STALIN
(1879-1953)

Born Joseph Vissarionovich Djugashvili in Georgia, but later changing his
name to the more revolutionary Stalin (man of steel) - he wasx heavily
involved in pre-revolutionary underground politics, being an early member of
the small Bolshevik party. He was exiled to Siberia five times. In 1917 he
played a leading part along with Trotsky and Lenin in the Bolshevik coup,
and after the overthrow of the Czar and Lenin's death eventually manouvered
himself into the position of complete dicatator of the Soviet Union. His
reign was marked by terror, show trials,mass arrests, massexecutions and
deportations and slave labour. It is estimated that he was responsible
through terror, murder and famine for the deaths of some 20 million Soviet
citizens.


TROTSKY
(1879-1940)
Born Lev D.Bronstein of Jewish parentage in Russia, he was a leading light
and major speaker for the revolutionary left in Russia. He organised the Red
Army after 1917 and was greatly instrumental in winning the civil war for
the Reds. He was expelled from Russia and the Party by Stalin, who
eventually had him assasinated by a secret agent in Mexico in 1940.