Joseph Stalin.

Joseph Stalin was a Russian political leader, who was the undisputed leader of the U.S.S.R. from 1929 and until his death. Born Isoif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, he adopted the pseudonym Stalin, which means, "Man of Steel", while still a young revolutionary. Stalin institutionalised terror and was responsible for the death and deprivation of millions of people. There's no doubt that Stalin was a ruthless megalomaniac however, he also transformed the U.S.S.R. into a major world power and helped convert communism in the U.S.S.R. from an egalitarian, revolutionary movement into an authoritarian, bureaucratic governmental system.

Stalin experienced a deprived childhood in poverty; his father was an alcoholic, unsuccessful cobbler and treated his son badly. He died young leaving his mother to nurse Stalin through various sicknesses such as smallpox and septicemia which left his face permanently flawed and his left arm slightly crippled for life. Stalin disliked his appearance immensely and later on released a propaganda campaign to rewrite his history and alter photos to make him appear more handsome and flawless.

Chinese Stamp, 1950. Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong ...

Stalin, (Nikolai Yezhov, censored) and Molotow at ...

English: From left to right: Joseph Stalin, Frankl...

Soon after Stalin gained control of the Soviet Union, in 1928 he began the first of the five-year plans for economic development. Stalin forced collectivised agriculture onto farmers and an estimated 25 million farmers were forced onto state farms. Many opposed to this plan including the Kulaks and as a result 5,000,000 Kulaks were murdered or starved to death. Stalin was evidently obsessed with industrialism and the consequences of his dream of an industrialised Russia were immense.

Stalin overtime became acutely paranoid and eventually expelled countries of any opponents. Leon Trotsky was Stalin's long time primary opponent and their ideology's differed greatly. Although Stalin had already forced Trotsky's resignation and exiled him to Turkey, which cemented his grip on power that wasn't enough and eventually an ice pick silenced Trotsky...