re intact. Although she did lose some territories the major part of her strength (land, population and resources) were untouched, and though temporarily weakened was still the greatest power on the continent. The Nazi regime aimed to take over and control Germany existing social structures and institutions.
             The first achievement of any regime is to obtain power or to influence power. Stalin gained power by long term service to the Bolsheviks and gaining power and influence in the party to be in a position of control when Lenin died in 1924. In 1922 he became general secretary of the party's Central Committee. He controlled appointments, set agendas and could transfer thousands of party officials from post to post at will. By the time of Lenin's death he largely controlled the party machine and by 1928 he had driven his leftish opposition from its party posts. He then adopted leftist programs and smashed the parties right for opposing measures that he himself had criticised. By the end of 1929, Stalin was the undisputed master of the USSR. Under St
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