Oh wow, a poor country was still poor 4 years after fighting the most tragic and destructive war in history?? I'm hearing this for the first time..
Stalin was as much of a dictator as any other leader with powers over the military (all in the western world, as far as I know) but otherwise was always working with the politburo and party. That's what the CIA is admitting. I think determination of "dictator" or not is vibes based. What was he able to do that makes Stalin a dictator but let's say Obama not?
Stalin was a leader for the proletariat, maybe a leader of the dictatorship of the proletariat, but he was absurdly popular and beloved because he really represented the interests of the poor in that position.