Which of the following explains Stalin's justification for bringing the "Iron Curtain" down on Eastern Europe?
  1. The instability after World War I showed self-rule was not viable.
  2. Historically, the land had been part of the Russian empire.
  3. The territory compensated for damage done by the Germans in the war.
  4. The occupied Eastern European nations had strong Communist movements.
  5. The Soviet Union needed a buffer zone in the face of German aggression.
Explanation
Answer: E - Stalin claimed that the Soviet Union needed a buffer zone against German aggression. Germany invaded Russia twice in the first half of the 20th century, and in neither case could Russia count on significant support from the West. The fact that American troops began in North Africa rather than on the beleaguered Eastern Front furthered tensions in the awkward alliance of the Soviet Union and the West. Therefore, Stalin maintained that self-preservation required the creation of a buffer zone under Soviet rule.
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