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First Step
Stalin used the job of General Secretary to promote people loyal to him, to remove from the party people who were disloyal and to collect information on every party member. -
Second Step
Once he was the undisputed leader - the boss; he continued to use the position of General Secretary of the Communist Part to promote loyal supporters and demote, or expel from the party those who he could not be sure about. -
Third Step
Fear became one of the main weapons Stalin used against the Soviet people. No-one was safe - loyal Molotov was forced to divorce his wife when she was arrested, her crime? She was Jewish! Stalin also bugged the offices of the other members of the Politburo and collected information on them. -
Fourth Step
On his way to power he was cautious and did not cause the deaths of anyone - he waited until he could destroy people without any political opposition. -
Finally
Joseph came to power by manipulating those around him, by exploiting the posts he held for maximum political effect, and by being utterly ruthless in his pursuit of power.
