Joseph StalinSta·lin, Joseph /ˈstɑːlɪn/ (1879–1953) a Russian politician, born in Georgia, who was leader of the former Soviet Union from the death of Lenin (1924) until his own death. Although Stalin was responsible for developing farming and industry in his country, and for successfully leading it in the war against Germany (1941–45), he is now remembered also for his great cruelty. Thousands of political opponents were killed or sent to prisons in Siberia, and Stalin's secret police made ordinary people live in fear. → see also Yalta