Although Stalin was responsible for the deaths of perhaps 20 million people through his various purges, terrors and policies, he became "popular" after World War 2, because he was seen as the hero of the war saving the country from defeat by the Germans, Russia's age old enemy and invader. He was also seen as the man who turned the Soviet Union from a backward agrarian country into a world power. It didn't matter that his forced industrialization of the country came at a terrible cost in lives and living conditions for many.
Prior to World War 2, he was very unpopular despite the Propaganda put out by Pravda and other media.
Stalin was installed as General Secretary of the Communist Party, but at that time, the position was meant to be a simple administrative post. Stalin turned it into such a huge vehicle for installing people beholden to him in various government and Party positions, that Lenin recommended to the Party in his so-called "Testament" that Stalin be replaced by Leon Trotsky. Stalin suppressed this document so that no one would find out that he was not Lenin's choice to succeed him.
Joseph Stalin
During World War 2, Joseph Stalin was the dictator of the Soviet Union.
Joseph Stalin was a leader of the Soviet Union. Karl Marx was dead before the Soviet Union was ever formed.
Joseph Stalin did not create the Soviet Union. Vladimir Lenin did that.
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Stalin's goal was to turn the Soviet Union into a military and industrial superpower. Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1952.
Joseph Stalin was part of the communist soviet union. He was the 1st general secretary of the communist party of the soviet union
The ruler of the Soviet Union was Joseph Stalin in 1941.
The leader of the Soviet Union during WW2 was Joseph Stalin.
Joseph Stalin was leader of Russia in 1948.
Joseph Stalin fought for the Soviet Union in WWII.