Sztálin

Sztálin is the Hungarian transliteration of Stalin, referring to Joseph Stalin, the Soviet dictator. Born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili in Georgia, he became a prominent figure in the Bolshevik Party, eventually rising to power after Vladimir Lenin's death. Stalin's rule, from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953, was characterized by rapid industrialization, forced collectivization of agriculture, and widespread political repression.

Under his leadership, the Soviet Union underwent significant transformations, including the Five-Year Plans aimed at industrializing the nation and the collectivization of farms, which led to widespread famine and resistance. Sztálin's regime also saw the Great Purge, a period of intense political persecution and executions targeting perceived enemies within the party, military, and intelligentsia. Millions were sent to labor camps, known as the Gulag, where many perished.

Despite the immense human cost, Sztálin is also credited by some with leading the Soviet Union to victory in World War II against Nazi Germany and for transforming the nation into a major world power. His legacy remains deeply controversial, with his actions continuing to be debated and analyzed by historians. The term "Sztálin" in Hungarian usage directly evokes this historical figure and his complex, often brutal, impact on the 20th century.