Stalin facts

Bank robbery. Before the Russian Revolution, Communist paramilitaries were often raising money through robberies and ransom kidnappings. Particularly notable was the 1907 Tiflis bank robbery, in which Stalin participated (playing minor role). The robbery resulted in 40 deaths and the theft of 341,000 rubles (equivalent to around US $3.4 million today).

Commander of the Air Force. As an officer of the Red Air Force during WW2, Vasily received rapid promotion. On 5 March 1942 he shot down an FW-190 and claimed another German aircraft soon after. He became Commander of the Air Force in the Moscow Military District in 1948. After the death of his father, he was considered a dangerous person and was judged in a behind-closed-doors trial. After 8 years of imprisonment, he was released in 1960, but died soon due to chronic alcoholism.

Georgian. Stalin's original Georgian name was "Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili". The surname means son of Juga, and is derived from Georgian djuga, meaning "steel". This later became the root of his adopted name "Stalin", from the Russian word for "steel".

Not a step back. During the first part of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviets suffered heavy losses along with mass retreat and desertion. Stalin released order No. 227 to re-establish discipline in the Red Army in the battle against the Wehrmacht. It is famous for its line "Not a step back!" which became a slogan of Soviet resistance against the German invasion.