nationalities

• wanted to have tighter control, Stalin promised reform but wanted to use violence
• Stalin used buffer states between Russia and Western Europe to protect them
• by 1949 all the governments of Eastern Europe, except Yugoslavia, were hard line Stalinist regimes
• Stalin called Churchill's speech a declaration of war
• Poland P- Nazi's were threatening Polish independence, policy of appeasement meant French and British would not stop Germany
• P- Nazi Soviet pact was clear sign that Russia wiling to let Nazis invade Poland
• P- Hitler invades Sept 1939, Russians launched on Germans 1944. They hoped non-communists in Poland would fight Germans. Russia hoped to establish control over Poland
• P- The Yalta conference 1945, Russians in control of Warsaw, Stalin said whole of Poland should be governed by Soviets, border moved. FDR and Churchill agreed. border was re-negotiated to be inside Germany
• P- Provisional constituent put in Poland, PPR (Russian backed Polish workers party) was in control of new council of state, people dealt harshly and in 1950 30,000 workers went on strike> put in concentration camps.
• P- 1952 official constitution and Poland named 'Peoples republic of Poland'
• Stalin emphasised 'Socialism in one country'; odea Russians could build socialism without any help
• Yugoslavia (Y) -

  • new country (1920)
  • 1945 elections (communist government led by Marshall Tito)
  • he wanted autonomy and resisted Stalin's attempt of interference
  • Stalin expelled Y from Cominform in 1948 and withdrew economic support
  • Y strengthened relations with west; established communes of 100,000 people
  • hostility to Russia
  • handing of ownership from state to workers council
• Stalin could have easily invaded Yugoslavia however he wanted to keep peaceful relations with west
• Czechoslovakia (C)-

  • newly created (1920)
  • 6.5 million Czechs, 2.5 Slovaks, 3 Germans, 700,000 Hungarians
  • western liberal parliament
  • Czechs wanted peace treaties to French, Italy, Romania and Y
  • after WW2 free elections elected in left wing coalition
  • 1948 Feb communist coup took gov
  • March 1948 Belgium, Britain, France, Luxemburg and Netherlands sign Brussel pact (defend one another)
• C-

  • Russia leader agreed to defend Russia
  • just before elections 1948, communists seized power
  • coup resulted in resignation of non-communist
• Hungary (H)-

  • end of WW2, gov dominated by communists
  • uprising 23rd Oct 1956, K sent in artillery
  • 30th Oct Gero replaced with Nagy, K ordered Soviet troops to withdraw
  • many members of Hungarian communists were not Stalinists, Stalin killed these
  • 1956, Hungarian revolution forced Hungarian gov to call for western support
• H-

  • Soviets efforts were not successful as UN sent money for refugees
  • communist parties in west began to change their opinions of USSR
  • countries of NATO unwilling to intervene
• Germany (G)-

  • Russia wanted Germany to repay after the war
  • Russia gained 10% of reparations and extra 15% in exchange for food and raw materials
  • Stalin in 1946 shifted and said should be one Germany
  • 1947 Bizonia
  • currency reform led to Berlin Blockade
  • each side of Germany becomes independent 1949: east= satellite state and west had democratic elections
• Romania (R)-

  • expulsion of Nazis followed by coalition gov (mainly communist)
  • Feb 1945 Soviet union forced king to appoint communist PM
  • communism had taken control
• Bulgaria (B)-

  • coalition gov initially set up
  • communists won by rigged elections 1945
  • abolished monarchy and executed other political leader
• Albania -

  • communists gained power with little opposition
  • used Russian control
• Greece-

  • communists in Greece were defeated by west