Question

After World War II, why did the USSR want to control countries in Eastern Europe?
The USSR mostly needed the region’s raw materials for its own economy.
The USSR primarily wanted to unite all of the people under one religion.
The USSR had controlled most of these countries before the war.
The USSR needed to protect its western border from future attacks.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: The USSR needed to protect its western border from future attacks.

Explanation: After suffering huge losses from invasions (especially from Germany in World War II), Soviet leaders wanted a buffer of friendly, Soviet-controlled states in Eastern Europe to prevent or slow any future invasions. They installed pro‑Soviet governments and kept Red Army forces in the region to guarantee security (and to expand Soviet influence and communism as a secondary aim). The other choices are inaccurate or secondary explanations.