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The power struggle that followed Lenin's death in January 1924 is one of the most studied episodes in modern political history. Joseph Stalin's rise from a relatively obscure bureaucrat to the unchallenged dictator of the Soviet Union was not inevitable — it was the product of his extraordinary political cunning, his control of the party apparatus, the mistakes of his rivals, and the appeal of his policy positions. Understanding the dynamics of this struggle is essential for explaining the subsequent direction of the Soviet state.
Stalin became General Secretary of the Communist Party in April 1922. This seemingly administrative role proved to be the key to power:
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