5. Soviet Expansion Into Eastern Europe

Question 1

What was cominform?

Answer 1

Communist information bureau to ensure all communist countries conformed to the Russian style communism

Question 2

What countries were beneath the soviet sphere of influence? 6

Answer 2

Bulgaria 
Czechoslovakia
Hungary
Yugoslavia
Romania
Poland

Question 3

Give some aggressive ways Stalin tried to expand his sphere of influence over Eastern Europe

Answer 3

• The red Army stood by and did nothing well 300,000 Polish fighters were killed in the war
• Stalin arrested or non-Communist leaders in Poland in 1945
• Stalin with moving westward and spreading communism by force killing those he got in his way

Question 4

Give some defensive reasons Stalin expanded his Soviet sphere of influence

Answer 4

-because after World War II he wanted to make sure the SU would never be devastated by war again
-countries under his influence were geographically strategic to the SU
(Bordering ones that could easily invade if they were enemies)
-so that he could form a buffer zone against the future attack on the SU in order to protect the country this was done by spreading communism