Expansion in Europe under the communists Flashcards
Why did Stalin want to expand into Europe?
‘to act as a buffer zone between the west’ and ‘protect russian interests’
Who was the communist leader in charge of Yugoslavia?
Tito
What was tito’s policy?
-Yugoslavian autonomy
-resisted stalin interference and over centralisation.
-kept free of soviet control until 1980.
In what year was Tito installed in Yugoslavia?
1945
In what year were free elections held in Czechoslovakia?
-1946
What were the result of free elections in Cz?
-a coalition of left wing parties including communists.
What happened in 1948 in Cz?
-Communists seized power- most other non- coms resgined.
-all new elections rigged.
What did elections look like in a post WW2 Hungary?
-free elections but rigged to form communist cabinet.
What was the issue for Stalin concerning communists in Hungary?
-not all pro-stalin
-strikes and mass demonstrations broke out.
-led to mass expulsion of members.
Who led Hungary until Stalin died and what was he like?
-Rakosi- Horrible
What was the mood in Hungary following the secret speech?
- hope it would have a positive change
- 1956- Hungary uprisin- slowed down.
What did the Yalta conference mean for East Germany?
-Germany divided into 4 zones- Russia had east.
What undermined the Yalta conference?
-Stalin- 1946 statement saying germany should belong to Russia.
-new currency
-berlin blockade
-west german constitution.
What did the things undermining the Yalta conference cause?
-1949 recognition of east berlin.
By 1947 and the abolition of these monarchies, which countries had communist regime?
-Polish
-Romanian
-Bulgarian
-Albinian.
