The article below offers a glimpse into the early life of Stalin, shedding light on his character and experiences before he assumed leadership of the Soviet Union in 1924 and remained in power until his passing in 1953.
Joseph Stalin's early life spans the years from his birth on December 18, 1878 (or December 6, in Old Style), through the October Revolution on November 7, 1917 (or October 25, in American terms). Ioseb Jughashvili was raised in Gori, Georgia, and went to school there before migrating to Tiflis (today's Tbilisi) to enroll in the Tiflis Seminary. He was born there, the son of a cobbler and a housekeeper. He adopted Marxism while attending the seminary, became a fervent admirer of Vladimir Lenin, and eventually dropped out to join the revolution.
Childhood: 1878–1893
Ioseb Jughashvili, who would later become known as Stalin, was born on December 18 in the Georgian town of Gori. His parents were Ekaterine (also known as Keke) and Besarion Jughashvili (also kn...