The rise of Joseph Stalin in Soviet Russia is closely associated with the events following the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924. Stalin, leveraging his position as General Secretary of the Communist Party, outmaneuvered rivals like Leon Trotsky through a combination of political savvy and ruthless tactics. He consolidated power in the late 1920s, initiating policies that led to rapid industrialization and the creation of a totalitarian state. This power shift fundamentally altered the course of Soviet history, leading to oppressive regimes, purges, and the establishment of a strong centralized government.