Cold War chapter 2 Flashcards
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
Conquered by the USSR in 1940 and absorbed into the USSR.
Yugoslavia and Albania
- Never occupied by the Red Army so had more independence from the USSR
- Still Communist countries
Czechoslovakia
- Had been a democracy before WW2 so the West were keen for it to remain that way.
- In 1948 the USSR planned a coup which overthrew the Czech president and replaced him with a communist Klement Gottwald.
Poland
- In 1944 the Polish army tried to liberate themselves from the Nazis and the Red Army had promised to help them.
- Instead they waited outside of Warsaw while the Polish army was massacred by the Nazis.
- The Red Army then went into Poland and set up a pro-communist government.
- Initially this included some of the original government but after “free elections” in 1947 the non-communists were arrested.
Hungary
- Free elections in 1945 where some communists were elected but not enough to form a government.
- In 1947 voters were threatened to support the communists and a communist government was elected.
Bulgaria, Romania and East Germany
- In 1944-45 the Red Army took control.
- There were “free elections” where voters were frightened into voting for the Communist party.
- Communist governments were elected in all three areas.
Which country was the last in Eastern Europe to become Communist?
Czechoslovakia
What is a satellite state?
A country that is officially independent but in reality is controlled by another country.
What was the common pattern of the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe?
- The communists would join coalitions with opposition parties to gain support.
- Communists would gradually arrest, exile, beat or kill members of the opposition.
- Elections would be held where voters were intimidated to vote for communists, or the elections were just rigged.
What was the impact on relations of George Kennan’s (USA’s Ambassador in Moscow) telegram?
- Played a key role in influencing a more hard line approach to USSR.
- It encouraged the USA to follow a policy of containment.
What was the impact on relations of Nikolai Novikov (Soviet diplomat working in Washington) telegram?
Made the USSR even more insecure and even more determined to build a buffer zone.
What was the impact on relations of Winston Churchill’s speech?
Made the USSR strengthen its forces and increase anti-Western propaganda campaign.
What was the Truman Doctrine?
A statement by the USA indicating that they were willing to act and fight against communism (containment).
What was in the Truman Doctrine?
The speech exaggerated the threat posed by communism in order to get congress to agree to fund the $400 million to protect Greece and Turkey from falling to communist rule.
What is Cominform? (1947)
- Communist information bureau
- Tried to prevent American influence in its buffer zone.
- It investigated and reported on government ministers and removed those not loyal to Stalin and USSR.
What was the Marshall Plan?
- On the 5th June 1947 George Marshall (US Secretary of State) announced that the USA would be giving money to Europe.
- There were strings attached to get it as countries had to open up their economy to US Trade.
- Congress granted $18 billion to aid the recovery of Western Europe.
What were the effects the Marshall Plan had on USA and USSR relations?
- Stalin rejected the plan and did not allow any of his “satellite states” to accept any money.
- This upset some of the Soviet satellites especially Czechoslovakia.
- It prompted Stalin to tighten his grip over Eastern Europe by creating Comecon.
What is Comecon?
- The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, was Stalin’s economic alternative to the Marshall Plan.
- It aimed to encourage economic development in Eastern Europe and prevent trade with Western Europe and USA.
- Comecon minimised Western influence in Eastern Europe, but integrating Eastern European economies with the USSR.
- In reality they lost more to the USSR than they gained.
