Who was the leader of the soviet union during the 1940s?

The leader of the Soviet Union during the 1940s was Joseph Stalin. He held the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party and was the de facto leader of the country during World War II and the early post-war period. Stalin's policies and decisions significantly influenced both the Soviet Union's wartime strategy and its role in shaping the post-war world. His leadership was marked by authoritarian rule and significant political repression.