Hello, and thank you for listening to The History of World War II podcast, episode 166,

Lenin's gift to Stalin.

When we last left Stalin, he had been exiled to the far north at Solichet Dosk, where he

was to spend his days with Russia's most hardened criminals.

But after recovering from typhus, the young man could take it no more.

His life and all his dreams were waiting for him.

So after nine months in this hellhole, he planned out his escape.

A boat would be stolen, and the waterways would be used to return to civilization.

As the area was extremely remote, the guards were somewhat lax, letting the environment

do most of their work.

And Kobat was determined, driven, and thanks to Tatiana Sukowa, a fellow inmate, now healthy.

During his time at Solichet Dosk, the other prisoners would later recall Stalin's

sensitivity, his quickness, almost eagerness, to feel that he had been slided.

This trait of his would harm many tens of thousands in the years to come.

Of course, no one called him what he was, because the word was not yet in use.

He was a sociopath.

In its truest sense, Stalin did not feel empathy for others due to his lack of conscience.

Any emotions of care or regard was reserved for himself.

But life is rarely, if ever, intimidated by a man's internal anger or outward rage.

Just to remind him that all men's lives are finite.

Soon after his successful escape, Kobo got word that his father, Bezo, had died.

This was August of 1909.

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