Question

The expansion plans of the Soviets led initially to which policy of the early Cold War

Answer 1

The History of the Soviet Union between 1927 and 1953 covers the period of the Second World War victory against Germany, as the USSR was under the firm control of Joseph Stalin. He sought to destroy his enemies while transforming Soviet society with aggressive economic planning, in particular a sweeping collectivization of agriculture and rapid development of heavy industry. He introduced his "Westernizer" ideals to the Soviet Union by broadly and thoroughly reforming Soviet policy; such was exemplified by a period of rapid industrialization. He also promoted a secret police and a mass mobilization party, which led to millions of deaths as a result of purges and policies of starvation to force farmers to submit. World War II, known as "The Great Patriotic War" in the Soviet Union, devastated much of the USSR with about one out of every three World War II deaths being a citizen of the Soviet Union. After World War II, the Soviet Union's armies occupied eastern Europe, where they put puppet regimes in power making the Soviet bloc. In western Europe, democratic governments were reestablished, with the help of aid provided by the United States. By 1949, the Cold War had hardened the lines, with NATO confronting Stalin's Warsaw Bloc. After 1945, Stalin did not engage in any wars; rebuilding the economy was a slow process. Stalin continued his absolute rule until his death.