Final answer:
Joseph Stalin's manipulation of the Soviet Communist Party's structures, including the nomenklatura and the roles of the Central Committee, Politburo, and General Secretary, allowed him to consolidate and maintain power. He established a police state, used propaganda, and expanded the USSR's influence into Eastern Europe post-WWII. Stalin's period was characterized by totalitarian control and an emphasis on collective goals over individual rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of the Communist Party under Stalin's regime was fundamentally entwined with the structures of the nomenklatura, the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the position of General Secretary. Joseph Stalin utilized his role as General Secretary beginning in 1922 to consolidate power by controlling party appointments, ensuring that only his supporters gained positions within the party. The Central Committee and the Politburo were the centers of power within the party, with the Politburo acting as the executive committee between plenums of the Central Committee, effectively guiding the direction of the USSR.
Stalin's strategy included crafting a charismatic persona as the leader and promoting the idea that the party's collective goals justified any sacrifices, effectively supporting Stalin’s totalitarian grip on power. He transformed the Soviet Union into a police state where terror, intimidation, and widespread propaganda was used to maintain control over the Soviet people and eliminate any perceived threats to his authority.
Moreover, the international expansion of communism was a goal under Stalin, notably in the post-World War II era, where he backed communist parties in Eastern European nations, leading to the establishment of communist governments in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romania. The Soviet Union exerted significant influence in these countries, albeit at great cost to their economies and political independence.