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Stalin's Cold War Strategy, 1945-1953

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Stalin’s Cold War Strategy, 1945-1953 By 2015 Youngjun Kim Submitted to the graduate degree program in History and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ________________________________ Chairperson Adrian R Lewis ________________________________ Theodore A Wilson ________________________________ Jacob W Kipp ________________________________ Eve Levin ________________________________ Mariya Y Omeliceva Date Defended: March 31, 2015 ii The Dissertation Committee for Youngjun Kim certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: Stalin’s Cold War Strategy, 1945-1953 ________________________________ Chairperson Adrian R Lewis Date approved: March 31, 2015 iii Abstract Today, the post-Cold War world order based on the US unipolar supremacy is no longer a main paradigm in world affairs. Militarily, the US number one global power has still no questions. However, other powers have risen economically, diplomatically and militarily. China challenges a post-Second World War order, such as the Washington consensus, and Russia challenges a post- Cold War order, such as a recent Ukraine crisis. However, potential nuclear states, including Iran and North Korea, challenge nuclear world order that the US set and radical Islamic terrorist groups, including so-called Islamic State, challenges the US hegemony in Middle East. Uncertainty about a new world order has increased because of these diverse international events which challenge the US hegemony. This uncertain world situation was similar to the post-Second World War. After the Cold War, the winner was no question. However, multiple winners in 1945 led an uncertainty about a new world order. Studies on the post Second World War world situations are useful historical lessons if we look at today’s uncertain world order. This dissertation examines Stalin’s Cold War strategy from 1945 to 1953 with a new interpretative perspective. I argue that Stalin actively used new strategic situations for the Soviet Union’s interest. Stalin did not hesitate to manipulate his junior partners who paid prices for enhancing a security of the Soviet Union. To the Kremlin, foreign communist countries were useful tools and means as security buffer zones, not revolutionary brothers. Scholars often explain that Stalin was a passionate ideologue based on his speeches and words. However, I argue that Stalin’s Cold War strategy was fundamentally based on his realistic calculation, not a revolutionary ideology. Stalin was not his political rival, Leon Trotsky who was an idealistic romanticist and believed the third world permanent revolutions. Instead, Stalin was a Machiavellian realist and a cold calculator, especially in a foreign policy realm. iv Acknowledgement This dissertation signals the efforts of support of numerous people. First of all, my special thanks go to my supervisor professor Adrian R Lewis. Professor Lewis was not only an excellent supervisor and a role model scholar but also a warm mentor and friend. Professor Lewis always took care my study, family, life and career development. Professor Lewis is my family, friend and a role model. I also appreciate Professor Eve Levin for her wonderful support and endless mentoring for my study. She red every single word and sentence of my dissertation even though she was very busy. Without her warm support and help, my dissertation would not be possible to end. I also appreciate for my dissertation committee members, Professor Theodore A Wilson, Professor Jacob W Kipp, Professor Mariya Y Omelicheva, Professor Bruce Cumings and Professor Charles K Armstrong. They provided not only a wonderful advice for my studies but also a great mentorship and warm support for my career and life. Without them, I do not know how I finish my dissertation. In particular, Professor Wilson’s couple and Professor Kipp’s couple sometimes invited my family at their homes and generously supported my family with their great friendship. Professor Cumings and Professor Armstrong always supported my research and career even though they are physically far from my campus in Lawrence, Kansas. I also appreciate for a special friendship of Professor Akiko Takeyama and Mr. William Steele. They are one of my family’s best friends in Lawrence. They showed wonderful support and warm friendship to my family. I also appreciate for a special friendship of a family of Dr. Song Ji Hyun and Dr. Kim Min Sung. They are one of my family’s best friends in Lawrence and they always supported my family with love and friendship. I should acknowledge Republic of Korean Army (ROK)’s family in Kansas, Major Ann Gi Hyun’s family at KU, LTC Lim Youn Gap’s family, and LTC Kim Kwang Soo’s family at Fort Leavenworth for their wonderful v support and special friendship for my family. Because of their warm care and support, my family had a great time in Kansas. I should acknowledge KU family, Professor Elaine Gerbert, Professor Felix Moos, Professor Jeffery Moran, his wife Susan Kang, Professor Jenifer Weber, Professor Luis Corteguera, COL Mike Denning and LTC Randy Mastern. In particular, Professor Felix Moos, the veteran air plane pilot of the Korean War mentored my study not only academically but also spiritually. I also thanks to support of Mr. Chuck Ledford and his wife Bobby Ledford in Belton, Missouri. I also appreciate for Fort Leavenworth’s family, LTC Eric Price’s family at School of Advanced Military Studies, Professor Gary J Bjorge of Command and General Staff College, COL Tomas Wilhelm and Major Raymond Finchness’s family of Foreign Military Studies Office (FNSO) because they showed wonderful support and warm care for my family. In particular, Mr. Raymond Finchness has been an excellent mentor for me and his family provided unconditional support for my family. I believe that my experiences with him as International Senior Research Fellow at the FMSO developed my perspective and analytical ability towards Korean security issues. I never forgot my mentors, colleagues and friends in Korea. General Lee Jae Wook’s family and General Yoon Jong Ok’s family were my spiritual supporters and roles models. I appreciate for their support. I should recognize Korean National Defense University’s (KNDU) faculty group, Professor Kim Youl Soo, Professor Park Chang Hee, Professor Son Kyong Ho, Professor Park Young Jun, Professor Park Min Hyoung, Professor Lee Byong Gu, Professor Roh Yong Gu and Professor Lee Hong Sub. Especially, Professor Kim Youl Soo fully supported me with his great mentorship even after his retirement from KNDU. Professor Son Kyong Ho always took care of my family with his great support and mentorship. I never forgot my mentors of the ROK Army. General Lee Jae Hyong, COL Yoo Jae Gual, COL Shin Ul Shik, LTC Ha vi Kyong Seok, LTC Kwak Tae Shin, LTC Kim Sang Bum, Major Park Jung Hoon, Major Shin Jae Hoon, Major Lim Geun Young, and Major Gang Ji Hoon. Especially, LTC Kwak Tae Shin was my role models when I started Ph.D program. His special and endless advice was a great help for my study. Major Shin Jae Hoon is always my best mentor and friend. I appreciate my respectful high school teachers Ko Jae Won and Min Suk Young. My special thanks goes to my family’s mentor and supporter, General Nam Jae Joon, General Heo Pyong Hwan, Honorable Kim Man Bok and COL Lee Dong Ho. Without my family, I could not do anything. I do not know how much I thank you enough. My wife, Eunsil Jang, is my endless supporter, friend and love. Without her unconditional support, sacrifice and love, I could not do anything. My beautiful three kids, Donghyun Kim, Sooyoun Kim and Bumjun Kim, are my special presents from God. I will never forget a beautiful time with my wife and three kids in Lawrence and KU campus. I never forget my beloved father, Kim Byong Hyun, and mother, Park Youn Kum every day in my life. My father in heaven always took care of my family and my study. My mother is always my excellent mentor, friend, and supporter for my study and life. Without her unconditional love and sacrifice, my life would have been meaningless. I will dedicate my dissertation to my mother and my wife. My wonderful beloved sisters, Kim Bo Ryong and Kim Bo Mi, are meaning of my life. I cannot imagine my life without their love. They have always spiritually been parts of mine. My brother in law, Lim Jong Min, has been always my mentor and brother. I appreciate for his love and care of my family. My wonderful father in law, Jang Yong Hwan, and mother in law, Myo Sim Hwa, are my greatest supporters. Their endless love and support greatly help my study and family life. My sister in law, Jang Un Jung, and her son, Jang Jae Won, give me their wonderful love and support. I really appreciate for my wife’s family’s support regarding my life and study here. vii Table of Contents 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Stalin’s Global Security Strategy at the Initial Stage of the Cold War, 1945-1953 ........................... 6 3. The Origins of the Junior Partner’s Forces ...................................................................................... 51 4. The Soviet Union’s War against the Japanese: Operation August Storm ....................................... 92 5. The Soviet Union’s Influence and Policy – Sovietization of Society .............................................. 120 6. The Origins of the Soviet Army
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