key events

• what was 'Cominform'?


  created in response to the US' Marshall Plan. It allowed Stalin to direct and control the governments of the satellite states as well as the communist parties of other countries in Europe
• define 'satellite state'


  An officially independent country that is strongly influenced or controlled by another country
• what was comecon's main aims?

  • keep political control of Europe
  • encouraged members to block marshall aid
  • discouraged contact w/ non-communist countries
• members of cominform


  USSR

  bulgaria

  czech

  hungary

  poland

  romania

  yugo

  france

  Italy
• what was 'comecon'?


  made in response to the marshall plan, it was a Soviet-led economic organisation that allowed Stalin to provide economic aid to improve economies of satellite states (alt to marshall plan)
• what were comecon's main aims:

  • keep political control of (satellite states in eastern) Europe
  • built up trade links between members (less dependent on USA + west)
  • discouraged trade w/ USA + west
  • reduce economic influence of USA
• members of comecon


  USSR

  bulgaria

  czech

  hungary

  poland

  romania

  E. germany

  albania
• impact of comecon


  deepened economic division (spheres of influence) between E. + W.
• what was the warsaw pact?

  a defensive military alliance between the USSR and eastern European countries.
• why was the warsaw pact created?

  • The USSR felt threatened when West Germany was allowed to join NATO in 1955 because Germany had invaded Russia in both world wars.
  • The Pact would increase the USSR's control over eastern Europe.
• what were the consequences of the warsaw pact?

  • The USSR increased control over the satellite states in eastern Europe because it dominated the Pact.
  • Europe was now divided politically, economically and militarily into two hostile camps.
  • It intensified the arms race with the West.
• what is NATO?


  North Atlantic Treaty Organization: It is a military alliance based on the promise of mutual defence against an attack by an external force.
• why was nato created?

  • The actions of Stalin and the USSR in the Berlin Blockade had worried them.
  • They wanted military protection from future aggression.
• what were the consequences of NATO?

  • The USSR was contained in Europe, ensuring if it attacked any European member of NATO the other members would come to that country's aid.
  • All NATO members were protected by the promise of mutual military aid against any Soviet attack, helping to make the security of western Europe stronger.
  • In response to West Germany joining NATO, the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw Pact in 1955 so the USSR had full military control over eastern Europe.
  • The USA had committed to a military presence in Europe.
• what was the korean war?

  Conflict between North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (supported by the United States and United Nations) from 1950 to 1953.
• what caused the korean war?


  Korean division (1948)- North korea invaded South korea