ib history

Question 1

what’s the difference between comecon and cominform

Answer 1

In 1947, Cominform was established to ensure that members retained their communist governments and removed any opposition.

In 1949, Comecon was Stalin’s attempt at deterring countries away from Marshall Aid.

Question 2

What made the years 1948 and 1949 such a watershed in the history of the Cold War and the division of Europe?

Answer 2

Several important – irreversible – events happened that changed the character of the relationship between the East and West. The Czechoslovak communist coup d’etat demonstrated that it would be almost impossible to have a coalition regime between communists and non-communists in a democratic framework. The Berlin Blockade in 1948-49, followed by the establishment of the West and East German states in 1949, cemented the growing division of Berlin and of Germany itself. And American involvement in the Italian elections of February 1948 and the foundation of NATO in April 1949, among other developments, meant that the U.S. would be an active participant in European security questions