1. Read the factoid about Stalin. Identify 5 deliberate errors.  Highlight evidence which explains why Stalin might have supported Soviet expansion.  starter activity

2. What were Stalin’s motives for Soviet expansion? To identify Stalin’s motives for expanding Soviet influence in Europe To analyse interpretations of Stalin & the Berlin Blockade To justify different schools of thought  LOs

3. Many still remember Stalin fondly in Russia. Do you think the West has been too quick to judge him?

4.  Your task Read Phillips p.52-56 and find evidence to support these statements: Read Phillips p.52-56 and find evidence to support these statements: Stalin was interested in spreading world revolution Stalin was interested in spreading world revolution Stalin was influenced by traditional Russian expansionism Stalin was influenced by traditional Russian expansionism Stalin wanted to create a defensive buffer zone Stalin wanted to create a defensive buffer zone Stalin’s actions were a result of his overly-cautious personality Stalin’s actions were a result of his overly-cautious personality  Extension. Which do you agree with? Write a judgement paragraph using 2 pieces of evidence to support your view  Extension. Which do you agree with? Write a judgement paragraph using 2 pieces of evidence to support your view

5. Spreading world revolution Russian revolutionaries, e.g. Trotsky believed ideals of Communism would be under threat from capitalism Russian revolutionaries, e.g. Trotsky believed ideals of Communism would be under threat from capitalism Trotsky believed in ‘Permanent Revolution’ & Stalin ‘Socialism in One Country’ Trotsky believed in ‘Permanent Revolution’ & Stalin ‘Socialism in One Country’ Comintern (aka Third International, 1919-43) Comintern (aka Third International, 1919-43) Replaced by Cominform (1947) Replaced by Cominform (1947)

6. Who was right in your opinion – Trotsky or Stalin?

7. Lenin speaking at 2 nd Congress of Comintern, 1920

9. Evidence of Soviet expansionism Soviet actions after WWII - power-vacuum exploited by Communists, e.g. Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe, Communist support for guerrillas in Greece, Communist coup in Czech. (1948) Soviet actions after WWII - power-vacuum exploited by Communists, e.g. Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe, Communist support for guerrillas in Greece, Communist coup in Czech. (1948) Soviet expansionism confirmed by Kennan in ‘Long Telegram’ and ‘The Sources of Soviet Conduct’ Soviet expansionism confirmed by Kennan in ‘Long Telegram’ and ‘The Sources of Soviet Conduct’ Communist fighters in Greece

10. Traditional Russian expansionism Stalin the Red Tsar (view of Samuel Sharp and F Schuman) Russia used Eastern Europe as ‘cordon sanitaire’ Stalin wanted to recover land lost in Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)

12. Defensive action to create a ‘buffer zone’ Protective zone around USSR (view supported by John Lewis Gaddis) Protective zone around USSR (view supported by John Lewis Gaddis) Expansionism was the product of Soviet defence rather than aggression Expansionism was the product of Soviet defence rather than aggression Need to appease or control hostile states, e.g. Poland Need to appease or control hostile states, e.g. Poland Hardline US approach made imposition of Communist govts. A necessity Hardline US approach made imposition of Communist govts. A necessity

13. The Soviet ‘buffer zone’

14. Stalin’s personality Deeply suspicious of Western motives – e.g. failure of Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939), failure to open a second front Deeply suspicious of Western motives – e.g. failure of Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939), failure to open a second front Cautious leader – didn’t support Communists in Greece, stood by ‘Percentages agreement’ (1944), wary of provoking US during Berlin Blockade Cautious leader – didn’t support Communists in Greece, stood by ‘Percentages agreement’ (1944), wary of provoking US during Berlin Blockade

15. How far do you agree with Geoffrey Roberts (‘Stalin’s Wars’, 2006) view that Stalin was a cautious, suspicious or even nervous leader? Do you think he felt isolated?

16.  Group task Work in small groups. Nominate one person as the chair. In your groups discuss the questions in the ‘skills builder’ on p. 57. Try to reach a consensus as a group. The chair should then report back to the class. Work in small groups. Nominate one person as the chair. In your groups discuss the questions in the ‘skills builder’ on p. 57. Try to reach a consensus as a group. The chair should then report back to the class.

17.  Your task Use the source-buster tool to analyse the interpretations of Stalin’s part in the Berlin Blockade on p.57-8 Use the source-buster tool to analyse the interpretations of Stalin’s part in the Berlin Blockade on p.57-8  Extension. Which view do you agree with? Write a judgement paragraph  Extension. Which view do you agree with? Write a judgement paragraph Portrait of Stalin in East Berlin

18.  Your task Work in groups of 3-4 students. Each group will be given a school of thought from below. Find evidence from the events and individuals we have studied to support your view. Work in groups of 3-4 students. Each group will be given a school of thought from below. Find evidence from the events and individuals we have studied to support your view. Listen to the other groups and vote on which group makes the most persuasive points. Listen to the other groups and vote on which group makes the most persuasive points.

19.  Homework Complete a table similar to the one below on the different schools of thought (historiography) on p.58-61 of Philips. Complete a table similar to the one below on the different schools of thought (historiography) on p.58-61 of Philips.

20. Plenary Plenary Divide the class in two. Explain how the following events can be used to explain EITHER Stalin’s aggressive foreign policy OR his defensive actions Divide the class in two. Explain how the following events can be used to explain EITHER Stalin’s aggressive foreign policy OR his defensive actions Spread of Communism through East Europe Spread of Communism through East Europe Creation of Cominform and Comecon Creation of Cominform and Comecon Berlin Blockade Berlin Blockade