Stalin's confirmation as General secretary

© stel Josef Stalin delivering a speech with Lenin looking over his shoulder

On 31 May 1924 in Moscow, the Communist Party of Russia ends its XIIIth party convention, confirming Josef W. Stalin in the office of General Secretary of the party. Stalin was able to prevail over his adversary Leon D. Trotsky on a number of political issues. Two years before his death in 1922, Lenin had forewarned about Stalin’s lust for power.