Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, Episode 155,

Stalin Bio Part 2.

Last time, Josef Jugashvili later, Kobah, then Stalin, had entered into this world with

all the joy and hurt of it.

His father, Bezo, had had the potential for providing more than a subsistence life, but

had lost it either through drink, the abuse of his family, or the despair over the loss

of his first two sons.

As for Eos' mother, KK, she stuck by her son, made him stick by her, but did what she

needed to do to give him the best chance he had of making his way in the world in the town

of Gory.

Alas, she also beat young Eos' when he did not measure up, but all that seemed to be

paying off, as the teenager had been allowed to sit for the entrance exam of the theological

seminary school of Taflis, and with all his hard work over the years of absorbing all

the books he could, so-so easily cleared the exams.

Eoseph would be a priest.

KK's fondest hope was about to come true.

But back to reality, as Eoseph or Soso, his given name, then Kobah, his chosen nickname,

was about to enter the six-year course, the question of money came up.

Where was the annual tuition of 40 rubles to come from, or the 100 rubles for Roman

board?

It was also big the question, why had KK and Soso turned down a full-state scholarship

at the secular teacher training school?

...