Stalin - selected works, histories, sources

Stalin is one of the most controversial figures of the 20th c. As leader
of the USSR after Lenin, he responsible for the most rapid economic growth
in the history of the world, the Holodomor, contributed to
the defeat of the Germans in WWII, and the most deaths perpetrated
by any government since the Mongols (though Mao, not to be outdone, soon
superseded him).

In addition to controversy, there is also mystery.

There is a great deal of history on Stalin's time in office, WWII, and
politics, but primary sources and even secondary sources on some topics
are somewhat difficult to come by in translation.

The twin enigmas I refer to are the incomprehensible dogma of Lysenkoism
and the inexplicable ascent of Stalin from minor party functionary to
leader of 1/6th of the world.

Included are several primary and secondary works addressing this.