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Stalin's rise to power began after the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924, which created a contentious struggle for leadership within the Communist Party. Initially vying with Leon Trotsky, Stalin cleverly maneuvered to outmaneuver his rivals. Within a few years, he had exiled Trotsky and initiated his first Five-Year Plan focusing on rapid industrialization and the collectivization of agriculture. This drastic transition from privately owned farms to state-controlled collective farms led to catastrophic agricultural output, contributing to widespread famine and the deaths of millions between 1932 and 1933.