Final answer:
Stalin's post-WWII objectives for the Soviet Union were to retain annexed territory in Eastern Europe, establish communist governments as buffer states, and divide Germany into occupation zones to prevent future military threats.
Step-by-step explanation:
After Germany's defeat in World War II, Stalin and the Soviet Union had several key objectives:
- Stalin wanted to keep the territory in Eastern Europe that the Soviet Union had annexed in 1939. This included parts of Poland, and he expected Poland to compensate for this territory by expanding westward into former German areas.
- The Soviet leader also aspired to establish communist governments in Eastern European countries to create a buffer zone for the USSR and expand its influence.
- Lastly, Stalin aimed to divide Germany into occupation zones controlled by the Allies, ensuring that Germany would be weakened and unable to wage war in the future. He later agreed to the creation of a fourth occupation zone that would be shared with France.
These objectives reflected Stalin's intent to secure the Soviet Union's western border, spread communism, and ensure there was no repeat of a conflict like World War II from a revived Germany.