Why did Stalin want to take over Europe?

Answer 1

I partialy quote from Caroline Johnson, Foothill College: "It was Stalin's plan to claim neutrality. His idea was that if all the countries of the world went to war with Germany, by the end of the war, each would become financially and politically exhausted. Russia, having been at peace the entire time, would inevitably rise as the greatest power in the world and dominate above capitalism. However, even Stalin could not ignore Hitler's advances into the USSR and other parts of Europe - the Nazi plan of domination intimidated and threatened that of Stalin's. It was then that Russia became involved in the war. Entrance into the war had many advantages for Russia: it would obviously defend the USSR from Hitler's dominance and it gave Russia the opportunity to take over all of the land in the East that the Nazi's had invaded. This action not only defeated Hitler and his intentions, but it placed Russia in a powerful position in these lands. It is here that Stalin's plan begin to thoroughly develop."