our
government has taken control of the banks and the wealth
of rich people has been confiscated. Houses have been
taken from their rich owners and shared among the
workers. No political parties are allowed, except the
Communist Party. All newspapers are under our control.
However, we are encouraging all classes to have access to
the finest theatre and music – not just the rich. Women are
equal to men and all titles and ranks have been dropped.
Everybody is now called ‘comrade’. The Tsar and his family
have been shot. The old Russian Empire is now known as the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR or Soviet Union).
↑ Vladimir Lenin
How did Stalin rise to power?
Lenin died in 1924. Stalin was one of several leading communists who were possible candidates to take
his place. However, he was not the favourite to take over. Most people believed that Leon Trotsky would
take Lenin’s place as leader of the Soviet Union.
LEON TROTSKY
Family life
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Born in 1879 into a respectable Jewish farming family.
Exceptionally bright at school and university.
Early political life
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Worked closely with Lenin. The two men had met in
London in 1902.
Published two communist newspapers.
Played a key role in the 1917 Revolution.
Leader of the army during the Civil War.
Leadership qualities
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A brilliant writer and public speaker.
Seen as the Communist Party’s best political thinker, after Lenin.
Very arrogant. Often offended other members of the Party.
How did Stalin win the power struggle?
Trotsky underestimated Stalin. Unlike Stalin, Trotsky made little effort to build up support from members
of the Communist Party. He also scared people in the USSR by arguing that as a country they should try
and spread communism to other parts of the world. People in the Soviet Union were worried that this
might bring them into conflict with other countries. In contrast, Stalin argued that the Party should
concentrate on establishing communism in the USSR rather than trying to spread the revolution across the
globe.
Trotsky was also unlucky. He fell ill towards the end of 1923. This was when it became clear that Lenin
was dying and the Trotsky needed to rally support. Stalin also tricked Trotsky into not attending Lenin’s
funeral. Stalin told Trotsky that Lenin’s funeral was going to take place on 26th January, when it was
actually due to take place on the 27th. So, at Lenin’s funeral Stalin attended as chief mourner and was
able to present himself as Lenin’s closest friend.
Stalin was also a clever and ruthless politician. In 1924, Stalin worked with Kamenev and Zinoviev to
keep power within the Party away from Trotsky and Bukharin. In 1926 he turned against Kamanev and
Zinoviev and allied himself with Bukharin. After Kamanev, Zinoviev and Trotsky had been expelled from
the Communist Party, Stalin attacked Bukharin. By 1929 Bukharin had also been expelled from the Party.
Stalin was now the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union.
How did Stalin control the Soviet Union? Part One
In the 1930s, Stalin’s main aim was to turn the Soviet Union into a leading world power. He wanted to
show the world that communism could succeed and that he could turn the USSR into a modern, industrial
country that could match the capitalist countries of the West such as Britain and the USA. In order to
achieve his goal, Stalin believed that he had to be in complete control of the country – opposition could
not be tolerated. One of Stalin’s aims was to control people to such an extent that they would be afraid
to even consider opposing him.
Terror – how did Stalin use fear to
keep people in line?
Stalin had a large secret police force,
which he used to crush any opposition.
People believed that there could be spies
and informers everywhere. Children were
encouraged to inform on their parents.
People who criticised Stalin were arrested
and often tortured before being sent to
labour camps (known as gulags). The
camps were often in the north of the Soviet
Union where prisoners would be forced to
work in freezing conditions for long hours
and no pay.
Stalin was ruthless with political
opponents or people he saw as a threat to
his position of power. Stalin ‘purged’ all
the people in the Communist Party who he
thought might challenge his leadership.
These people were arrested and put on
‘show trials’ in public where they would be
forced to admit to crimes before being
sentenced and executed. It is thought that
around half a million members of the
Communist Party were arrested and either
executed or sent to the gulags. In addition,
25,000 army officers were removed from
their positions. Later, the Purges were
extended to teachers, engineers, miners,
factory managers and workers. It has been
estimated that, by 1937, 18 million people
had been transported to the labour camps.
↓ Source 1 – This mock travel poster was produced by people who
had been exiled from the USSR. The caption says, ‘Visit the USSR’s
pyramids!’
↑ Source 2 – Forced labour on the Belomar Canal
How did Stalin control the Soviet Union? Part Two
Censorship and propaganda –
how did Stalin control ideas?
People living in the Soviet Union only
received the information that Stalin
wanted them to. The government
controlled all newspapers and radio
stations. Communists did not believe in
God so churches were closed and
religious worship was banned. Instead,
people were encouraged to worship
Stalin. Belief in God was replaced by
belief in communism.
↑ Source 4 – Stalin at the helm, a poster from 1933.
DISCUSS
ewe
Look at Sources 3, 4 and
5. What is the main
message of each source?
↓ Source 5 – A 1937 photomontage of Stalin surrounded
by a sea of children’s faces.
↑ Source 3 – The cover of a magazine from 1949. During
the celebrations of his 70th birthday a giant portrait of
Stalin was suspended over Moscow and lit up at night by
searchlights.
At the time, Stalin was popular and admired by
the majority of people living in the Soviet Union.
This was largely due to propaganda. Paintings,
films, plays and posters were produced to show
people that Stalin was the best person to lead the
Soviet Union. Every town had a large statue of
Stalin in the centre, a Stalin Square or a Stalin
Avenue. Regular processions through the streets
were organised in honour of Stalin and what he
had achieved.
How did Stalin change life in the Soviet Union?
→ Source 6 – Poster showing Stalin marching alongside
Part One
Soviet miners. ‘It is our workers who make our programme
Life for workers
achievable.
The government ran all the main industries. A five-year
↓ Source 7 –
Alexei
plan was introduced that set targets for each of the key
Stakhanov
–a
heavy industries (coal, iron, oil and electricity). Some of
Soviet coal
these targets were almost impossible to reach because of
miner, whose
a shortage of raw materials. However, many people
amazing
supported Stalin and were determined to reach the
productivity at
work inspired
targets that had been set because they thought that they
others
to work
were working for a better future and helping to make
as hard as he
the Soviet Union a leading world power. Propaganda
did.
posters like the one on the right played an important
role.
Results during the first five-year plan were very
impressive. Over 100 new industrial towns and 15,000
factorise were built. Between 1927 and 1937 coal
production rose from 35.4 million tons to 128 million tons;
oil from 11.7 million to 28.5 million tons; and steel from
four million to 17.7 million tons. By 1937, the Soviet
Union had been transformed into a modern industrial
power. Unemployment was virtually non-existent.
However, ‘progress’ came at a great cost. People
working in the factories had to work very long hours for
very little pay (wages actually fell between 1928 and
1937). If they were late for work they could be sacked
and lose their house or flat. Workers were fined if they
could be sacked and lose their house or flat. Workers
were fined if they failed to meet targets. If they made
mistakes they were accused of sabotage and arrested.
Overcrowding was a problem in the towns and the cities.
In the countryside, peasants were forced to join
collective farms, under the control of the local communist
leader. Land, animals and tools were not owned by
individuals but by the collective. People were expected
to work cooperatively. If they refused to join the
→ Source 9 –
collectives they were rounded up by the police and sent
Higher and
to labour camps. It took time for people to get used to
Higher, a
the new system of farming and at first there were food
painting by
shortages. In 1932-33 there was a famine and millions
Serafima
died in Kazakhstan and the Ukraine – the Soviet Union’s Ryangina, 1934
richest agricultural region.
← Source 8 – Woman
Metro-Builder with
Pneumatic Drill by
Alexsandr Samohvalov,
1937.
How much did life change for women?
The Communist Party wanted to change the position of women in society. They thought that women
should be more independent and not just fulfil the domestic role of caring for the home and family.
Women played a key role in industry. The five-year plan revealed a shortage of workers so thousands
of creches and day-care centres were set up so that women could work in the factories. By 1937, 40%
of industrial workers were women. However, not enough childcare was provided by the government.
Many children lived on the streets in gangs of orphans and survived by begging and stealing. Also,
although the Communist Party stressed equality for women, few became actively involved in politics.
How did Stalin change life in the Soviet Union?
Part Two
Life for young people
The communists thought education was very important.
Their aim was for each child to receive nine years of
free education. However, schools often struggled for
resources. Teachers were badly paid and many
children left school early. At school, the aim was to
combine education and political propaganda. During
the 1920s:
 Religious teaching was replaced by an emphasis on
communism and atheism.
 A large part of education focused on technical
subjects and industrial training in order to prepare
pupils for the world of work. There were visits to
farms, factories and power stations.
 The history of the Soviet Union was rewritten in
order to present Lenin and Stalin as the real heroes
of the Revolution and the Civil War. Trotsky was
given little credit. Like other old ‘heroes of the
Revolution’ he was written and airbrushed out of
Soviet history. Look at the two photographs on the
rights. Can you spot the difference?
Turning young people into loyal communists was not just
left to teachers. Outside of school, students were
expected to join the ‘Pioneers’ and promise to obey
what the Communist Party taught them. In the Pioneers,
children took part in activities like camping. However,
they were also taught communist values. From the age
of fourteen or fifteen young people could join the
Komsomol. This was more serious and focused on
politics. It was seen as an important step before
becoming a member of the Communist Party.
→ Source 11 – After Stalin seized power,
a very similar photograph was published
with Trotsky and Kamanev painted out.
↑ Source 10 – A photograph of Lenin addressing
troops in 1920, with Trotsky and Kamanev on the
steps to the right of the platform.