Final answer:
The Soviet Union was the largest fighting force in the world and established control over most of Eastern Europe under Stalin's leadership.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Soviet Union was the largest fighting force in the world. Under the leadership of Stalin, the USSR established control over most of Eastern Europe. Stalin's desire to dominate the region as a buffer against attacks from the West led to the establishment of one-party communist states in countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. The Soviets also retained control of territories they had conquered during World War II.