Short of conquering all of Germany for themselves (which they knew they would not do), the Russians most wanted a power vacuum where Germany used to be. Stalin did not, in so many words, press this desire at Yalta. He did not have to.
Even in the gloomy days of 1941, Anthony Eden had described the Germany required for orderly Europe. Said Eden: "It is not part of our purpose to cause Germany to collapse economically. I say that not out of any love for Germany, but because a starving and bankrupt Germany in the midst of Europe would poison all...
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