I don't think people specifically thought Stalin personally was a hero, but prior to the cold war, Western Europeans had a much more positive view of the USSR's role in WW2.

For example, here are the answers of French people to the survey question "Which was, in your view, the nation that most contributed to the defeat of Germany in WW2?":

   1945: USSR 57%, USA 20%, UK 12%
   1994: USSR 25%, USA 49%, UK 16%
   2004: USSR 20%, USA 58%, UK 16%

Source: http://www.les-crises.fr/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/sondage-...