In the early Cold War, Stalin dominated Eastern Europe, as he believed the security of the USSR depended on it. Over 21 million Russians had died in the Second World War, and Stalin believed that his country's sacrifice gave him the right to a say in the future of Europe. For him, Communism had defeated Hitler and Nazism.

Stalin was concerned that a strong Germany would threaten his country again, so he ensured that countries of the Eastern bloc became Communist, as part of a 'buffer-zone' against the West.

Distrust and suspicion of the West were major characteristics of his leadership. Stalin did not introduce free elections in the East as promised at Yalta. His regime was a very brutal dictatorship, suppressing any opposition and carrying out a number of purges against anti-Soviet leaders in the USSR and its satellite countries. Leaders who were unacceptable to the Soviet Regime were removed.

Stalin effectively controlled Eastern Europe. He died in 1953, to be succeeded by Nikita Khrushchev.