USSR control over Eastern Europe in 1948

  • Stalin had the intention to have spheres of influence in Eastern and Central Europe
  • Was convinced from the actions of Roosevelt and Churchill that western powers would accept this
  • By the end of 1948, the USSR controlled a lot eastern Europe
  • Politicians believed that Stalin had intentions to extend control past the Mediterranean


Stalin took control by taking action in these countries...

Poland

  • The occupation of Soviet troops continued after the war was over and Poland was liberated
  • Pro-Soviet Lublin government was set up in 1945
  • Leaders of opposition groups were assassinated and imprisoned
  • The results of the elections in 1947 were manipulated so that the communists won 80% of the vote to be the new government


Romania

  • The occupation of Soviet troops continued after the war was over and Romania was liberated
  • Coalition government with communists in key positions was set up
  • USSR started to slowly control security and police forces
  • The results of the elections in 1946 were manipulated so that the communists won 90% of the vote to be the new government
  • Main opposition leader was purged in a "show trial" in Oct 1947
  • King Micheal, the monarch at the time, was forced to step down


Bulgaria

  • The occupation of Soviet troops continued after the war was over and Bulgaria was liberated
  • A coalition government (government made up of several cooperating political parties) led by the communists, the Fatherland Front, had taken over in a coup in 1944
  • However. other parties aside from the communists in the government were removed from power
  • The previous system of monarchy was formally ended
  • The new constitution (set of rules to govern the country) removed the governance through parliamentary democracy (a system where elected representatives vote for laws and decisions for the people)


Hungary

  • The occupation of Soviet troops continued after the war was over and Hungary was liberated
  • Elections ended up with only 17% of votes for communists in 1945, but they were given the position of Minister of the Interior
  • Political opponents were removed from power through underhanded methods
  • The election in 1947 was manipulated so that the communists won power over a coalition government (government made up of several cooperating political parties)
  • The Social Democratic Party and Communist Party merged in 1948


Czechoslovakia

  • Soviet troops exited Czechoslovakia after war ended
  • People were in favour of communism
  • Elections put communists in charge of the coalition government (government made up of several cooperating political parties)
  • Political opponents were arrested and the communists slowly controlled key positions
  • Popular anti-communism Foreign Minister assassinated in May 1947
  • All non-communist government members resigned in 1948, and communist politicians took their place


Other Countries of Eastern Europe

  • Other countries were granted more freedom
  • For example, USSR did not control Finland's domestic policy, but had influence its foreign policy
  • Yugoslavia became a communist state alongside Russia, but not under control of it
  • Stalin wasn't able to fully achieve some of his goals
  • For example, Stalin tried to pressure Turkish government to give them a naval base on the Dardanelles Strait
  • Truman seemed to be in support of Turkey, and Stalin backed down


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