1. Vladimir Lenin (1870–1924):
- Lenin was a revolutionary and a key figure in the Bolshevik Party, which eventually became the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU).
- He played a crucial role in the Russian Revolution of 1917, leading the Bolsheviks to seize power and establish the Soviet state.
- Lenin served as the first leader of the Soviet Union, holding the position of Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars from 1917 until his death in 1924.
- He is widely regarded as one of the most influential political figures of the 20th century and contributed significantly to the development of Marxist–Leninist ideology.
2. Joseph Stalin (1878–1953):
- Stalin was a prominent Bolshevik revolutionary and a close associate of Lenin.
- He rose through the ranks of the party and gained significant power after Lenin's death in 1924.
- Stalin eventually became the de facto leader of the USSR and remained in power until his death in 1953.
- During his leadership, Stalin implemented policies such as rapid industrialization, collectivization of agriculture, and the Great Purge, which resulted in the deaths of millions of people.
- Stalin is a controversial figure known for his authoritarian rule and his policies, which had profound effects on the history of the Soviet Union.