The Liberation of Europe

Question 1

Liberation of Poland 1944?

Answer 1

• Britain agreed to Stalin annexing Polish territories
• Red Army systematically destroyed Polish Home Army
• Stalin undermined the Polish gov-in-exile by establishing the Lubin Committee (to administer Soviet occupied Poland)

Question 2

What was the Warsaw Uprising?

Answer 2

• 1944 Polish home Army revolted against Germany to gain control before Red army
• Stalin suspect so no help to PHA even though his army was 20 km into Warsaw
• 2nd Sep PHA defeated Germany easy for Stalin to enforce policies
• Stalin recognises Lublin Committee as gov of Poland

Question 3

Liberation of Romania 1944?

Answer 3

• 20th august ‘44 USSR determined to re-annex territories in Romania launched offensive against them
• Romanian king deposed the pro German government as he hoped he could negotiate a ceasefire with the Western allies
• He wanted to form a non-communist government based on the illusion that a second front was to be brought to the Balkans by Britain and the USA so they would have more say in the Romanian gov
• The king had no choice but to negotiate an armistice on 12th September with the Soviets who now occupied the country

Question 4

Liberation of Bulgaria 1944?

Answer 4

• The occupation of Romania allowed the soviets to invade Bulgaria and establish an ACC on 28th October
• The anti-German patriotic front seized power from the pro-German gov
• This strengthened the local communists who attempted a communist revolution
• 10,000 people from the former ruling class were executed

Question 5

Liberation of Hungary?

Answer 5

• Decision at Tehran not start a second front in Balkans so Red Army would decide Hungary’s fate
• September 1944 soviet troops crossed Hungarian frontier, head of state negotiated ceasefire
• However, Germany convinced Hungarian ultra nationalists to seize power in western Hungary
• December 1944 Red Army reached the outskirts of Budapest