Stalin was not defeated in the traditional sense, as he remained in power until his death in 1953. However, Stalin's initial defeat to Hitler can be attributed to several decisions made by Stalin and the Soviet government.

One major decision was Stalin's decision to purge the Red Army of its top officers in the late 1930s, which weakened the military's leadership and effectiveness. This was a result of Stalin's paranoia and fear of opposition within the military, but it had a devastating impact on the Red Army's ability to fight effectively.

Another factor was Stalin's failure to heed warnings of an impending German invasion, despite intelligence reports that indicated that Hitler was planning an attack. Stalin believed that Hitler would not risk a two-front war, and so he ignored the warning signs and did not adequately prepare the Soviet Union for an invasion.

Additionally, Stalin's decision to concentrate much of the Soviet military forces near the western border, in preparation for a possible invasion of Germany, left the Soviet Union vulnerable to a surprise attack from the east. When Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, the surprise attack caught the Soviet Union off guard, and the Red Army suffered significant losses in the early months of the war.

Finally, Stalin's reluctance to delegate authority and his micromanagement of military operations hindered the Red Army's ability to respond effectively to the German invasion. Soviet commanders were often hesitant to make decisions without Stalin's approval, which slowed down their response to German attacks and hindered their ability to adapt to changing circumstances on the battlefield.
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