— Ch. 1 · Illness And Final Days —
Death and state funeral of Joseph Stalin.
~5 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
Joseph Stalin, the second leader of the Soviet Union, died on the 5th of March 1953 at his Kuntsevo Dacha after suffering a stroke. He was 74 years old when he passed away. His health had been deteriorating since the end of the Second World War. Heavy smoking caused atherosclerosis in his body. A mild stroke occurred around May 1945 during the Victory Parade. A severe heart attack followed in October 1945.
The last three days of his life were documented in official Soviet announcements published in Pravda. Former historian Dmitry Volkogonov described how Stalin and his inner circle gathered for an evening of drinking on the 28th of February 1953. Lavrentiy Beria, Nikita Khrushchev, Georgy Malenkov, and Vyacheslav Molotov attended this gathering. Guests dispersed at approximately 5:00 a.m. on the 1st of March.
Khrushchev noted that Stalin had consumed a lot of alcohol but remained in good spirits. Stalin retired to his private quarters shortly after. No sounds emerged from his room throughout Sunday, the 1st of March. Sensors equipped in his room alerted staff if there was any movement. At 11:00 p.m., his housekeeper entered cautiously. She found him lying on the floor wearing pajama trousers and a shirt. He was unconscious, breathing heavily, and unresponsive to attempts to rouse him.
Medical Autopsy Findings
At 7:00 a.m. on the 2nd of March, Beria summoned medical experts to examine Stalin. Their examination revealed blood pressure readings of 190/110 and right-sided hemiplegia. Doctors concluded he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke involving the left middle cerebral artery. His known history of uncontrolled hypertension contributed to this outcome.
Over the next two days, doctors applied various treatments to lower his blood pressure. It rose to 210/120 during this period. Two separate applications of eight leeches each were placed on his neck and face. Despite these efforts, his condition continued to deteriorate. He died at 9:50 p.m. on the 5th of March 1953.
His body underwent an autopsy before being embalmed for public viewing. The most important findings appeared in a special bulletin published in Pravda on the 7th of March 1953. Physical changes observed during the autopsy aligned with extracranial changes typical of stroke victims. No evidence supported claims that Beria poisoned him.
Historians Vladimir Naumov and Jonathan Brent developed a theory suggesting warfarin poisoning based on mentions of stomach hemorrhaging excised from the original report. This theory remains speculative without firm evidence. Beria's son Sergo later recounted how his mother told her husband that his position was more precarious than when Stalin was alive.