Stalin's Russia.

1905 Russian Revolution

Feb 4, 1905

Revolution in Russia. Nicholas II announces constitutional reforms, and the creation of the Duma, or elected assembly. Stalin marries Yekaterina Svanidze.

Stalin appointed to Central Committee

Jan 4, 1912

January 1912: ·Bolsheviks officially separate from Social Democrats, Stalin appointed to the Party's Central Committee by Lenin.

1917 Russia Revolution

Mar 4, 1917

·Beginning of Russian Revolution. The Tsar's government falls, replaced with a Provisional Government. Bolsheviks, including Stalin, hasten to St. Petersburg

Bolsheviks seize power.

Nov 4, 1917

November 1917: ·Bolsheviks overthrow Provisional Government, seize power. Stalin plays only a minor role.

Civil war

Feb 4, 1918

1918-1920: ·Civil war in Russia. Trotsky organizes Red Army.

USSR founded

Feb 4, 1922

1922: ·Official founding of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Stalin elected General Secretary

Apr 4, 1922

April 1922: ·Stalin elected General Secretary of the Communist Party

Lenins testament

Jan 4, 1923

January 4, 1923: ·Lenin, in a postscript to his Testament, warns the Party to remove Stalin from his position of power.

Lenins death

Jan 21, 1924

January 21, 1924: ·Death of Lenin. Stalin survives the reading of the Testament by the Central Committee in May.

Stalin attacks Trotsky - beginning of the power struggle.

Feb 4, 1924

1924-25: ·Stalin publicly attacks Trotsky for being unfaithful to "Leninism."

Socialism in one country

Dec 4, 1924

December 1924: ·Stalin publicly articulates his theory of "Socialism in One Country."

Power struggle, allies with bukharin.

Dec 4, 1925

December 1925: ·Allied with Bukharin and the "Rightists," Stalin begins attacks on Zinoviev.

1926: ·Beginning of the first Five-Year Plan

Feb 4, 1926

15th party congress

Oct 4, 1926

October-November 1926: ·At the Fifteenth Party Congress, Stalin attacks the "United Opposition" of Zinoviev, Kamenev, and Trotsky.

Kamenev and Zinoviev expelled

Nov 4, 1927

November 1927: ·Kamenev and Zinoviev expelled from the Party; Trotsky expelled and sent to Central Asia.

Bukharin removed from the Politburo

Nov 4, 1929

Collectivisatiom begins

Dec 5, 1929

December 1929: ·Stalin announces "liquidation of the kulaks as a class"; collectivization begins in earnest.

Famine

Feb 5, 1931

1931-32: ·Terrible famine across the Soviet Union; millions die

Second Five Year Plan

Feb 5, 1933

til 1937

Beginning of the great terror

Dec 5, 1934

December 1, 1934: ·Murder, by Stalin's agents, of Sergei Kirov. Beginning of "Great Terror," which continues until 1938.

Zinoviev, Kamenev arrested over Kirovs murder

Jan 5, 1935

January 1935: ·Zinoviev, Kamenev, and others are arrested, accused of complicity in Kirov's assassination.

Trial of the Fifteen

Aug 5, 1936

August 1936: ·First "Show Trial." Zinoviev, Kamenev, and their allies confess and are executed.

Third Five Year Plan

Feb 5, 1938

1938–1941

Trial of the seventeen

Mar 5, 1938

March 1938: ·Third Show Trial, conviction and execution of Bukharin, Rykov, others.

18th party congress

Mar 5, 1939

March 1939: ·At Eighteenth Party Congress, Stalin announces end of the Great Terror.

Nazi-Soviet Pact

Aug 23, 1939

August 23, 1939: ·Nazi-Soviet Pact is signed in Moscow

Outbreak of WW2

Sep 5, 1939

September 1939: ·Outbreak of World War II

Germany invade Russia

Jun 21, 1941

June 21, 1941: ·Hitler invades Soviet Union

Battle of Stalingrad

Aug 5, 1942

August 1942-February 1943: · Battle of Stalingrad. Germans are defeated, marking the turning point in the war.

Soviet control of Eastern Europe.

Feb 5, 1948

February 1948: ·Communists seize power in Czechoslovakia, cementing Soviet control of Eastern Europe.

·Sino-Soviet Treaty signed

Feb 5, 1950

Death of Stalin

Mar 5, 1953