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what I propose as I said in a previous post so that there are two germany and they do not unite, a change from Stalin's thinking. Let's say that for some reason he decided that it would be better to have the Germans loyal than the Poles (knowing that in the future after the collapse of the USSR they would be one of the most fervent enemies, ABS but that would be the only way). So he creates eastern germany which has all the shape of imperial germany minus kaliningrad. Moving the Poles to what's left of Poland.
At the same time he would have an agreement that East Germans can have their version of communism like Yugoslavia. And with that EG develops, at the same time it would weaken the Poles tremendously. With that Stalin would have a way to scare eastern europe with a germany that would have its own army and a decent economy but would be dependent on russia for certain important resources such as gas.
Doing this prevents any European unification, i think. Basically, by returning the territories of Imperial Germany, it would leave Poland dependent on Russia. it would make the rest of the european powers (france and uk) not support a unification, because west germany was already a gigantic economic power. Weakening Europe astronomically.
and with the East Germans as theoretical allies, NATO would have great difficulty in expanding and developing. If every country in Europe looks at its problems and never develops a European Union even if the USSR falls, Russia would be safe. with central europe being monitored on one side by EG and russia on the other. This area of Europe will never be free to have independence for anything creating the Russian dream of a super buffer zone. With the advantage of having an ally at the end of that zone. It's basically the icing on the Russian cake.
and germany would not lose its military interest being almost the russian guard dog in the region. It's not the thread asking but it's the only way for this to happen in my opinion.
This would also worsen West Germany's relationship with France and the UK. A disunited Europe that went back in time compared to our OTL.