Breakdown of the Grand Alliance Flashcards
1
Q
What was the background to Churchill’s 1946 ‘Iron Curtain’ speech?
A
Increasingly concerned that:
- Britain and US had allowed USSR to dominate Eastern Europe
- US might withdraw from Europe and retreat into isolation, not understanding what he saw to be the threat from communism
2
Q
What were the key ideas of Churchill’s 1946 ‘Iron Curtain’ speech?
A
- Europe was firmly divided
- USSR controlled all the Eastern European countries equally
- USSR wanted to expand without limit
- USSR wanted to expand not only its power but the doctrine of communism
- Referred to the capitals of Eastern Europe (‘Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia’) as being behind the curtain of the Soviet sphere
- Urged a settlement with Stalin ‘supported by the whole strength of the English-speaking world’
3
Q
What were inaccuracies in Churchill’s 1946 ‘Iron Curtain’ speech?
A
- Rigid demarcation of East and West did not amount to an iron curtain in 1946
- Soviet influence was not as uniform as Churchill made out
- Neither Berlin or Vienna under total Soviet control
In Belgrade, capital of Yugoslavia, Soviet control not as strong as in other capitals - Total Soviet domination not yet established in Prague
- Little awareness of Soviet security needs or concerns
- Made assumptions about ‘indefinite expansionism’ and Stalin’s respect for sheer force, e.g Stalin had not attempted to intervene in Greece
4
Q
What was the USSR’s reaction to Churchill’s 1946 ‘Iron Curtain’ speech?
A
- Stalin argued that as the USSR had lost so many people in the war, it had a right to take measures to ensure its security
- Said USSR had only peaceful ambitions to ensure the neighbouring states were loyal
- Accused Churchill of being a ‘firebrand of war’
- Provoked an equally strong rhetoric, ramping up tension and verbal conflict
5
Q
What was the US’s reaction to Churchill’s 1946 ‘Iron Curtain’ speech, and did it have an impact on their foreign policy?
A
- Many in US thought speech was irresponsible, one newspaper described as ‘poisonous’, Truman did not immediately signify his approval
- Term ‘iron curtain’ became highly influential and summed up a lot of developing fears in the US that Russia was expansionist and intent on imposing control, has been seen to spur on US policies of opposition to the spread of communism
- Speech did not in of itself change US policy, despite phrase ‘iron curtain’ becoming influential, much less important than views of influential foreign policy experts, e.g George F. Kennan, who warned of traditional Russian ambitions and desire for expansion
- Did more to confirm changing views than to create them as by 1946 mood in US shifting away from possible isolationism to meeting the dangers of communist expansionism
- Vivid image of the speech helped encourage anti-Russian sentiment
6
Q
How was a communist government established in Poland?
A
- Soviet forces set up a new Prov. gov of National Unity in June 1945
- It was dominated by the Polish communists, who had little support
- Obvious when the Polish gov. in exile in London joined that there would not be free elections
- Created a communist-dominated electoral bloc which used terror and falsified results, officially gained 394 seats to Peasant Party’s 28
- Non-communist Peasant Party representatives resigned in protest
7
Q
How was a communist government established in Romania?
A
- New gov. imposed on King Michael by USSR in Dec 1945
- Stalin created new communist-dominated National Democratic Front in 1946, able to be strengthened when Romanian Socialist Party merged with the Communist Party
- Won 80% vote in election of Nov 1946 by violence and pressure - although without would still have won the vote as carried out popular social reforms
- King forced to abdicate Dec 1947
- Communist People’s Republic formed April 1948
8
Q
How was a communist government established in the Soviet zone of Germany and what was its impact?
A
- April 1946 Socialist SPD forced to merge with the communists (KPD) to form a Socialist Unity Party (SED)
- Around 2000 SPD members who refused to the merger imprisoned or murdered
- New party would be a basis for government when independent East Germany established in 1949
- Western German zones refused the merger by 82% so West refused repeated Soviet offers for national elections as did not want to see undemocratic methods used
9
Q
How was a communist government established in Bulgaria?
A
- Stalin hoped to avoid unnecessary friction with Western powers until peace treaty signed
- Insisted communists accept non-communist members and accept election results of Oct 1946, which gave a third of the vote to non-communist parties
- Though in Sep 1946 did urge communists to set up a ‘Labour Party’
- By 1947 allowed communists to liquidate and repress all opposition, with the help of the Russian army, after the Truman Doctrine
- Used creation of Cominform as a cue to press on with nationalising industry, collectivising agriculture, and building a one-party state
10
Q
How was a communist government established in Yugoslavia?
A
- Communist Party effectively won power independently of Soviet forces as People’s Front won 90% vote Nov 1945
- Tito’s aims clashed with British and US policy, e.g assisted Greek communists
- USSR sympathised but not ready to risk confrontations with Britain and the US
11
Q
How was a communist government established in Hungary?
A
- Stalin did allow free elections in Nov 1945
- Soviet influence still guaranteed through dominating position on the ACC
- 1947 leading opposition leader arrested by Soviet troops for conspiring, shattered powerful opposition
- Increasing Soviet control subsequently established
March 1948, socialists forced to merge with the Hungarian communists - This new Independent Front was the only party
12
Q
How was a communist government established in Czechoslovakia?
A
- Genuinely free elections of March 1946 gave Czech communists 38% vote
- President Beneš had been able to work with the communists
- In 1947 more pressure for communist domination
- USSR determined to prevent Czechs from accepting US Marshall Aid
- In Feb 1948 there was a communist coup with Soviet support
13
Q
Where did Stalin not attempt to install communists governments?
A
- Stalin did not intervene in the civil war in Greece
- Did not attempt to control Finland after a peace treaty in 1947 gave the naval base at Petsamo to the USSR
14
Q
What were the common key elements of Soviet domination in creating communist governments in Eastern Europe?
A
- Russia and allies used ‘salami tactics’ - entered into pacts with other political parties, then ‘sliced them’ out of the coalition governments
- USSR used forced mergers with socialist parties to strengthen its position, as socialists dominated by communists backed by the Soviet army
- Elections carefully controlled by violence and intimidation
- Extensive propaganda and establishment of political police
15
Q
What was the impact of Stalin’s control in Eastern Europe 1945-8?
A
- By 1948, unrepresentative pro-Moscow communist leaders had been established and opposition destroyed by arrests, intimidation and murder
- Western suspicion of Russian ambitions in Eastern Europe led to counter-measures in form of policy of containment in 1947
- Led to greater Russian control being imposed, so Cold War tensions escalated
- A factor in the breakdown of the Grand Alliance as well as the division of Germany
