Stalin's Rise to Power By michaila 1912 Stalin appointed to first Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party 1922 Stalin becomes first leader of Soviet Union 1924 Lenin dies, Stalin wins control in Communist party 1936 Stalin launches the Great Purge 1939 Stalin and Hitler sign the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact 1941 Germany breaks the pact, invading USSR, who is unprepared 1941 Stalin stayed in Moscow as Germany invaded, destroying all remaining supplies 1943 Soviets do good in the Battle of Stalingrad 1943 Tehran Conference 1945 Yalta Conference 1949 Stalin started the Nuclear Age by using an atomic bomb 1950 Stalin supported South Korea, eventually causing the Korean War Mar 5, 1953 Stalin dies (FINALLY)