Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II?

Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II, holding the position from the late 1920s until his death in 1953. His leadership during the war was marked by significant military and strategic decisions that ultimately contributed to the defeat of Nazi Germany. Under Stalin's direction, the Soviet Union mobilized its vast resources and manpower, which included the famous Red Army and the production of war materials, leading to key victories at battles such as Stalingrad and Kursk.

In contrast, Vladimir Lenin had already passed away by the time WWII began, as he died in 1924. Leon Trotsky, though a key figure in the early years of the Soviet regime, was ousted from power by Stalin in the late 1920s and was not involved in the leadership during the war period. Nikita Khrushchev succeeded Stalin and rose to power only after the war, around the mid-1950s, thus he was not at the forefront of the Soviet leadership during the conflict. This context establishes Joseph Stalin as the pivotal figure in the Soviet Union's role throughout World War II.