The USSR initially had few allies after its formation but became a superpower by 1945. It sought to spread communism through revolution, especially in Germany, though these efforts failed. Adopting extreme leftist policies in the "Third Period" backfired and enabled Hitler's rise in Germany. The USSR then shifted to alliances with Western governments and joined the League of Nations while allying with Czechoslovakia and France. However, fearing abandonment if war broke out, the USSR ultimately signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler in 1939.
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