1001 Space Earth Nature History First Civilisations Ancient Egypt Biblical Times Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Chinese, Japanese Civilisations Indian Civilisation African Civilisation The Early Americas The Rise of Islam The Middle Ages The Renaissance Civil War and Revolution The Industrial Revolution Two World Wars 20th-century Achievements Human World Science and Technology	Who was Josef Stalin? After the death of Vladimir Lenin, Russia's first Communist leader, Josef Stalin seized power. He was leader of the Soviet Union until his death in 1953. His secret police force arrested, tortured, and executed millions of people whom he suspected of being anti-Communist.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: History Chapter: Civil War and Revolution