Communist International anti-fascist Spanish Civil War a non-aggression pact Nazi Germany Soviet invasion of Poland invading the Soviet Union Allies of World War II Big Three captured Berlin World War II annexed the Baltic states from Finland Romania Soviet-aligned governments superpower Cold War another major famine in 1946–1947 first test of a Soviet atomic bomb antisemitic doctors' plot Stalin's death Nikita Khrushchev denounced his rule de-Stalinisation Marxism Soviet Union Marxism–Leninism
Stalin promoted Marxism–Leninism abroad through the Communist International and supported European anti-fascist movements during the 1930s, particularly in the Spanish Civil War. In 1939, his regime signed a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany, enabling the Soviet invasion of Poland. Germany ended the pact by invading the Soviet Union in 1941, after which Stalin joined the Allies of World War II as one of the Big Three. Despite initial catastrophes, the Soviet military repelled the German invasion and captured Berlin in 1945, ending World War II in Europe. The Soviet Union, which had annexed the Baltic states and gained territories from Finland and Romania during the war, established Soviet-aligned governments in Central and Eastern Europe, emerging as a global superpower and entering the Cold War with the United States. Stalin presided over post-war reconstruction, another major famine in 1946–1947, the first test of a Soviet atomic bomb in 1949, and an antisemitic campaign culminating in the "doctors' plot" in 1952. After Stalin's death in 1953, he was succeeded by Nikita Khrushchev, who denounced his rule and began de-Stalinisation of Soviet society.
