Final answer:
Joseph Stalin led the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and consolidated immense power through the policies of Stalinism and propaganda. Facing rivalry after Lenin's death, he emerged as the leader and instilled totalitarian control, extending communist influence into Eastern Europe post-World War II.
Step-by-step explanation:
Joseph Stalin led the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) during his time in power. He ascended to leadership following the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924, after a significant power struggle within the party between factions. Initially part of the Bolshevik movement, the CPSU was the ruling party of the Soviet Union and enforced a totalitarian regime.
Stalin's era was marked by his consolidation of power and the development of Stalinism, which involved a series of aggressive political and economic policies such as rapid industrialization, state control over agriculture, and the purging of political rivals.
Stalin's policies were often propagated with intensive propaganda that portrayed him as a devoted follower of Lenin and a guardian of communist orthodoxy. He demonized his political rivals and emphasized the unity and centralism of the party.
Stalin's influence extended beyond the Soviet Union as he directed the formation of communist governments in countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romania after World War II, although the Soviet Union struggled economically to assist these nations. Stalin remained Premier of the Soviet Union until his death in 1953.