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The two dictators signed secret protocols dividing central Europe between Stalin and Hitler, it effectively let both the USSR and the NAZIS to invade freely countries listed within their “spheres of influence”. However, the agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union could not be sustainable for long and did, in fact, set the stage for the start of the World War II.The improving relations with Germany meant that the Soviet Union could expand its territory in Eastern Europe, such as the Baltic States. Stalin believed that his understanding with Hitler would last and this lead him to become complacent<ref> Montefiore, Simon Sebag. Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003), p. 117</ref>.

However, within weeks Stalin manage to recover from the shock and called for reinforcements. Although German troops had made huge advances into the heartlands of the Soviet Union and the rest of the government had been evacuated from Moscow, Stalin remained in the Kremlin and begun to take control of the country’s ailing military infrastructure. As German troops approached the Soviet capital of Moscow, Stalin directed a devastating defensive policy, destroying any supplies or infrastructure that might benefit the enemy. Fresh competent USSR military commanders loyal to Stalin were allowed to take control of important strategic positions and military divisions <ref>Bellamy, p. 117</ref>. This scorched earth tactic was to deny the Germans key supplies. This was particularly the case as the German supply lines had become extended and they the men at the front did not receive the supplies that the needthey needed. The policy of destroying the infrastructure and anything else that could be utilized by the Germans was to cause immense suffering for the Soviet Civilian civilian population, however, it crucially slowed down the German advance. Stalin's policy made have contributed to the failure of the Germany army to take Moscow in the early winter of 1941<ref>Bellamy, p.112</ref>.

As the German invasion of Russia progressed. Stalin contacted Western diplomats requesting two agreements. He aimed at reaching a mutual assistance/aid pact and a recognition that after the war the Soviet Union would gain the territories in countries that it would take war actions against Hitler on the Eastern front. Winston Churchill was very willing to have an alliance with Stalin. Even though He was an ardent anti-communist and he personally disliked Stalin. He agreed to support the Soviets in their battle with the Germans. Churchill pithy states when criticized for allying Britain with the Soviets 'I would become the devils' ally if Hitler invaded Hell'. Stalin's diplomatic moves in the aftermath of Operation Barbarossa was shrewd. It allowed him to receive the support of first the British and later the Americans<ref> Beevor, p. 34</ref>. the British began to supply the Soviets with arms and other supplies, via Iran and the Antartic. Stalin's diplomatic response to the invasion of his country was to become the ally of his ideological rivals, the western democracies<ref>Stalin's Role in WWII - http://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/warzone/article/stalins-role-wwii/</ref>.