Cominform (1947) and Comecon (1949) Flashcards
What was Cominform?
An organisation that represented Communist Parties across Europe and brought them under the direction of the USSR
What happened at the first ever Cominform Conference?
The Marshall Plan was rejected. Consequently, Eastern European countries refused to accept Marshall Aid.
What did Cominform encourage Communist Parties in Western European countries to do?
Cominform pressured govts. to refuse aid. In France in 1947, for example, 2 million workers who were sympathetic to the communist cause went on strike, demanding the French govt. reject Marshall Aid
What does Cominform stand for?
The Communist Information Bureau
When was Cominform established?
Cominform was established in 1947
How did Cominform ensure loyalty to Stalin in Eastern European governments?
Cominform ensured loyalty by investigating any government minister or employee that was not loyal to Stalin
How did Cominform ensure loyalty in Hungary?
By 1953, Cominform had had 5% of the population imprisoned.
What was the signficance of Cominform to international relations?
Cominform made relations worse as it solidified the divide between East and West
What was Comecon? (Hint: ComECON)
Comecon was an economic organisation. Its purpose was to promote trade between its members (Eastern European countries and the USSR).
When was Comecon established?
Comecon was established in 1949
What was Comecon established in response to?
Comecon was Stalin’s response to Marshall Aid. Stalin knew Marshall aid was potentially attractive to Eastern European governments. He therefore set up a communist alternative.
What did the USSR use Comecon to encourage to do?
The USSR encouraged countries to specialize. Czechoslovakia and East Germany, for example, were encouraged to concentrate on heavy industry. (Without a diverse economy, countries were more dependent on other countries in the Eastern Bloc.)
What was Cominform established in response to?
Cominform was established in response to the Truman Doctrine
Who was expelled from Cominform for refusing to follow the Soviet line?
Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia. (Tito was a communist - but an independent one.)
Overall, what was the importance of Marshall Aid (1947), Cominform (1947) and Comecon (1949) to international relations?
They ensured the world was firmly split into two camps:
- Marshall Aid brought Western Europe under the influence of the USA.
- Cominform and Comecon brought Eastern Europe under the influence of the USSR
- The world was therefore SPLIT INTO TWO ECONOMIC ALLIANCES
