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What were the goals Stalin and the Soviet Union in the aftermath of the Second World War? The Soviet Supreme leader was an incredibly ambitious man and hoped to expand the Soviet Empire, after the defeat of the Third Reich and the Empire of Japan. Stalin sought to achieve four specific objectives. After the calamnity calamity of World War Two, he wanted to ensure the security of the Soviet Union, the expand expansion of Communism beyond the Soviet Union, secure his position in world affairs and create of a Soviet empire. As he set out to secure each of these goals in the wake of World War two, he laid the foundations for the Cold War.

====Securing Soviet borders at Tehran Conference====

Stalin skillfully started to jostle for his regime's post-war position, while he and the western allies were engaged in an all-out war NAZI with Germany. Between November 28 and December 1, 1943, Stalin took part in the Tehran Conference. The chief main discussion of the meeting, held by the US President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Stalin, centered on the opening of a “second front” in Western Europe. Stalin agreed to conduct eastern offensive operations to coincide with the forthcoming Western Front, and in return, he asked the western leaders to proceed with formal preparations for their long-promised invasion and regaining of German-occupied France. Stalin also insisted on retaining the territories provided by the German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact of 1939 and additionally requested the Baltic coast of East Prussia as a compensation for the USSR’s enormous role and a greater number of casualties. <ref>Teheran Conference - http://www.britannica.com/event/Tehran-Conference</ref>

The western allies, especially Churchill, did not like what Stalin proposed and saw it as opportunistic. However, they reluctantly agreed to Stalin's demands as they needed conduct eastern offensive operations to keep coincide with the alliance strong forthcoming Western Front, and in order to decisively defeat return, he asked the Third Reich. <ref>Roberts, Geoffrey, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300112041/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300112041&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=9b12c40f73ceb88f68fa490cbc8bc9ae Stalin's Wars: From World War western leaders to Cold War, 1939–1953]</i>. (Yale University Press, Yale, 2006), p. 156</ref> In accordance proceed with decisions taken at the Tehran Conference, in May 1944 joint Britain formal preparations for their long-promised invasion and US troops launched an invasion regaining of German-occupied France, opening the so-called “second front” in the West. Their actions allowed the Soviet Union to make significant advances across Eastern Europe toward Germany. In particular, they advanced upon Stalin also insisted on retaining the territories that they had lost during provided by the German invasion. The end -Soviet Non-aggression Pact of the war was near 1939 and additionally requested the changing geopolitical situation, especially in Europe meant that it was time Baltic coast of East Prussia as a compensation for another meeting the USSR’s enormous role and a greater number of the Alliescasualties. <ref> Roberts, pTeheran Conference - http://www.britannica. 145com/event/Tehran-Conference</ref>

The western allies, especially Churchill, did not like what Stalin proposed and saw it as opportunistic, they reluctantly agreed to Stalin's demands as they needed the Soviet Union to defeat the Third Reich. <ref>Roberts, Geoffrey, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300112041/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300112041&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=9b12c40f73ceb88f68fa490cbc8bc9ae Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939–1953]</i>. (Yale University Press, Yale, 2006), p. 156</ref> In May 1944, in accordance with the decisions made at the Tehran Conference, Britain and US troops launched an invasion of France, opening the so-called “second front” in the West. Their actions allowed the Soviet Union to make significant advances across Eastern Europe toward Germany. In particular, they advanced into the territories that they had lost during the German invasion. It was becoming clear that Germany was near defeat and that the geopolitical situation was going to quickly change. Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin needed to meet again to sort out the future of Europe. <ref> Roberts, p. 145</ref> {{Mediawiki:TabletAd1}}====Cement territorial and political gains at Yalta====

The Yalta Conference took place in February 1945. This was the second wartime meeting of the “Big Three” the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, and US President Franklin Roosevelt). Each brought his own agenda to the Yalta Conference. The British wanted to maintain their empire, the Soviets wished to secure and obtain more land and secure positions in their new zones of influence and interests, and the US wanted to ensure the Soviet’s entry into the Pacific war and discuss postwar settlement.<ref> Geoffery Roberts, "Stalin at the Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam Conferences," <i>Journal of Cold War Studies</i> 9:4 (Fall 2007): 6-40</ref> From the very opening, Stalin made it clear that his demands regarding Poland were not negotiable: the Soviets were to gain “their territory” from the eastern portion of Poland. Poland was to compensate for that by extending its Western borders, thereby forcing out millions of Germans. Negotiators even signed a declaration forcing the Polish to provide inclusion of Soviet Communists in their postwar national government.<ref>Roberts, p. 245 </ref>

From the very opening, Stalin made it clear that his demands regarding Poland were not negotiable: the Soviets were to gain “their territory” from the eastern portion of Poland. Poland was to compensate for that by extending its Western borders, thereby forcing out millions of Germans. Negotiators even signed a declaration forcing the Polish to provide inclusion of Soviet Communists in their postwar national government.<ref>Roberts, p. 245 </ref>  Moreover, Roosevelt main goal was to obtain a commitment from Stalin to participate in the United Nations in order to secure future peace and alliance. As for the other Eastern European countries, the Americans and the British generally agreed that the future governments of the nations bordering the Soviet Union should be “friendly” to the Soviet regime as long as the Soviets pledged to allow free elections in all territories liberated from Nazi Germany.<ref> Roberts, p. 37</ref>. Unfortunately, neither Poland nor any other Eastern European country had the opportunity of holding free elections for the next almost 50 45 years.<ref>Yalta Conference - http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/yalta-conference</ref>

Furthermore, the Big Three agreed to require Germany’s unconditional surrender and ratified their agreements regarding NAZI Germany 's postwar division: there were to be four zones of occupation, one zone for each of the three dominant nations plus one zone for France. Berlin itself, although within the Soviet zone, would also be divided into four sectors, and would eventually become a major symbol of the Cold War socialists-capitalists separation due to the infamous Berlin Wall, which was constructed and maintained by the Soviets.

The Soviets led by Stalin were keen on regaining lost territories , and the Yalta Conference was their best chance to do that. As a result, Stalin even agreed to enter the Pacific war against Japan in exchange for more territories granted, including portions of Sakhalin, Port Arthur, Manchurian railroads and the Kurile Islands.<ref> Roberts,p 38</ref>. However, already in poor health, President Roosevelt failed to acknowledge Stalin’s true objectives. Roosevelt readily met Stalin’s conditions, since the Soviets eventually agreed to join the United Nations and Pacific war. The two leaders even secretly negotiated a voting formula with a veto power granted solely to the permanent members on the UN Security Council, providing themselves with more control in the world affairs and greatly weakening the UN power in the oncoming disputes. Overall, Roosevelt and the other Allies felt confident that Yalta had been successful. Nevertheless, the true Conference winner was once again Joseph Stalin .<ref>Plokhii, Serhii. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670021415/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0670021415&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=395fe063e5a59ca43bf5fc51b1cf3924 Yalta: The Price of Peace]</i>. New York, NY: Viking Press, NY, 2010), p. 145</ref>.

====Post war doctrines, conference reactions and consequences====

Although the initial reaction to the Yalta agreements was celebratory, it was also very short lived. In 1945, the administration of the new US president Harry Truman clashed with the Soviets over their influence in Eastern Europe, and over the United Nations. Many Americans began to criticize Roosevelt’s handling of the Yalta negotiations due to the following lack of Soviet cooperation and even giving Eastern Europe and Northeast Asia away to the Soviet Union.<ref> Plokhii, p. 119</ref> Numerous Central European nations also regard the Conference in Yalta as the “Great Western betrayal” since it allowed the USSR to intervene freely in their domestic affairs, abandoning democratic policies and turning them into Soviet satellites.  Yalta effectively allowed the USSR to install Communist regimes in Central Europe with impunity. At the Yalta conference, the Big Three “attempted to sacrifice freedom for the sake of stability”stability, ” and many believe the decisions and concessions of Roosevelt and Churchill during the summit led to the following power struggle during the Cold War. Nevertheless, Stalin essentially got everything he wanted: a significant territorial sphere of influence and interest as a buffer zone.

The German invasion in, the USSR and pressing back to victory in the East required a tremendous sacrifice by the Soviet Union. And Stalin skillfully used that during the wartime conferences in pursuit of his postwar Soviet empire expansion. Soviet military casualties totaled approximately 35 million with over 15 million killed, missing or captured. One in four Soviets was killed or wounded. More than 1,700 towns and 70,000 villages were destroyed , and the Soviet civilian death toll reached over 25 million.<ref> Conquest, p. 234</ref> Thereafter, Stalin was often referred to as one of the most influential men in human history. Although Stalin was responsible for the deaths of over 20 million people during his brutal rule, he was even nominated for Nobel Peace Prize twice – in 1945 and 1948.<ref>Montefiore, p. 117</ref> He continued to prosecute a reign of terror, purges, executions, exiles to labor camps and persecution in the postwar USSR, suppressing all dissent and anything that represented foreign–especially Western–influence. One of the key aims of Stalin, before and after the war was the retention of his won power and to make himself secure against all his real or imagined opponents.<ref>Conquest, p. 213</ref> However, despite all, Soviet dictator’s iron will and deft political skills let Stalin play the loyal ally while never abandoning his vision of an expanded postwar Soviet empire.

==Established Soviet style regimes at war's end== Thereafter, Stalin prime aim at the various wartime conferences and in the immediate aftermath of the war, it has been argued was the defense of the Soviet Union. The Communist country had suffered greatly during the war and had suffered millions often referred to as one of casualties. Furthermore, Russia had been invaded during the First World War and had been invaded many times most influential men in its human history. Although Stalin, a key student of history was very aware responsible for the deaths of this and over 20 million people during his brutal rule, he wanted to protect the Soviet Union, from further invasions. This partly explained his apparently inexhaustible hunger was even nominated for land Nobel Peace Prize twice – in 1945 and territory1948.<ref>Boobbyer, Phillip, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1460969928/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1460969928&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4f4a0d2ed9d56327a09af40eee7f97b3 The Stalin Era]</i> (Routledge, London, 2000)Montefiore, p. 278117</ref> Stalin may have driven the Germans from eastern Europe and after He continued to prosecute a brief war drove the Japanese out reign of Northern China and Northern Koreaterror, howeverpurges, he did not free these countries. In effectexecutions, these countries had communist regimes imposed on them. Local communists were elevated exiles to positions of power labor camps and persecution in the liberated regions postwar USSR, suppressing all dissent and nations and with anything that represented foreign–especially Western–influence. One of the support key aims of Stalin, they eventually became part before and after the war was the retention of the Communist Blochis won power and to make himself secure against all his real or imagined opponents.<ref>Conquest, p. 213</ref> However, despite all, which was led by Soviet dictator’s iron will and deft political skills let Stalin, in Moscowplay the loyal ally while never abandoning his vision of an expanded postwar Soviet empire.

Stalin was eager to extend the territories under his control in order to establish friendly nations on his borders.<ref>Boobyear, p. 234</ref> The Soviet Supreme leader knew that if friendly governments ruled the territories surrounding his country, that they would be less likely to assist any enemy in attacking Russia. Furthermore, Stalin wanted friendly governments around his nation, in order to act as a buffer and to protect the Soviet Union from any invasion. Stalin also wanted to control countries that traditionally had threatened Russia and later the Soviet Union, such as Poland and Germany. This was all done to protect the Soviet Union from further attacks and invasions, especially from his former allies, the British and the Americans. He, like other communists, believed that a confrontation between Communist system and the Capitalist system was inevitable.<ref> Conquest, Robert. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140169539/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0140169539&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0cdh-20&linkId=6d18b0f5cf1b30ced56f9f028135d4c2 Stalin: Breaker of Nations]</i>. (Viking-Penguin, Hammondsworth, 1999), p. 212<ad/ref>

===Expansion of Communism=Establish Soviet-style Regimes in Eastern Europe at war's end====Stalin is often portrayed as a blood-thirsty prime aim at the various wartime conferences and power mad dictator. This is truein the immediate aftermath of the war, but he it has been argued was also a committed communist and was a firm believer in the tenets defense of Marxism-Leninismthe Soviet Union. This The Communist doctrine foresaw a global revolution in which all country had suffered greatly during the nations war and had suffered millions of casualties. Furthermore, Russia had been invaded during the world would become communists First World War and property and wealth would be distributed equallyhad been invaded many times in its history. The ultimate aim Stalin, a key student of Communism history, was very aware of this and he wanted to reform society and transform humanity by protect the common sharing of goodsSoviet Union, which would end exploitation from further invasions. This partly explained his inexhaustible hunger for land and conflictterritory. Stalin had previously favored developing communism in the Soviet Union<ref>Boobbyer, in opposition to the call of TrotskyPhillip, to export communist revolution around the world<i>[https://www.amazon. By 1944com/gp/product/1460969928/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1460969928&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-1945, 20&linkId=4f4a0d2ed9d56327a09af40eee7f97b3 The Stalin was well aware that the Red Army and its victories allowed an unprecedented opportunity to expand Communism.Era]<ref/i>Conquest(Routledge, London, 2000), p. 234278</ref> This led him Stalin may have driven the Germans from eastern Europe, and after a brief war drove the Japanese out of Northern China and Northern Korea, however, he did not free these countries. In effect, these countries had communist regimes imposed on them. Local communists were elevated to adopt positions of power in the liberated regions and nations and with the policy support of supporting Stalin, they eventually became part of the Communist parties Bloc, which was led by Stalin, in eastern EuropeMoscow.

In Stalin was eager to extend the years after the Soviet liberation of countries, such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary, the Soviet Supreme leader, staged coups that deposed often democratically elected governments, often pro-western and replaced them with Communist administrationsterritories under his control to establish friendly nations on his borders.<ref> Applebaum, Anne. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140009593X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=140009593X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=03d813e57e34b26c53182c459bc18eb7 Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944–1956]</i> (Doubleday, London 2012)Boobyear, p. 117234</ref> Stalin went to great lengths The Soviet Supreme leader knew that if friendly governments ruled the new governments were sympathetic territories surrounding his country, that they would be less likely to the particular brand of Communism espoused by himassist any enemy in attacking Russia. He made sure that the Communist Furthermore, Stalin wanted friendly governments carried out around his wishes nation, to act as a buffer and conformed to his repressive form of Communismprotect the Soviet Union from any invasion. The desire Stalin also wanted to expand communism was one of control countries that traditionally had threatened the key drivers of Soviet policy in the aftermath of the end of the war.<ref>BoobyearUnion, p. 277</ref> However, this alarmed the west, especially Washington such as Poland and this persuaded them to see Moscow as its chief enemyGermany.

==Stalin as Empire Builder==Stalin has often been referred This effort was all done to as protect the 'Red Tsar'. He wanted to build a great empire for himself Soviet Union from further attacks and invasions, especially from his nation. The Supreme Soviet Leader believed that former allies, the Soviet Union had all but won British and the war against the GermansAmericans. He, like other communists, on its own. This meant believed that they were entitled to a confrontation between the spoils of war Communist system and that because of their great victory that they had won the right to dominate, politically and economically, smaller countriesCapitalist system was inevitable.<ref>MontefioreConquest, Simon SebagRobert. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140169539/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0140169539&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6d18b0f5cf1b30ced56f9f028135d4c2 Stalin: The Court Breaker of the Red TsarNations]</i>. (London: Weidenfeld & NicolsonViking-Penguin, Hammondsworth, 20031999), p. 317212</ref> Stalin believed that the Soviet Union was entitled to be regarded as a great power. Now great powers, such as Britain and France had empires and so the Soviet Union was entitled to a great empire. Stalin's desire to establish an empire from the countries that his Red Army had recently liberated was one of the main goals of the communist leader, in the post-war period.

He wanted an empire not only for political reasons ====Expansion of Communism====Stalin is often portrayed as a blood-thirsty and power-mad dictator. This is true, but he was also for economic reasons. Stalin wanted to establish puppet regimes a committed communist and was a firm believer in eastern Europe and they would provide the Soviet Union with resources and markets for their goodstenets of Marxism-Leninism.<ref>Applebaum, p. 113</ref> The This Communist leader envisaged doctrine foresaw a series global revolution in which all the nations of puppet states in Eastern Europe that the world would become communists and property and wealth would be exploited so that they could help distributed equally. The ultimate aim of Communism was to make reform society and transform humanity by the Soviet Union prosperouscommon sharing of goods, which would end exploitation and conflict. This was to be ultimately a mistake as Stalin had previously favored developing communism in fact, the Soviet Union came , in opposition to subsidize the Communist countries in call of Trotsky, to export communist revolution around the East of Europeworld. By 1944-1945, Stalin's domination of Eastern Europe was to greatly antagonize well aware that the west Red Army and was a contributory factor in starting the Cold Warits victories allowed an unprecedented opportunity to expand Communism.<ref>MontefioreConquest, p. 332234</ref>This led him to adopt the policy of supporting Communist parties in eastern Europe.

In the years after the Soviet liberation of countries, such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary, the Soviet Supreme leader, staged coups that deposed often democratically elected governments, usually pro-western and replaced them with Communist administrations.<ref> Applebaum, Anne. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140009593X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=ConclusionUTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=140009593X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=03d813e57e34b26c53182c459bc18eb7 Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944–1956]</i> (Doubleday, London 2012), p. 117</ref> Stalin believed went to great lengths that the Soviet Union's sacrifices meant that he and his nation new governments were entitled sympathetic to be treated like a great power and the particular brand of Communism espoused by him. He made sure that they could create an Empire for their own strategic the Communist governments carried out his wishes and economic benefitconformed to his repressive form of Communism. The Soviet leader was eager desire to expand his territory in an effort to create a buffer around communism was one of the USSR, key drivers of Soviet policy in a bid to protect it from any invasion, possibly from the western powers. Stalin as a committed communist was also eager to expand communism around aftermath of the world and to promote a global revolution, that would sweep away end of the capitalist system. Stalin did achieve many of his goalswar.<ref> ApplebaumBoobyear, p. 143277</ref> By the time of his death, he ruled or influenced almost one-fifth of the world's landmass and the USSR was acknowledged as only one of two Superpowers in the world. However, his ambitions meant that he caused this alarmed the Cold Warwest, that for four decades, threatened especially Washington and this persuaded them to turn into a nuclear conflict between the Communist bloc and the democratic western powerssee Moscow as its chief enemy.

====Build Soviet Empire in Europe====<div class="portal" style="'float:right; width:8535%;"'>====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====

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{{MediawikiStalin has often been referred to as the 'Red Tsar'. He wanted to build a great empire for himself and his nation. The Supreme Soviet Leader believed that the Soviet Union had all but won the war against the Germans, on its own. This meant that they were entitled to the spoils of war and that because of their great victory that they had won the right to dominate, politically and economically, smaller countries.<ref>Montefiore, Simon Sebag. <i>[https:WWII}}//www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400076781/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1400076781&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a2465ef3d37dd105ffcfe226239d20ed Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar]</i>. (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003), p. 317</ref> Stalin believed that the Soviet Union was entitled to be regarded as a great power. Now great powers, such as Britain and France had empires, and so the Soviet Union was entitled to a great empire. Stalin's desire to establish an empire from the countries that his Red Army had recently liberated was one of the main goals of the communist leader, in the post-war period.

He wanted an empire not only for political reasons but also for economic reasons. Stalin wanted to establish puppet regimes in Eastern Europe, and they would provide the Soviet Union with resources and markets for their goods.<ref>Applebaum, p. 113</ref> The Communist leader envisaged a series of puppet states in Eastern Europe that would be exploited so that they could help to make the Soviet Union prosperous. This was to be ultimately a mistake as in fact; the Soviet Union came to subsidize the Communist countries in the East of Europe. Stalin's domination of Eastern Europe antagonized the west and was a contributory factor in starting the Cold War.<ref>Montefiore, p. 332</ref> ====Conclusion====Stalin believed that the Soviet Union's sacrifices meant that he and his nation were entitled to be treated like a great power and that they could create an Empire for their own strategic and economic benefit. The Soviet leader was eager to expand his territory to create a buffer around the USSR, in a bid to protect it from any invasion, possibly from the western powers. Stalin as a committed communist was also eager to expand communism around the world and to promote a global revolution, that would sweep away the capitalist system. Stalin did achieve many of his goals.<ref> Applebaum, p. 143</ref> By the time of his death, he ruled or influenced almost one-fifth of the world's landmass, and the USSR was acknowledged as only one of two Superpowers in the world. However, his ambitions meant that he caused the Cold War, that for four decades, threatened to turn into a nuclear conflict between the Communist bloc and the western democratic powers.  {{MediaWiki:AmNative}}  ====References====