Why did Stalin kill so many people?

Why did Stalin kill so many people?

• Answer:

  The number of people that Stalin supposedly killed is still highly debated. Some propose the more common idea that Stalin had millions murdered, though these are citing questionable Nazi sources. Said ideas are generally propagated by those that had something to gain from spreading that idea. Others claim that such ideas are nonsense, and attempt to disprove them. Most prominently: Ludo Martens, with his book 'Another View of Stalin'; as well as Mario Sousa, with 'Lies Concerning the History of the Soviet Union'. No one does anything "just because they can", no matter what it is they're doing. Stalin propelled Russia forward technologically and industrially by about 75 years over the course of 10. It'd be a challenge to do that while simultaneously slaughtering the people that are required to propel the nation forward.