Stalin rise to power USSR By Dillon Hatley Dec 18, 1878 Joseph Stalin is born 1899 Stalin starts to read Karl Marx's "Communist Manifesto" for the first time. Apr 5, 1902 Stalin arrested for first time 1912 Appointed to Central Committe of Bolsheviks 1917 Russian Revolution begins 1918 Russian Civil war begins 1922 Stalin elected to General Secretary of Communist party Jan 21, 1924 Lenin's death Dec 1, 1934 Stalin begins the Great Terror Aug 23, 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact signed Aug 20, 1940 Trotsky Assassination Apr 30, 1945 USSR controls all of Easter Europe Mar 5, 1953 Death of Joseph Stalin