In the photo above, it's hard to believe one is viewing a cold-hearted being responsible for countless deaths. Stalin looks orderly and calm as he stares into the distance. Interestingly enough, he was said to have been scarred from the smallpox he contracted as a child (via Biography). However, in this particular photo, Stalin seems to be blemish-free. Likewise, his arm was deformed from an accident (something he was apparently bullied for when he was young), so it might be not a coincidence that he is only photographed from the shoulders up.
Stalin died in 1953 after suffering a stroke (via History). His successor, Nikita Khrushchev, condemned his actions and his cult of personality. He also began a de-Stalinization process (via the University of Washington). It's estimated that Stalin was responsible for the deaths of 20 million people. In spite of this, some believe Stalin's actions — no matter how brutal — led the Soviet Union into prominence.
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