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European History – 1945 to Present
Table of Contents
Unit 3 Overview: The Origins of the Cold War
3.1 Ideological differences between East and West
3.2 Truman Doctrine and containment policy
3.3 Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe

After World War II, the Soviet Union rapidly expanded its influence across Eastern Europe. Stalin's regime established satellite states, creating a buffer zone against the West and imposing communist systems on these nations.

The Iron Curtain divided Europe, symbolizing the ideological split between East and West. Soviet control was maintained through military presence, economic ties, and political pressure, shaping the Cold War landscape for decades to come.

Soviet Expansion and Control

Iron Curtain and Satellite States

  • Iron Curtain symbolized ideological and physical boundary dividing Europe into communist East and capitalist West
  • Stretched from Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic
  • Satellite states referred to countries in Eastern Europe under Soviet control (Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria)
  • Maintained appearance of independence but followed Soviet directives
  • Served as buffer zone between Soviet Union and Western Europe

Sovietization Process

  • Sovietization involved imposing Soviet-style political and economic systems on Eastern European countries
  • Included nationalization of industries, collectivization of agriculture, and centralized economic planning
  • Implemented through coercion, propaganda, and manipulation of local politics
  • Salami tactics used to gradually eliminate opposition parties and consolidate communist power
    • Involved isolating and removing non-communist elements one by one
    • Applied in countries like Hungary and Czechoslovakia

Soviet Sphere of Influence

  • Soviet sphere of influence extended over Eastern Europe, known as the Eastern Bloc
  • Encompassed countries directly bordering the Soviet Union and beyond
  • Maintained through military presence, economic ties, and political pressure
  • Aimed to create a buffer zone against perceived Western aggression
  • Included imposing Soviet-approved leaders and suppressing dissent (Hungarian Revolution of 1956)

International Communist Organizations

Cominform and Communist Parties

  • Cominform (Communist Information Bureau) established in 1947 to coordinate actions between communist parties
  • Served as a tool for Soviet control over communist movements in Europe
  • Facilitated exchange of information and coordination of policies among member parties
  • Promoted Soviet-approved interpretation of Marxism-Leninism
  • National communist parties in Eastern Bloc countries:
    • Acted as local agents of Soviet influence
    • Implemented policies aligned with Moscow's directives
    • Controlled government institutions and suppressed opposition

Warsaw Pact

  • Collective defense treaty signed in 1955 by the Soviet Union and seven Eastern European countries
  • Formed in response to West Germany joining NATO
  • Formalized military cooperation among Eastern Bloc countries
  • Key provisions:
    • Mutual defense clause similar to NATO's Article 5
    • Standardization of military equipment and tactics
    • Joint military exercises and intelligence sharing
  • Served as counterbalance to NATO in Europe during Cold War

Post-WWII Conferences and Events

Yalta and Potsdam Conferences

  • Yalta Conference (February 1945):
    • Attended by Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin
    • Discussed post-war reorganization of Europe
    • Agreed on Soviet participation in war against Japan
    • Established framework for United Nations
  • Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945):
    • Attended by Truman, Churchill/Attlee, and Stalin
    • Finalized decisions on Germany's future
    • Agreed on reparations and border changes
    • Revealed growing tensions between Western Allies and Soviet Union

Czechoslovak Coup and Stalin's Policies

  • Czechoslovak coup d'état (February 1948):
    • Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia's government
    • Marked the end of the country's post-war democratic period
    • Resulted in purges of non-communist officials and suppression of opposition
  • Stalin's policies in Eastern Europe:
    • Emphasized rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture
    • Implemented centralized economic planning based on Soviet model
    • Suppressed nationalist movements and religious institutions
    • Established secret police forces to maintain control (East German Stasi)

Key Terms to Review (19)

Eastern Bloc: The Eastern Bloc refers to the group of socialist states in Central and Eastern Europe under the influence of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. This political and economic alliance was characterized by a common ideological commitment to communism, collective security, and a centralized economy, which distinguished these nations from their Western counterparts.
Iron Curtain: The Iron Curtain refers to the ideological and physical boundary that separated Western Europe and Eastern Europe during the Cold War, symbolizing the division between capitalist democracies and communist states. This metaphor emerged as tensions escalated between the Soviet Union and Western powers, highlighting a stark contrast in governance, economics, and social systems.
Yalta Conference: The Yalta Conference was a pivotal meeting held in February 1945 between the leaders of the Allied powers: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. This conference aimed to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe and the re-establishment of nations that had been occupied during the war, marking a crucial moment in shaping the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe.
Salami Tactics: Salami tactics refer to a political strategy in which a group or individual gradually eliminates opposition through a series of small, incremental actions, rather than through a single, direct confrontation. This method was particularly utilized by the Soviet Union to gain control over Eastern European countries after World War II, allowing them to secure dominance without provoking significant resistance.
Warsaw Pact: The Warsaw Pact, officially known as the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, was a military alliance established in 1955 among the Soviet Union and seven Eastern Bloc socialist republics. It was created in response to the formation of NATO and served to solidify Soviet control over Eastern Europe while providing a collective defense mechanism against perceived Western aggression.
Planned Economy: A planned economy, also known as a command economy, is an economic system where the government makes all decisions regarding the production and distribution of goods and services. This system contrasts sharply with market economies, where supply and demand dictate economic activity. In a planned economy, the state controls resources and often sets prices, aiming to achieve specific social and economic goals.
Stalin's Policies: Stalin's policies refer to the series of political, economic, and social strategies implemented by Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. These policies aimed at transforming the Soviet Union into a major industrial power, consolidating state control over all aspects of life, and spreading communist ideology throughout Eastern Europe. The aggressive nature of these policies, particularly in the context of Soviet expansion, shaped the post-World War II landscape in Eastern Europe, where Stalin sought to establish satellite states and secure Soviet influence.
Marxism-Leninism: Marxism-Leninism is a political ideology derived from the theories of Karl Marx and the practices of Vladimir Lenin, emphasizing the necessity of a revolutionary vanguard party to lead the proletariat in overthrowing capitalism and establishing a socialist state. It combines Marxist economic theories with Leninist strategies for political organization and revolution, influencing various communist movements worldwide and significantly impacting Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe during the post-World War II era.
Sovietization: Sovietization refers to the process by which the Soviet Union extended its influence and control over Eastern European countries after World War II, imposing communist ideology, political structures, and economic systems in these nations. This involved establishing communist parties as the dominant political force, implementing state-controlled economies, and repressing dissent to maintain strict loyalty to Moscow. The goal of Sovietization was to create a buffer zone against the West and solidify Soviet power in the region.
Stalinism: Stalinism refers to the political system and ideology associated with Joseph Stalin's rule in the Soviet Union from the late 1920s until his death in 1953. This regime emphasized rapid industrialization, collectivization of agriculture, and a totalitarian state characterized by oppressive political repression, widespread propaganda, and purges of perceived enemies. Stalinism had a profound impact on Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe, as it shaped the policies and governance of countries under Soviet influence after World War II.
Cominform: Cominform, short for Communist Information Bureau, was established in 1947 as an organization to promote cooperation among communist parties and coordinate their activities across Europe and beyond. It aimed to strengthen Soviet influence in Eastern Europe following World War II, while also serving as a response to perceived threats from Western powers. Through Cominform, the Soviet Union sought to ensure ideological conformity among its satellite states, promoting a unified front against capitalism and Western imperialism.
Communism: Communism is a political and economic ideology that advocates for a classless society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. This ideology was central to the political landscape of Eastern Europe during the Cold War, influencing the expansion of Soviet influence, the division of Germany, and various uprisings against oppressive regimes.
Centralized Economic Planning: Centralized economic planning is an economic system in which the government or central authority makes all decisions about the production and distribution of goods and services. This approach contrasts with market economies, where supply and demand dictate economic activity. Centralized planning was a key feature of Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe, as the Soviet Union sought to impose its model of state control over the economies of its satellite states, aiming for rapid industrialization and collectivization.
Collectivization: Collectivization was a policy implemented primarily in the Soviet Union during the late 1920s and 1930s aimed at consolidating individual landholdings and labor into collective farms. This drastic approach was meant to increase agricultural productivity and eliminate private ownership, connecting tightly to the Soviet Union's expansionist goals, Stalin's repressive control over Eastern Europe, and the economic strategies employed through COMECON in the broader communist framework.
Czechoslovak Coup: The Czechoslovak Coup of February 1948 was a pivotal event in which the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia seized power, leading to the establishment of a communist regime. This coup was characterized by the support of the Soviet Union and was part of a broader pattern of Soviet expansion across Eastern Europe during the post-World War II period. The event marked a significant shift in the political landscape of Czechoslovakia, aligning it firmly with Soviet interests and solidifying the Iron Curtain's division of Europe.
Hungarian Revolution 1956: The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a nationwide revolt against the Soviet-imposed policies and oppressive regime in Hungary, marking a pivotal moment in the Cold War. It began as a student-led protest in Budapest, escalating into a full-scale revolution aimed at achieving political freedom, economic reform, and national independence from Soviet control. The uprising ultimately faced brutal suppression by Soviet forces, leading to significant international implications and illustrating the limits of resistance within the Eastern Bloc.
Satellite States: Satellite states refer to countries that are formally independent but are heavily influenced and controlled by a more powerful state, often in a political, economic, or military capacity. In the context of post-World War II Europe, the Soviet Union established a number of satellite states in Eastern Europe, which served as buffer zones against the West and helped to spread communist ideology. These states were characterized by their loyalty to Moscow and their alignment with Soviet policies, significantly shaping the political landscape of the region.
Soviet sphere of influence: The Soviet sphere of influence refers to the geopolitical region in which the Soviet Union exercised significant control and dominance, particularly in Eastern Europe during the Cold War. This influence was characterized by the establishment of communist governments, suppression of dissent, and economic dependence on the Soviet Union, fundamentally altering the political landscape and power dynamics of the region.
Potsdam Conference: The Potsdam Conference was a meeting held in July-August 1945 between the leaders of the Allied powers – the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union – to discuss the post-war order in Europe, particularly the administration of Germany. This conference marked a pivotal moment in shaping Europe's political landscape after World War II, as it established agreements that influenced Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe and laid the groundwork for the eventual division of Germany into East and West.