Why did Stalin join the army?

Answer 1

Stalin never joined the army. In fact, during World War 1, when he was conscripted for army service in the Tsarist army, he was deemed medically unfit for service, because a childhood injury had left his left arm so weak he could not use it to the extent a soldier would have to. Later on, when he was in power he simply adopted military dress. When World War 2 broke out he used that power to take over direction of the war.