**Empires Born from Conflict — USA and Russia and Stalin **

The early formation of the United States as an empire is marked by its expansion through a long-standing conflict with Native Americans, shaping its identity distinct from traditional empires like the British Empire. In the context of 20th-century geopolitics, Adolf Hitler perceived a shifting threat landscape by the late 1930s, viewing the United States as a primary adversary rather than focusing only on the Soviet Union. At this time, he recognized that the Soviet Union, under Stalin, had transitioned from an international communist movement into a nationalistic state akin to a socialist nation-state, focusing on consolidating power rather than fostering worldwide revolution. Stalin's regime, while still cloaked in communist ideology, essentially revived elements of the Russian Empire, omitting any aspirations for global upheaval. The retention of symbols from the Russian Empire during Stalin’s rule reflects this shift in ideologies and objectives.