Stalin: Paradoxes of Power, 1878-1928

Karolina Til (left), who managed the Stalin household, and Aleksandra Bychkova, Svetlana’s nanny.

Polish marshal Józef Piłsudski, victor of the Soviet-Polish War, on a state visit to Romania, Poland’s military ally, September 1922. Poland, particularly in alliance with Romania, was the foremost threat in Soviet military intelligence reports.

Chiang Kai-shek, March 13, 1927, on the eve of the massacre of his political allies, the Chinese Communist party. After learning his assault was proceeding, Chiang confided in his private diary that his heart was “lifted” and the Communists were “worthy of being killed.” Yet Stalin felt constrained to stick with the Chinese strongman as a bulwark against British and Japanese influence in China.