How had the USSR Gained Control of Eastern Europe by 1948? (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)
Revision Note
Author
Zoe WadeExpertise
History
Why Did Stalin Want Control of Eastern Europe?
From 1943 to 1945, the Soviet Red Army liberated many countries in Eastern Europe from Nazi control
After 1945, Stalin wanted to keep control of these countries
He wanted them to act as a buffer zone between the East and West
These countries were called satellite states
They had to stay in the orbit of the USSR, meaning:
They relied on the USSR
The USSR influenced the countries’ actions and politic
As each Eastern European country fell to communism, it
Confirmed Truman’s concern about the spread of communism
Heightened US anti-communist attitudes
Encouraged Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech
The ‘Baltic States’, 1940
The Soviet Union took over the ‘Baltic States’ during the Second World War
The Soviet Union saw them as legitimate Soviet states
The Baltic States wanted independence
They stated that the USSR’s actions were illegal
Poland and The Warsaw Uprising, 1944-45
In 1944, Poland attempted to overthrow their Nazi German occupiers
The event is called the Warsaw Uprising
Germany defeated the Warsaw Uprising
The Red Army waited until the defeat to occupy Poland
At the Yalta Conference, the Grand Alliance agreed to free elections in Poland
Stalin did not want Poland to have a non-communist government
In June 1945, Poland had a coalition government
It contained communist supporters and a few members of the London Poles
During the 1947 elections, the USSR led a campaign of violence and intimidation
The communists gained 80% of the vote
The election was either rigged or people voted for the communists out of fear
Worked Example
Describe how the USSR consolidated its hold over Poland from 1945
4 marks
Answers:
Soviet troops stayed in Poland after the Warsaw Uprising (1). Stalin did not follow the terms agreed at Yalta (1). He was worried that allowing free elections would mean a non-Communist government in Poland (1). As a result, the USSR rigged the elections in 1947 to ensure the Communists won a huge victory (1).
Exam Tip
This style of question does not require you to explain your answer. The Cambridge IGCSE gives you a point for each relevant piece of information that you write. Therefore, do not spend any additional time trying to describe or explain each reason.
Romania, Bulgaria and East Germany, 1944-45
At the Yalta Conference, the Grand Alliance agreed that East Germany would fall under the USSR’s influence
Romania and Bulgaria both lost their monarchies, which were replaced by Communist governments
Hungary 1945-49
Non-Communists won the 1945 election in Hungary
A Communist politician called Rakosi took control of the secret police
He imprisoned political opponents
This pressure forced the resignation of the Hungarian Prime Minister
The Communists won the 1947 election
All other political parties were banned in 1949
Czechoslovakia, 1948
Czechoslovakia was a democracy from 1919 to 1938
Nazi Germany occupied the Sudetenland and then the whole of Czechoslovakia in 1938
After 1945, a non-Communist called Edward Benes led a coalition government
Stalin saw this as a threat to his buffer zone and wanted a Communist government in power
In 1948, pro-communist Klement Gottwald led a coup
He took over the government with support from the USSR
Worked Example
Study Source A
How useful is this source as evidence about the Cold War? Explain your answer using details of the sources and your knowledge
7 marks
Source A: From a broadcast by Moscow Radio, 1949 Every now and again the USA and Britain accuse Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria of violating the peace treaties which bound them to safeguard the human rights of their citizens. These accusations are absolutely groundless. All these countries are strictly observing the terms of the peace treaties and are not violating human rights. Political freedom is secured for all citizens. These rights are embodied in the new constitutions. Racial discrimination is a crime punishable by law. Women enjoy the same rights as men. There is full freedom of conscience. Freedom of assembly, organisation and the press is secured. The overwhelming majority of the working people of these countries is organised in political trade unions on a democratic basis. There is no censorship. When the US and Britain speak of these countries violating the peace treaties, they are obviously not thinking of honest citizens of these countries who enjoy full political freedom, but of their own spies such as reactionary Fascist groups who have been convicted of terrorist activities designed to overthrow the people’s democratic governments of these countries. But the governments of Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria in no way violated the peace treaties when they adopted measures to frustrate those anti-democratic reactionaries. These governments acted in full accordance with the treaties, which bind them not to suffer the existence of Fascist organisations. |
Partial answer:
Source A is useful to a historian studying the Cold War (1). This is because it shows how the USSR wanted to present its satellite states. Moscow Radio states that “Political freedom is secured for all citizens” in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria (1). The reality was that, during the 1940s, the USSR implemented Communist governments in Eastern Europe using force and rigging elections (1). The USSR releasing this statement on behalf of these countries shows historians the level of control they had over the satellite states (1).
Exam Tip
All sources are, in some way, useful for a historian. To achieve full marks for this question, you need to comment on the nature, origin and purpose of the source
Nature - The source is a broadcast released on Moscow Radio in 1949. Radio broadcasts are intended to reach a wide audience. Therefore, it is useful for highlighting what the USSR wanted their people to hear and believe
Origin - Moscow Radio was government-owned. It is useful in showing the official opinion on issues. However, the USSR censored information meaning this broadcast is likely to be inaccurate. Therefore this is a typical source from the USSR
Purpose - Radio broadcasts are meant to inform people. Censored broadcasts like this are also made to persuade their audiences. As a result, they are very unreliable
This method of source analysis ensures you are using details from the source and your own knowledge in your answer.
Communism in Yugoslavia and Albania
The Soviet Union viewed Yugoslavia and Albania as satellite states
They were never occupied by the Soviet Red Army
They had established their own Communist governments
They were given more independence than countries neighbouring the USSR
The Satellite States of the USSR
The USA’s Reaction to the Satellite States
In 1945, Roosevelt and Churchill had accepted that the USSR would influence Eastern Europe
They still saw the importance of allowing free elections
Truman saw the creation of satellite states as a deliberate attempt to spread Communism
Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech in 1946 worsened relations between East and West
The satellite states challenged Truman’s policy of containment
This prompted Truman to establish the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
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