The Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe Cambridge IGCSE History revision
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In plain words
By 1948 every country that the Red Army had freed from Hitler had a communist government that took its orders from Moscow. It was not done with one great blow. It was done a slice at a time.
9 things to know
- In 1945 the Red Army occupied the countries of eastern Europe that it had freed from German rule. It stayed.
- Stalin's reasons: security came first. The USSR had been invaded from the west twice in thirty years and had lost more than 20 million people in the Second World War. He wanted a buffer zone of friendly states.
- He also wanted to spread communism, and to use the region's resources to rebuild the USSR.
- The method was gradual. At first communists joined coalition governments with other parties. They took control of the police and the army. Then opponents were arrested, elections were rigged, and the other parties were banned.
- Poland: communists took control after rigged elections in 1947. Hungary and Romania followed the same pattern, as did Bulgaria.
- Czechoslovakia was the last, and the only one with a strong democratic tradition. In February 1948 the communists seized power.
- Yugoslavia was communist but independent. Its leader, Tito, refused to obey Stalin and was expelled from the communist group of nations in 1948.
- In 1947 Stalin set up Cominform to coordinate the communist parties. In 1949 he set up Comecon to coordinate their economies.
- To the West this looked like expansion. To Stalin it was defence.
Worked example
Explain why Stalin wanted control of Eastern Europe. This is a 6-mark question.
- Security: the USSR had been invaded through Poland in both world wars, and had lost over 20 million people. A belt of friendly states would be a barrier.
- Ideology: Stalin believed in spreading communism, and the Red Army's presence made that possible.
- Economy: the USSR was devastated, and the resources and industry of eastern Europe could help to rebuild it.
Tips and tricks
- "Buffer zone" is the phrase for Stalin's motive. Use it, and back it with the 20 million dead.
- The takeover was step by step: coalition, control of the police, rigged elections, one-party rule. Czechoslovakia in February 1948 was the end of the process.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
The Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What did Stalin want eastern Europe to be for the USSR?
The USSR had been invaded twice in thirty years.
Which country fell to a communist takeover in February 1948?
It was the last to fall.
Which communist leader refused to obey Stalin?
Yugoslavia stayed communist and independent.
What was Cominform set up to do?
It was set up in 1947.
Why could the same events be seen as defence by Stalin and as aggression by Truman?Stretch
Each side judged the other's actions by its own fears.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 14 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
The Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe
Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 · 14 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
How did the communists take control of the countries of Eastern Europe?[4]
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The Red Army stayed in occupation. Communists first joined coalition governments, and took control of the police and security forces. Opponents were arrested or forced out. Elections were rigged, and other parties were banned.
Why did the Western powers see Soviet actions in Eastern Europe as a threat?[6]
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Stalin had promised free elections at Yalta, and they were not held. Communist governments loyal to Moscow were imposed on one country after another. The West feared that communism would go on spreading into western Europe, where communist parties were strong in France and Italy. Churchill's "iron curtain" speech expressed this fear.
What were Cominform and Comecon?[4]
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Cominform was set up in 1947 to coordinate the communist parties of Europe under Soviet direction. Comecon was set up in 1949 to coordinate the economies of the communist countries. Both tied eastern Europe more closely to the USSR.
Answers: The Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe
- 1. The Red Army stayed in occupation. Communists first joined coalition governments, and took control of the police and security forces. Opponents were arrested or forced out. Elections were rigged, and other parties were banned.
- 2. Stalin had promised free elections at Yalta, and they were not held. Communist governments loyal to Moscow were imposed on one country after another. The West feared that communism would go on spreading into western Europe, where communist parties were strong in France and Italy. Churchill's "iron curtain" speech expressed this fear.
- 3. Cominform was set up in 1947 to coordinate the communist parties of Europe under Soviet direction. Comecon was set up in 1949 to coordinate the economies of the communist countries. Both tied eastern Europe more closely to the USSR.