Stalin’s death in 1945 would give him a better reputation than IOTL, despite the purges and famines.
The Soviet Army was at the doorstep of Berlin by April. His name would be romanticized to maintain morale in the last phase of the war, and no matter who emerges in the post-Stalin power struggle, a “secret speech” would become less likely.
The most devastating aspects of the Soviet occupation might still be kept in place, like the deportation of Germans to the USSR, or the ethnic cleansing within the new borders of the Eastern Bloc countries.
The starvation in 1946/7 would not hurt as much.
No “doctors’ plot”, which might mean the deadly efficiency under Stalinism survives longer than OTL, even under a collective leadership.
Cold War might break out much later, as such a collective leadership would have no incentive to provoke confrontation.
When, and over what would the Cold War break out ITTL? Probably when the allies push for free elections in Czechoslovakia or East Germany, and the Soviets forced to intervene to keep their spoils?
The Soviet Army was at the doorstep of Berlin by April. His name would be romanticized to maintain morale in the last phase of the war, and no matter who emerges in the post-Stalin power struggle, a “secret speech” would become less likely.
The most devastating aspects of the Soviet occupation might still be kept in place, like the deportation of Germans to the USSR, or the ethnic cleansing within the new borders of the Eastern Bloc countries.
The starvation in 1946/7 would not hurt as much.
No “doctors’ plot”, which might mean the deadly efficiency under Stalinism survives longer than OTL, even under a collective leadership.
Cold War might break out much later, as such a collective leadership would have no incentive to provoke confrontation.
When, and over what would the Cold War break out ITTL? Probably when the allies push for free elections in Czechoslovakia or East Germany, and the Soviets forced to intervene to keep their spoils?