Originally , Stalin wanted to Sovietize all of Germany , but when the West resisted this idea , he tried to work for a united Germany which would be neutral , but when the West again said no he decided to build a new country out of the Soviet occupation zone . Joseph Stalin wanted to bring all of Germany under Soviet influence , but when the West resisted this idea , he sought to create a united Germany which would be non-aligned ( the `` Stalin Note '' ) . When the West resisted these efforts , Stalin decided to focus his efforts on the Soviet occupation zone .