Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1922 until 1953, when he died. He was responsible for one of the most remarkable and devastating genocides, the Great Purge. His vicious rule cost the lives of an estimated 20 to 60 million people due to his rigid and cruel treatment. Through his exploitation of the lower class and his manipulative abuses of power, Stalin created one of the worst examples of leadership in history. It takes an interesting character to be able to carry out the cruelties displayed in one's regime and the traits that Stalin developed in his cult of personality were probably acquired as a child and adolescent. This article will examine how Stalin's background helped develop the qualities of a ruthless man. leader and how he displayed them at the time of his power. His destruction of citizens' rights and his failure to maintain his responsibilities as a leader will also be reflected throughout this writing. Stalin's childhood and background Stalin was born on December 18, 1878 in Gori, Georgia. His mother's name was Ketevan Geladze. Her biological father is not precisely known, although there are many theories as to the identity of her paternal father. It could be that Stalin was the descendant of a Gregorian prince or count. Another theory is that Stalin was the son of General Nikolai Przhevalsky, one of the great scientific explorers of the 19th century. Stalin could have been the son of a Jewish wine merchant named Yaakov Egnatashvili. His mother did laundry at his house. This is one of the most likely theories, as he financed Stalin's seminary studies and Stalin named his first son Yaakov after Egnatashvili. Stalin could also have been the son of a priest. It is even possible that his father... middle of paper ...... response to the phone call between Stalin and Krupskaya. Matthews, John R., 1937 – The rise and fall of the Soviet Union / by John R. Matthews. P. cm.-(World History Series)This dealt with the history of the Soviet Union, from the 1917 revolution to the eras of Lenin and Stalin. “Joseph Stalin”. Joseph Stalin. Np, and Web. January 19, 2014 This web source details Stalin's "cult of personality" and provides more information on his distortion of the media image. “The art of conservatism”. : Marxism according to Stalin. Np, and Web. January 21, 2014 Showed how Stalin manipulated Marxism and revealed his interpretation of Marxist ideologies versus actual Marxist beliefs. “Marxism”. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, nd Web. January 21, 2014. Provided a definition of Marxism and a brief history of how it was adapted in Stalinist Russia..