The Georgian affair exposes the conflict over Soviet federalism

The new Soviet government assigned Stalin responsibility for nationalities. His office addressed the future of peoples and territories formerly ruled by the empire; later policy combined formal...

The treaty ended Russia’s participation in the First World War at the cost of extensive territory and population. Stalin supported the Bolshevik government as it faced military intervention, civil...

The Bolshevik leadership sent Stalin to help organize defense against White forces around Tsaritsyn. The Civil War brought mass violence, requisitioning, famine, and competing claims to political...

The Red Army defeated the Georgian Democratic Republic and established Soviet rule. Stalin, a Georgian Bolshevik, supported incorporation into the Soviet system; the event exposes tensions between...

The Central Committee elected Stalin General Secretary of the Communist Party. The office gave him influence over appointments and party administration, which he used to build a durable political...

The USSR was constituted as a union of republics after revolution and civil war. Stalin had argued for a more centralized arrangement; the final federal structure preserved republic institutions while...

Lenin criticized Stalin’s approach to national republics, warning that nominal federal equality could conceal Russian domination. The letter is a key counterpoint to Stalin’s public role as...

Lenin dictated a postscript recommending that Stalin be removed as General Secretary, citing his rudeness and concentration of power. The document was withheld from ordinary party members and became...

Lenin’s death intensified conflict over the party’s direction. Stalin used his organizational position and alliances to marginalize rivals, while the leadership debate involved competing visions of...

The testament was read to a restricted meeting of the Central Committee, rather than published openly to party members. Stalin survived the challenge through collective maneuvering and control of...