The Development Of The Cold War 1946-55 Flashcards
Truman Dictrine March 1947
1946 communists in Greece attempted a takeover, they had moral support from USSR. Greece has sensitive geographical position. Truman provided support. Congress agreed to send $400 million in military and economic aid. Greece and Turkey part of NATO. Evidence of US imperialism.
Marshall Plan 1947/8
Was, in theory, support all of Europe. George Marshall travelled Western Europe and witnessed economic suffering. MP was intended to rebuild economies. Poverty = breeding ground for communism.
Soviets viewed this as attack on communism, ‘dollar imperialism’. Under Soviet pressure, the East declined aid. Tightened hold over east countries. More entrenched division of Europe.
USSR control - Hungary
Communists worked with peasants smallholders party. Applied salami tactics (provoking divisions among coalition partners who were then accused of being anti-Soviet). PSP accused of offences against Red Army. They were then dissolved.
USSR control - Bulgaria
Coalition with Peasants Party was formed. 1947, Petkov (leader of PP) was hung for ‘plotting a coup’.
USSR control - Poland
October 1947, ex-members of Polish Gov in London were removed from the office
USSR control - Romania
Rigged elections in 1946 allowed communists to secure their hold on power. 1947, Peasant Party was dissolved and the king forced to abdicate.
USSR control - East Germany
Communists instructed by Stalin I merge with bigger socialist groups. Socialist Unity Party. Members of the former Socialist Party were purged.
USSR control - Czechoslovakia
Process took longer. Required a coup to remove non communist elements from the government. 1948 communists stage a coup d’etat right before the election where the police force was taken over and non-communists were purged. Only pro-communist representatives. Benes replaced by Gottwald.
