One of the many executions he ordered was carried out by Ramón Mercader.
This man's predecessor and successor both labeled him as excessively rude, the latter through a supposedly secret speech delivered three years after this man died that, among other things, accused him of using fake embezzlement charges to have war heroes executed. This leader had earlier weakened his army by having Lavrenty Beria use the NKVD to arrest and execute several military officers. One of the many executions he ordered was carried out by Ramón Mercader. This leader tried to modernize his economy by ordering massive production increases over five year periods and by collectivizing farms starting in 1928. Name the first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, who ruled from 1922 until his death in 1953.
This man's predecessor and successor both labeled him as excessively rude, the latter through a supposedly secret speech delivered three years after this man died that, among other things, accused him of using fake embezzlement charges to have war heroes executed.
Joseph Vissarionovich {Stalin} [or Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili; accept mixtures of those two answers