WI: Stalin invades Yugoslavia, overthrows Tito

Tito's purge of Stalin aligned communists was rather effective. Also, would you care to note assassinations conducted by the Stalin led Soviet government where the Soviet government did not physically possess by incarceration the victim? It isn't a common political tactic at all between states.

yours,
Sam R.
What if Stalin doesn't order it? What if some hot head in the KGB decides to carry out an assassination attempt on Tito in the hope of impressing Stalin and being promoted? I know that Stalin kept a tight control over his security service, but semi-official attempt might still be made. In fact an incompetent, unofficial assassination attempt might be even worse. Its more likely to fail and be traced back to Russia. Russia will, truthfully say that they know nothing but I doubt either Tito or the west will believe them. This might scare Tito enough that he moves closer to the west for safety. While Stalin might have allowed Tito to stay neutral he won't allow them to ally with the west. Paranoid he panics and invades.
 
I think the Red Army was still recovering from WW2 during Stalin's lifetime (and his successor is much less likely to pull such a stunt), and wasn't really in a position to invade much of anything?
But IF Stalin decided to do something like this, he'd have the same problem that Hitler had: Bogged down in a protracted guerilla war in foreign terrain with a hostile population.
 
I think the Red Army was still recovering from WW2 during Stalin's lifetime (and his successor is much less likely to pull such a stunt), and wasn't really in a position to invade much of anything?
But IF Stalin decided to do something like this, he'd have the same problem that Hitler had: Bogged down in a protracted guerilla war in foreign terrain with a hostile population.

I wonder if that sort of war would inspire uprisings in areas that ended up in the Warpac IOTL? The Soviets are still fighting partisans in Poland and the Ukraine at this time aren't they?
 
So close after WWII, the Partisans would likely be able to re-mobilize and hold off the USSR.

The big deciding points would be how would NATO, the U.N. and The Non-Aligned Movement react to the USSR invading?

Also, is the War-torn Soviet army attacking, teaming up with the Bulgarian and Albanian armies, or are they trying to assassinate Tito and maneuver someone loyal into power?

No they wouldnt.

Why do you expect a force that tied down a few German & Italian disvisions to be able to hold off the Red Army? Particularly given that the Germans in 1941 using far inferior forces, than the Soviets could took over the whole of Yugoslavia with days.:rolleyes:
 
No they wouldnt.

Why do you expect a force that tied down a few German & Italian disvisions to be able to hold off the Red Army? Particularly given that the Germans in 1941 using far inferior forces, than the Soviets could took over the whole of Yugoslavia with days.:rolleyes:

Because Yugoslav post WW II battle doctrine was mainly focused on stopping the potential Soviet invasion.
 
Regarding the 'which year' question, let's say Stalin lives a little longer and the invasion takes place shortly after the end of the Korean war.

I seem to recall Kruschev saying that Yugoslavia was next on Stalin's list of targets after Korea.

Also, would the Chinese potentially get involved?
 
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