Satellite States

Question 1

What is a satellite state?

Answer 1

A satellite state is a formally independent state under the heavy political, cultural and economic control of a more powerful country.

Question 2

How was Stalin able to form several of the USSR’s satellite states?

Answer 2

The Red Army had freed many Eastern European countries from Nazi occupation during WW2, setting up temporary governments. Instead of giving up these governments, Stalin installed communism.

Question 3

How did Stalin justify his creation of satellite states?

Answer 3

He claimed the satellite states were a buffer zone between the USSR and the West, protecting against future invasion. He also claimed that communism was good for people.

Question 4

What tactics did Stalin use to form his satellite states?

Answer 4

1) Red army occupation
2) Rigged elections
3) Communists taking key government roles

Question 5

How was Poland made into a Soviet satellite state?

Answer 5

1) Soviets had promised to support the 1944 Warsaw Uprising against Nazi occupation.
2) Instead, the Soviets waited until the uprising had failed. 3) They then invaded, setting up a communist government with “free elections”.

Question 6

When did the Red Army take over Bulgaria and Romania?

Answer 6

1944-5.

Question 7

From 1944-5, the Red Army took over __ and __, allowing…?

Answer 7

1) Bulgaria, Romania.

2) Allowing “free” (rigged) elections.

Question 8

What kind of government existed in Czechoslovakia after WW2?

Answer 8

A coalition government, led by Benes, which aimed to restore the pre-war democracy.

Question 9

How was Czechoslovakia made into a Soviet satellite state?

Answer 9

1) After WW2, Benes led a coalition government.
2) In Feb 1948, Stalin supported a communist coup.
3) New leader was Klement Gottwald.

Question 10

When was Klement Gottwald’s communist coup in Czechoslovakia?

Answer 10

Feb 1948.

Question 11

Who became Czechoslovakia’s leader after the communist coup?

Answer 11

Klement Gottwald.

Question 12

How was Hungary made into a Soviet satellite state?

Answer 12

1) In 1947, voters were intimidated by a campaign supported by Moscow.
2) By 1949, Hungary was a communist, one-party state.

Question 13

When were voters in Hungary intimidated by a campaign supported by Moscow? And by when was Hungary a communist, one-party state?

Answer 13

1947, 1949.

Question 14

How did Eastern Germany become a Satellite State?

Answer 14

It was handed to the USSR at the wartime conferences.

Question 15

Yugoslavia and Albania were still satellite states, but were different to the others. Why?

Answer 15

These two countries weren’t occupied by the Red Army, so were more independent than the countries nearer to the USSR.

Question 16

Which 2 satellite states weren’t occupied by the Red Army?

Answer 16

Yugoslavia and Albania.

Question 17

Which countries became Soviet satellite states?

Answer 17

Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, eastern parts of Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Albania.

Question 18

How did the USA view the USSR’s creation of satellite states?

Answer 18

Truman saw this as evidence that Stalin was aggressively attempting to spread communism throughout Europe, worsening relations.

Question 19

In what year did George Kennan (US head of affairs in Moscow) send his Long Telegram to the US Department of State?

Answer 19

1946.

Question 20

What message was sent to the US Department of State in George Kennan’s Long Telegram?

Answer 20

Said that the USSR was aggressively expanding control across Europe.

Question 21

What telegram did the USSR send in response to George Kennan’s Long Telegram?

Answer 21

The Novikov telegram.

Question 22

What message was sent to the USA in the Novikov telegram?

Answer 22

Said that the USA was trying to dominate the world with its power.

Question 23

When was Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech?

Answer 23

1946.

Question 24

What was the message of Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech?

Answer 24

He said that “an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent”, condemning the spreading of communism throughout eastern Europe.

Question 25

What were the consequences of the USSR’s creation of satellite states?

Answer 25

Shorter term: 1) 1946 Kennan’s Long Telegram -> Novikov telegram 2) 1946 Iron Curtain speech
Medium term: 1) Arms race 2) USA’s containment (TD+MP).

Question 26

What was the significance of the USSR’s creation of satellite states?

Answer 26

1) Revealed Stalin was more than willing to spread communism, using violent means, to create a sphere of Soviet influence
2) Truman saw this as evidence that Stalin, unless prevented, would continue to aggressively attempt to spread communism throughout Europe.
3) Increased suspicions + worsened relations.
4) Consequences: Kennan’s Long Telegram, Novikov telegram, Iron Curtain speech, arms race, USA’s containment (TD+MP).