The Dardanelles have been of great strategic importance for a very long time, and they still continue to be. Stalin wanted to get it under his control because it was going to put the Soviet Union in an excellent situation, be it economically or military. The importance of the Dardanelles is so big because it is the place that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea. Also, it is also the place that separates Europe and Asia, and of the most important trading routes. Despite the interest Stalin had, it never came to a situation that the Soviets attacked to capture this place.
While consumerism during the 1920s boosted the economy, it also led to "higher debt," since many people took out loans in order to pay for things that they could not afford.
