Unit 1.1 - The Iron Curtain Speech and Soviet Satellite States Flashcards
Quote from The Iron Curtain Speech:
“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.”
Who performed the Iron Curtain Speech, and why?
Winston Churchill:
March 1946, at Westminster College in Fulton, he made it plain that he believed that Soviets were a threat to freedom and world peace - provoked to make the speech after Soviets began taking over Eastern Europe.
The speech was widely heard and Churchill’s message was deeply conveyed as it was broadcasted on the TV, radio and news channels.
What did he mean by an Iron Curtain?
Europe is split - the ‘curtain’ is metaphoric for the Soviet Buffer Zone and ultimately, Churchill is insulting Stalin by hinting at his pretentious and aggressive ruling/invasion of countries such as Hungary, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.
How did the Iron Curtain speech affect the tensions between the US and the Soviet Union?
Increased Tensions: Stalin felt insulted by this: believed that the speech was propaganda against communism.
- Stalin interpreted that the speech was a form of propaganda against the Soviet Union and their communist system.
- Soviet Union wanted to further strengthen it’s forces and start an anti-Western propaganda campaign.
How did the Soviet Union begin to expand into Eastern Europe?
During WW2 the Soviet Red Army freed many countries from the Nazis and thus took control of them. After the war, he was reluctant to give up control as he wanted to create a ‘buffer zone’ to protect against future invasions or attacks from the West and also grow stronger (own more land/increase world dominance) - he turned these countries in ‘satellite states’ and established communist governments in them tied to the Soviet Union.
What techniques did Stalin use to expand his power over Eastern Europe?
- manipulation through propaganda
- intimidation
- undemocratic elections
- corruption
- invasion through many times brute force
Main Examples of Satellite States:
- East Germany
- Poland
- Czechoslovakia
- Hungary
- Romania
- Bulgaria
- Yugoslavia
Poland: Complete Success
1947 - complete Soviet government established.
The Red Army waited until the uprising of Poles against the Germans in 1944 and invaded.
Czechoslovakia: Complete Success
For a long time Czechoslovakia was the only democratic country in Eastern Europe and Stalin saw this as a threat to his Buffer Zone. Supported by the Soviets, communists staged a coup in 1948, where a pro-communist/Soviet government set up.
Hungary
Through intimidation and a campaign set up by Moscow, a communist government was elected whereby in 1949 the country became a Soviet one party state.
Romania and Bulgaria
As in Poland, there were ‘free’ elections, but in reality, voters were intimidated and manipulated. Soviets eventually took control by 1945.
Yugoslavia
Had a greater independence compared to neighbouring countries and was not occupied by the Red Army.
Consequences of the Satellite States: Tensions between US and Soviet Union
- Stalin’s power was more widespread and communism’s influence in the world grew.
- Stalin successfully created his ‘Buffer Zone’ to protect the Soviet Union and Russia.
- Tensions between the superpowers increased: Communism spread and the rivalry grew as the US’s intention to ‘contain’ communism was clearly not working. Truman grew suspicious of Stalin’s intentions and felt threatened.
