Chapter 2: Developing tensions to 1948

Question 1

What are salami tactics?

Answer 1

Doing things in small increments to achieve a larger overall goal

Question 2

What is rigging elections?

Answer 2

The removal of opposition using intimidation or oppression

Question 3

What is a puppet state?

Answer 3

A state controlled by a larger one with more power and resources and is used to do what the controller wants

Question 4

What was the percentages agreement?
Why was it a bit dodgy?

Answer 4

• 1944
• USSR and Britain agree to split countries in Eastern Europe
• USA + nations involved aren’t told
• Foreshadows expansion and gives Stalin a free pass.

Question 5

Describe expansion into Poland

Answer 5

• Govt is in exile in London
• Stalin controls the Lublin Poles
• Weaken opposition and joins with the socialists to be dominant
• Deputy PM Gomulka was not pro Moscow so was accused of ‘nationalist deviation’ and replaced by Bierut who was pro stalin (1948)

Question 6

Describe expansion into Hungary

Answer 6

• Communist party allied with other groups to remove opposition and gain support against bigger parties
• Opponents were arrested and elections rigged
• 1949 Communist leader Rajk executed for ‘anti soviet activities
• All political opposition disappeared in 1949

Question 7

Describe expansion into Romania

Answer 7

• Communism was already popular as an alternate regime
• Red army occupied the country post war and encouraged communist demonstrations
• 1945 - red army disarmed Romanian army
• Forced the king to abdicate

Question 8

Describe expansion into Czechoslovakia

Answer 8

• Communism was popular due to a large working class
• Communist leader (PM) Gottwald was willing to accept US aid - :(
• Due to growing communist opposition - all resigned in 1948
• Benes put in power to support communism - resigned June 1948 to give power to moscow

Question 9

Describe expansion into Bulgaria

Answer 9

• Rigged elections and removed opposition
• Agrarian party = biggest opposition - leader executed and party absorbed into communist
• 1947 - all other parties banned

Question 10

Describe expansion into Yugoslavia

Answer 10

• Communist govt already in place at the end of the war - leader = Tito
• Stalin wanted complete control but they didn’t want to be Soviet puppets
• 1948 expelled from cominform for ‘abandoning communism’
• Survived by US aid

Question 11

How did security motivate expansion?

Answer 11

• Some countries were previous German allies
• Wanted a buffer zone against invasion
• 1945-8 red army move out of Europe for security at home
• However does act more aggressively than defensively

Question 12

How was expansion motivated by ideology?

Answer 12

• Puts in communist govts to spread ideas
• Forces communism on countries - go out of their way for this –> rigs elections etc
• More about having his govt than a communist one –> removes communists who are not pro Stalin enough

Question 13

How was power rivalry a motivator for expansion?

Answer 13

• Want loyalty
• More about his version of communism and control –> expel Yugoslavia, kill communist leader in Hungary
• Only wants power and influence

Question 14

How did Stalin use salami tactics to expand?

Answer 14

• Czechoslovakia –> slowly gain power until the country is turned over to Moscow
• Bulgaria –> slowly removes opposition and gains support

Question 15

How was expansion helped by rigging elections?

Answer 15

• Hungary –> removes and arrests opposition
• Bulgaria –> manipulates elections - bans all other parties

Question 16

How did the existing popularity of communism help expansion?

Answer 16

• Yugoslavia –> already had a communist leader at the end of the war
• Romania –> had large support for communism as an alternate regime

Question 17

How did Stalin use intimidation to expand?

Answer 17

• Hungary –> arrested opponents, executed communist leader
• Bulgaria –> executed leader of next largest party and banned all others

Question 18

Kennan Telegram
- When was it?
- Who was it by?

Answer 18

• February 1946
• Kennan = 2nd ranking officer at Moscow embassy

Question 19

What did the Kennan telegram say?

Answer 19

• Europe should be split into spheres of influence to make a line communism can’t cross
• Warned about USSR expansion
• Said US needed to be prepared to use force
• Odd as most expansion had not occurred yet

Question 20

Iron Curtain Speech
- When was it?
- Who was it by?
- Where was it performed and significance of that?

Answer 20

• March 1946
• Churchill –> not PM anymore - can say opinion - used to dealing with Stalin
• Performed at an American Uni to Truman and some politicians –> was a test run for how people would react

Question 21

What did the iron curtain speech say?

Answer 21

• USSR is expanding and the west must contain it –> call to arms

Question 22

Pravda article
- When was it?
- What did it say?

Answer 22

• March 1946
• Response to iron curtain speech
• Stalin making a statement for his country
• Shows west as extremist and aggressive
• Justifies his expansion as wanting security against this aggression

Question 23

Novikov Telegram
- When was it?
- Who was it by?
- What did it say?

Answer 23

• September 1946
• Novikov = Soviet ambassador in US
• Said the US was re-militarising - aggressive to east
• Actually due to WW2 but is bigged up
• Warns Stalin of perceived threat

Question 24

Greek Civil War
- When was it?
- What was happening?
- How were the superpowers involved?

Answer 24

• 1946-9
• Communists vs monarchists
• GB support monarchists as Greece is part of their oil trade route –> run out of money so ask US for help
• Stalin doesn’t support communists –> holding % agreement and couldn;t ensure control

Question 25

Truman Doctrine
- When was it?
- What was it?
- Why was it made?
- Consequences?

Answer 25

• March 1947
• Said the US would provide aid to nations under threat from ‘authoritarian forces’ (meaning USSR)
• Want to stop USSR expansion + prevent them helping in the Greek Civil War
• Demonises USSR to justify aggression
• Stalin sees the anti sovietness –> meets to make cominform

Question 26

Cominform
- When was it set up?
- What was it?

Answer 26

• September 1947
• Communist information bureau
• Alliance of communism against west

Question 27

Zhdanov Doctrine
- When was it?
- What was it?

Answer 27

• 1946 ish
• Saw the division of the world