The Iron Curtain Flashcards
How did the iron curtain develop between the east and west in the 1940s?
- towards the end of the war the Red army occupied many areas in Europe whilst they fought the Germans.
- when the war ended soviet leadership wanted to make sure these areas stayed friendly towards the USSR.
- In these countries soviet took over with communist government. Opposite parties were stamped out.
- by 1948 the process was complete.
How did Poland contribute to the iron curtain and why did it become communist?
Poland was Stalin’s first priority because the Germans had attacked Russia though Poland. In June 1945 a few of the London Poles were allowed into the Lublin government that was established after Warsaw uprising. Allies recognised Poland as a communist country in July 1945 and have up plans to make it capitalist. In 1947 the election was rigged and Lublin communist won and London Poles fled country.
How did Hungary turn communist and how did this contribute to the iron curtain?
Stalin allowed free elections there in 1945 after the Yalta agreement. He soon realised it was a mistake when communist party got less than 20% of the votes. He saw this as a threat and imposed a strict communist government. Fresh elections were then scheduled in August 1947 and this time the elections were rigged. As a result of this communist party won and all non communist were banned and were in soviet control.
How did Romania turn communist and how did this contribute to the iron curtain?
The red army had swept into Romania in 1944 and a coalition government dominated by communists was set up. In 1945 Stalin appointed a new prime minister against the Kings will, they extended this control in 1947 when the monarchy was abolished.
How did Bulgaria turn communist and how did this contribute to the iron curtain?
The Red army had entered Bulgaria in late 1944. November 1945 communists seized control of Romanian elections and these were rigged so the communist party ‘father land front’ won. September 1946 the communist government government abolished the monarchy and seized control.
How did Czechoslovakia turn communist and how did this contribute to the iron curtain?
In 1945 Stalin allowed the country to be led by a coalition of both communist and non-communist. This is because it already had a strong communist party party. In 1946 fair elections were held 38% voted communist. Previous 2 presidents were non communist. There was an economic crisis in mid 1947due to bad harvest and port industrial production. Elections were scheduled in 1948 but communists were afraid for loosing and took control of country by force and murdered and arrested non communists in coalition.
What countries had been turned communist?
Romania-1947 communists took control
Bulgaria- 1945 communist executed non communists.
Greece- communists guerrillas were fighting to despise the monarchy.
Albania- communist took control in 1945 without opposition.
Italy- strong communist party that belonged cominform and planned to take over country.
Yugoslavia- In 1945 communist took control under Tito but split form USSR in 1948.
France- strong communist party that planned to take over
East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia
What was Stalin’s justification of taking over these countries? Why did he feel the USSR sacrificed the most and should be compensated?
- they felt they had made the most important contribution to the victory of WW2.
- 15 million soviet soldiers and civilians had died at the hands of German forces and 10 million as a relic of harsh war time conditions. This was much more than any other allied country.
What proved that even the USSRs victories in the war showed communism triumphed?
- Even Winston Churchill said it was the Russians that ‘tore the heart out of the German army’
- 80% of German loses took place against the Russians on the eastern from and Stalin thought they should be compensated for this.
Why and how did USSR want to secure itself against future attacks?
- In 1941 Germans had attacked USSR through Poland. Stalin wanted to ensure this would never happen again by ensuring Poland was a communist country.
- Stalin argued the countries taken over were a buffer zone of protection to ensure that no future attacks would take place against them.
- many countries Stalin had taken over before the war were ant-communist. Stalin was concerned in future conflict they would turn anti communist which would be a disadvantage for him.
How and why did the USSR want to stop the spread of evil capitalism?
- the war was seen by Soviets as a battle between capitalist Germany and communist Russia. To them it was a communist victory.
- Stalin was was certain that American businesses were trying to spread their system of capitalism across the world. By taking over these countries it was a layer of protection against the spread of capitalism.
- Stalin wanted to stop America building up a world empire by buying and selling their goods in countries over Europe. By controlling these countries they were limiting America’s wealth?
