Post-WW2 advances

• Stalin's motives:

  • Stalin’s policy is often considered as expansionist
  • By influencing the nature of govt in neighbouring states, Stalin protected Russian interests - a buffer-zone with the West
  • Interference with governments - Stalin imposed a number of pro-Communist regimes. In some cases (i.e. Hungary) free elections were put in place - but these elements of democracy were paired with threats of force & imprisonment if the Soviet line was challenged
• Yugoslavia:

  1945: elections held; Communist govt installed under Marshall Tito.

  Tito wanted to consolidate Yugoslavian autonomy - resisted Stalin’s interference. He objected to over-centralisation & introduced his own branch of Communism.

  Yugoslavia was kept free of direct Soviet control until Tito’s death in 1980
• Czechoslovakia:

  1946: free elections held; coalition government formed of mainly Left Wing parties (incl. Communists).

  1948: just before the new elections, the Communists seized power - resulted in the resignation of most non-Coms from the coalition.

  The elections proceeded but were rigged - all the candidates were Communist
• Hungary:

  Post-WW2: ‘free’ elections held, but again rigged to form a majority-Communist cabinet.

  However, Hungarian communists were not all pro-Stalin & protested - led to mass expulsion of members.

  Until Stalin died, Hungary was led by Matyas Rakosi (extreme repression).

  After Khrushchev’s Secret Speech, Hungary had hope that positive change would occur, but Oct 1956 saw a major uprising due to slow pace of reform (dealt with ruthlessly by the Soviet regime)
• East Germany:

  Yalta: established the 4 zones - Russia given jurisdiction over the East.

  This agreement was undermined by: Stalin’s 1946 statement that Germany should belong to Russia, the creation of Bizonia, the Deutschmark & Ostmark, the Berlin Blockade, the approval of the West German constitution. These events led to the official creation of East Germany in October 1949
• Greece was the only Balkan State which defeated the Communists easily
• By the end of 1947: Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian & Albanian monarchies abolished, Communist govs established