What You Don’t Know About Stalin’s Upbringing

He was never meant to be a politician

A photograph of Joseph Stalin by an unknown photographer, 1920 (Wikimedia Commons — image resized by author)

Millions of Soviet citizens died under the regime of Joseph Stalin. He purged his people for decades, justifying his actions in the name of a communist utopia that never came to fruition. Those who survived the slaughter were forced to live in a society plagued by starvation, oppression, censorship, and deceit.

As you’d expect, Stalin’s life has been a subject of fascination for many. His rise to power is particularly impressive given his working-class roots and his Georgian heritage. But even those who are interested in history know little about his early years.

Though it’s difficult to understand the psychology of a murderous dictator, Stalin’s upbringing laid the foundation for the man he would become.

Beatings in Gori

Joseph Stalin was born on the 6th of December 1878. He grew up in a small town called Gori in the center of Georgia. Handicrafts, trades, shops, and stalls were commonplace in Gori, and Joseph’s father Beso worked as a shoemaker to support the family.

A photograph of Joseph Stalin’s father by an unknown photographer, c. 1875–1900 (Wikimedia Commons)