Post-War Liberation Flashcards
Describe Poland’s liberation?
The British went to war in Sept 1939 to protect their independence. It was hoped Poland would be democratic but Stalin wanted to regain lost land and have a pro-Soviet government. At Tehran it was agreed the USSR would get the Curzon line and Poland would gain more land east. In January 1944 the USSR annexed territory lost and by July they crossed the Curzon line and destroyed the Polish Home Army, creating the National Liberation of Lublin. In August there was the Warsaw Uprising which saw the Home Front attempt to defeat the Germans for freedom. The Communists left them 20km from Warsaw and by October the Poles were defeated.
The NKVD killed participants in the Home Army and by 1945 the Committee of National Liberation was recognised as a provisional government.
Describe Romania’s liberation, and why it was wanted by Stalin.
Romanian control would give the USSR access to the Black Sea and Yugoslavia, alongside SE Europe.
On 20 August 1944, the USSR invaded. The King hoped that the Allies would declare ceasefire and so deposed the German government. The Allies didn’t set up a second front, and on 12 September they had to accept Communist control. An ACC was formed consisting of the Communists, socialists, National Liberals, and National Peasant Party. In March 1945 there was a coup, leading to the National Democratic Front being founded, leading to proletariat revolt.
Why was Bulgaria wanted by Stalin? Describe its liberation.
Stalin wanted Bulgaria for a naval base to dominate the approaches to the Turkish Straits and Greek frontier. The Communists invaded in 1944 and thousands of partisans formed the Patriotic Front, seizing power from the pro-German party of Konstantin Muraviev, establishing control in Sofia. By September, the Red Army came and established ACC. The ruling class were executed in their thousands and the Communists controlled the police and trade unions.
Describe Greece’s situation. Was it similar to Yugoslavia’s? Why didn’t the USSR gain control?
The People’s Liberation Party, (ELAS), had a strong partisan army like Tito’s and fought Germans effectively. The Communists wanted a similar model to the Yugoslav model. In 1944, December 3, Tito encouraged revolt in the Athens. The USSR respected the percentages deal and stopped him.
Describe Yugoslavia’s situation…
In October 1944 there was an attack on Belgrade. Tito’s partisan army were well-organised and attacked non-Communist Serbs and nationalist Croats. When areas were occupied, Communist committees were formed. They were aided by the British and armed. The USSR wanted an alliance but with Tito this wasn’t in easy. In November, Tito established government, and in January the USSR vetoed Tito’s request for federation with Bulgaria.
Describe the situation in the Baltic States…
There was deportation in the Baltic states and West Ukraine - ethnic cleansing, to make room for the Russians and East Ukrainians. Stalin appeared at Potsdam ordering a border for Poland and reparations, but was shocked when Truman announced they did not need to declare war on Japan as they announced the first testing of the atom bomb on 16 July 1945.
Describe the liberation of Hungary…
In 1945 the Communists only made 17% in the elections, and the Smallholders made a much greater percentage. Ferenc Nagy was the prime minister. In 1947 the Smallholders and Communists integrated with 60% of the vote. By 1949 the Hungarian Communists took control of the police and trade unions and established the Hungarian Workers’ Party.
Describe liberation of Czechoslovakia…
In 1943 Edvard Beneš, the Czechoslovak president of the government-in-exile, negotiated alliance with the USSR. In Autumn 1944, Ruthenium was annexed. As the USSR gained power, the Communist party formed a provisional government with Beneš as the President and Klement Gottwald as leader. The Communists then gained influential roles in the Ministry of the Interior to gain power.
Describe Finland’s liberation…
Finland was invaded in summer 1944 and told they could have armistice provided they paid reparations, ceased Petsamo, and declared war on Germany. CEG Mannheim was president until 1946. They produced reparation goods such as barges and railroad equipment. An oppressive regime would have disrupted this.
Describe Italy’s liberation by the Allies.
In 1943, the Allies liberated Italy. The Germans seized Rome, and so the Allies fought up the peninsula until April 1945 when Northern Italy was finally seized. Togliatti was asked to form a coalition with the socialist party while coming up with a program for economic reform by the USSR. As he had helped resist the Germans, he was very popular and a coalition government was formed with him becoming minister of justice.
Describe France’s liberation by the Allies.
Charles de Gaulle of the ‘free french,’ in London established government to restore France’s power while reducing Anglo-American influence. In December 1944 with the USSR, A Treaty to Alliance and Mutual Assurance was signed and the French Communist Party leader, Maurice Thorez, was encouraged to work to create a left wing coalition.
