Soviet takeover of eastern Europe Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Soviet takeover of eastern Europe Deck (14)
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1
Q

How had Stalin maintained power in the USSR during the 1930s?

A

By purging (killing or removing) any political opponents

2
Q

By 1940, how many Soviet citizens had Stalin killed just to maintain his power?

A

An estimated 10-11 million (according to Gaddis)

3
Q

How did the Red Army behave in Germany?

A

Brutally - with violence and mass rapes against the German people

4
Q

Who effectively ran the Soviet sector of Germany?

A

The Red Army

5
Q

How did Communists come to power in Bulgaria?

A

Communists were elected as part of a coalition in 1945. They then executed the leaders of other political parties.

6
Q

How did Communists gain power in Hungary?

A
  • Communists became the largest party in 1947

- They then imprisoned opposition politicians and attacked Church leaders

7
Q

What did Stalin establish in 1947?

A

Cominform (Com – inform)

8
Q

What did Cominform stand for?

A

Communist Information Bureau

9
Q

What did Cominform do?

A

It coordinated the work of Communist Parties in eastern Europe and spied on them to make sure they were loyal to Stalin

10
Q

Why were West worried by the Soviet takeover of eastern Europe?

A

They had understood the need for Stalin to have friendly governments and significant influence; they did not anticipate total domination

(Remember, at Yalta they had agree for free and fair elections.)

11
Q

By 1948, which countries were not totally controlled by Communist governments?

A

Greece and Czechoslovakia

12
Q

Which two western European countries had strong Communist parties?

A

France and Italy

13
Q

Why was Europe so vulnerable to Communism after the war?

A

War had devastated Europe and many people in 1947 were still struggling to get basic supplies. An ideology that offered to look after everyone seemed attractive.

14
Q

How did Stalin and Truman see eastern Europe differently?

A

Stalin saw it as being necessary for his security

Truman saw it only as the spread of Communism