Soviet Influence And Expansion In Eastern Europe 1945-47 Flashcards
After WW2 where was the Red Army well-placed?
Large parts of Eastern Europe because of the political and military vacuum that existed after the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Why was the West anxious due to Red army presence in Eastern Europe?
The West realized that it provided Stalin with a powerful weapon with which he could stamp his policies on the region.
Although no aimed at the ______, the sixty Red Army divisions who remained in Eastern Europe played an important role ________ communist regimes on the region. Pro-Communist governments were set up in ______,_____,_____,_____ and _______.
West Imposing Poland Hungary Romania Bulgaria Albania
How did the Soviets change the governments in the buffer zone to communist?
Pressure was applied by the Soviet Union to allow communist politicians to hold key positions in coalition governments before elections were held. With posts of interior minister, which was responsible for the police force and law and order. Elections could then be manipulated to ensure that communists ensured levels of power.
In the communist takeover, what would Stalin do to strengthen communist parties?
They were often encouraged by Stalin to merge with other, often bigger, socialist groups who found merger to be in reality a takeover.
Who was controlled by a communist government by the end of 1947?
Every state in Eastern Europe apart from Czechoslovakia.
What had Stalin gained control of?
He had gained control of what he considered to be legitimate sphere of influence for the Soviet Union; it was unlikely to guarantee security for future attack.
How did the USA view this development?
They viewed it differently as Stalin had failed to keep his promise to hold free elections in Eastern Europe. The USA and Britain worried that all of Europe, including Italy and France, was vulnerable to communist takeover.
What was the communist situation in France and Italy at the time ?
They were strong communist parties and USA and Britain feared they were vulnerable to communist takeover
True or False
The Potsdam Conference ended without complete agreement on some issues.
True
Hungary,Romania,Bulgaria and Albania all had communist governments and _________________________________________.
Owed their loyalty to Stalin
Where did Churchill give his Iron Curtain speech?
Fulton, Missouri in the USA
Quote Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech?
From Stettin to the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent.
What was Churchill’s response to Soviet Expansion?
Called for an alliance between Britain and USA
What response did the speech have in Russia?
There was a hysterical response. Stalin saw it as deliberately provocative and accused Churchill of being a warmonger. Relations between East and West reached a new low.
