1. The Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) By:Vasilis Daskalopoulos, Ilianna Kotini

2. World war II timeline September 1939:war officially begins 1939: Nazi-soviet pact 1939/40: Finish-Russian war, USSR gains territory 1940: USSR occupy Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania 1941: Non aggression pact between USSR and Japan 1941, June 22: Germany declares war on USSR 1942/43: Stalingrad battle and siege November 1943: Stalin’s plan to annex Eastern Russia and Poland is approved 1945,Yalta and Potsdam: Conferences between the Big Three

3. Stalin had total control over USSR by the time WWII begun Russian people saw Stalin as an hero He used Lenin’s legacy to command total obedience. Stalin systematically misinformed the Russian population Stalin’s position before the World War II

4. Stalin’s Internal Attitude Stalin, in one of his early speeches, lied about how the war progressed Although initially unnerved because unexpected invasion, soon Stalin recovered and planned a response: 1. All factories were moved to safety east of the Volga River. 2. All soldiers who quit, or retreated would be executed. The USSR lost 20 million of people, surpassing by far any other country in death toll. It also secured Stalin as a leader because his victory saved the USSR and restored its national pride.

5. Foreign policy 1939:USSR and Japan sign the Neutrality Pact. 1939: Nazi-Soviet Pact, 1944: Percentages Agreement 1945 and on: the ‘Big Three’ meet in Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam

6. The Nazi-Soviet Pact

7. The Percentages Agreement- 1944

8. Increase of Power and Force Stalin: 1.Creates a buffer of communist states around USSR 2.Eliminates members of the Polish government 3.Made sure he was seen as the result for victory

9. Stalin takes over Eastern Europe -Cartoon by Illingworth-

10. “We want friendly states around our friendly states..”

11. Conclusion 1.Stalin secured his position through: 2.Totalitarian control 3.Securing USSR’s self sustainability throughout the war 4.Leading to victory as promised. 5.By being a dominant figure in international affairs. 6.By expanding the USSR’s influence.

12. Thank you for your attention!