Joseph Stalin(Dec 18,1878 - March 5,1953)60th Death Anniversary

Joseph Stalin was the de facto leader of the Soviet Union  from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953.

Joseph Stalin was appointed General Secretary of the party's Central Committee in 1922. He subsequently managed to consolidate power following the 1924 death of Vladimir Lenin through expanding the functions of his role, all the while eliminating any opposition.

Russians are marking the 60th anniversary of the death of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin with devotees laying flowers at his tomb in Moscow while critics blame the former Soviet leader for millions of deaths in purges and prison camps.