Early Life
Joseph Stalin was born as Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvili on December 18, 1878 or December 6, 1878 according to the Old Style Julian calendar. Although he invented a new birth date for himself: December 21, 1879. When he was in his 30's he took the name Stalin, from the Russian for "man of steel".
Joseph grew up poor and he was the only child. his Father was a shoemaker and an alcoholic who beat Stalin. His Mother was a laundress. when Joseph was 7 he contracted smallpox, leaving his face scarred and his arms slightly deformed. because of this, the children in his village began to tease and treated him cruelly. because of this Stalin began a quest for greatness and respect. he also developed a cruel streak for people who crossed him.
After Stalin left school because he couldn't pay for the tuition, he became an underground political agitator taking part in labor demonstrations and strikes. Then he joined more militant wing of the Marxist Social Democratic Movement, the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin. Stalin also became involved in various criminal activities. He was arrested multiple times between 1902 and 1913, and subjected to imprisonment and exile in Siberia.
Joseph grew up poor and he was the only child. his Father was a shoemaker and an alcoholic who beat Stalin. His Mother was a laundress. when Joseph was 7 he contracted smallpox, leaving his face scarred and his arms slightly deformed. because of this, the children in his village began to tease and treated him cruelly. because of this Stalin began a quest for greatness and respect. he also developed a cruel streak for people who crossed him.
After Stalin left school because he couldn't pay for the tuition, he became an underground political agitator taking part in labor demonstrations and strikes. Then he joined more militant wing of the Marxist Social Democratic Movement, the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin. Stalin also became involved in various criminal activities. He was arrested multiple times between 1902 and 1913, and subjected to imprisonment and exile in Siberia.
Family
In 1906, Stalin married Ekaterina "Kato" Svanidze (1805-1907). They had a son, Yakov (1907-1943), who died as a prisoner in Germany during WWII. His wife died from typhus when her son was an infant.
In 1918, Stalin married his second wife, Nedezhda "Nadya" Alliluyeva (1901-1932), the daughter of a Russian revolutionary. They had two children, a boy and a girl. Nedezhda committed suicide in her early 30's.
Stalin also fathered several children out of wedlock.
In 1918, Stalin married his second wife, Nedezhda "Nadya" Alliluyeva (1901-1932), the daughter of a Russian revolutionary. They had two children, a boy and a girl. Nedezhda committed suicide in her early 30's.
Stalin also fathered several children out of wedlock.