Origins of the Cold Origins of the Cold War – Eastern Europe-War – Eastern Europe-

Soviet InfluenceSoviet Influence

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Percentages AgreementPercentages Agreement

►When Churchill visited Stalin in When Churchill visited Stalin in Moscow in October 1944, they agreed Moscow in October 1944, they agreed to divide up influence in the Balkans:to divide up influence in the Balkans: Rumania – Russia 90%; Others 10%Rumania – Russia 90%; Others 10% Greece – Others 90%; Russia 10%Greece – Others 90%; Russia 10% Yugoslavia – 50-50%Yugoslavia – 50-50% Hungary – 50-50%Hungary – 50-50% Bulgaria – Russia 75%; Others 25%Bulgaria – Russia 75%; Others 25%

Origins of the Cold Origins of the Cold War – War –

Sovietization of Sovietization of Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

► All countries in Eastern Europe became All countries in Eastern Europe became communist. This was done by one of two communist. This was done by one of two methods:methods:

Eliminated anti-Communist leaders before Eliminated anti-Communist leaders before electionselections

Forcefully installed a Communist government Forcefully installed a Communist government if a government other than Communist was if a government other than Communist was electedelected

► East Germany and other countries East Germany and other countries became marginally independent became marginally independent “satellite” states bound to the Soviet “satellite” states bound to the Soviet UnionUnion

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern EuropeSovietization of Eastern Europe►Once this was done, the countries Once this was done, the countries

would undergo political and cultural would undergo political and cultural “sovietization”:“sovietization”: The local military and police would be The local military and police would be

infiltrated by Soviet Military Intelligenceinfiltrated by Soviet Military Intelligence Education and culture would be Education and culture would be

remodelled on the soviet patternremodelled on the soviet pattern Censorship would be imposedCensorship would be imposed

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern EuropeSovietization of Eastern Europe

►The Soviet Union did not annex the The Soviet Union did not annex the countries because:countries because: If fully absorbed, these areas would cease to If fully absorbed, these areas would cease to

be a buffer-zonebe a buffer-zone Stalin wanted to get an empire without the Stalin wanted to get an empire without the

title so he wouldn’t completely alienate the title so he wouldn’t completely alienate the WestWest

The war-ravaged USSR could not absorb the The war-ravaged USSR could not absorb the new territoriesnew territories

Many of the states of Eastern Europe were Many of the states of Eastern Europe were accustomed to a much higher standard of accustomed to a much higher standard of living than the USSRliving than the USSR

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern EuropeSovietization of Eastern Europe

► France, Britain, and the U.S. wanted a France, Britain, and the U.S. wanted a reunited Germanyreunited Germany

► The USSR responded by tightening their The USSR responded by tightening their grip on their Eastern zonegrip on their Eastern zone

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Europe: Sovietization of Eastern Europe:

PolandPoland► The U.S. wanted an independent Poland because:The U.S. wanted an independent Poland because:

An independent Poland next to the large Soviet An independent Poland next to the large Soviet Union would probably be allies with the U.S. for Union would probably be allies with the U.S. for protectionprotection►Poland had been partitioned three timesPoland had been partitioned three times►Poles invaded RussiaPoles invaded Russia►Katyn Forest MassacreKatyn Forest Massacre►Red Army haltsRed Army halts►Stalin didn’t recognize the Polish gov’t in exileStalin didn’t recognize the Polish gov’t in exile►The independence of Poland had been at least partly The independence of Poland had been at least partly

the cause of why Britain and France had gone to warthe cause of why Britain and France had gone to war

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: PolandEurope: Poland►At Yalta, it was determined At Yalta, it was determined

that:that: The new Eastern frontier of The new Eastern frontier of

Poland should be the Curzon Poland should be the Curzon LineLine

No agreement could be No agreement could be reached about the western reached about the western borderborder

The Polish Government was to The Polish Government was to be enlarged and free elections be enlarged and free elections heldheld

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: PolandEurope: Poland►The Soviets wanted Poland because:The Soviets wanted Poland because:

Russia wanted a buffer area because they Russia wanted a buffer area because they had been invaded many times:had been invaded many times:►1 time by the French1 time by the French►2 times by the Germans2 times by the Germans►1 time by the Poles1 time by the Poles

►The Soviets then installed a Polish The Soviets then installed a Polish Communist government. Free elections Communist government. Free elections were never heldwere never held

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: HungaryEurope: Hungary►Were treated by the invading Were treated by the invading

Red Army as a defeated enemyRed Army as a defeated enemy►A coalition gov’t was formed A coalition gov’t was formed

led by the Smallholders Partyled by the Smallholders Party►When the PM Ferene Nagy When the PM Ferene Nagy

went to Switzerland to see a went to Switzerland to see a medical specialist, he was medical specialist, he was asked to resign by the asked to resign by the Communists, using his family Communists, using his family as hostagesas hostages

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: HungaryEurope: Hungary

►Rigged elections were held in August Rigged elections were held in August 19471947

►Leaders of non-communist parties Leaders of non-communist parties fledfled

►The remainder of the parties were The remainder of the parties were incorporated into a communist led incorporated into a communist led coalition, the National Independence coalition, the National Independence FrontFront

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: RumaniaEurope: Rumania►Rumania was a defeated enemyRumania was a defeated enemy► In 1947, Peasant Party leader Ion In 1947, Peasant Party leader Ion

Maniu was accused of being an agent Maniu was accused of being an agent of the U.S. and Britainof the U.S. and Britain

►He and others were arrestedHe and others were arrested►The King eventually abdicatedThe King eventually abdicated

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: RumaniaEurope: Rumania

► In Feb. 1948, the Peasant Party was In Feb. 1948, the Peasant Party was merged with the communistsmerged with the communists

►The coalition of parties won rigged The coalition of parties won rigged electionselections

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: BulgariaEurope: Bulgaria► Bulgaria had been an enemy, but was Bulgaria had been an enemy, but was

treated as a liberated allytreated as a liberated ally► In Jun. 1947, the leader of the In Jun. 1947, the leader of the

Agrarian Party, Nicola Petkov, was Agrarian Party, Nicola Petkov, was arrestedarrested

► The Agrarian Party was merged with The Agrarian Party was merged with the Communists in the Fatherland the Communists in the Fatherland FrontFront

►During 1948, the coalition won rigged During 1948, the coalition won rigged electionselections

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern Europe: CzechoslovakiaEurope: Czechoslovakia

►Czechoslovakia was treated as a liberated Czechoslovakia was treated as a liberated allyally

►The Communist Party already had a mass The Communist Party already had a mass following of workers and studentsfollowing of workers and students

►The failure of the policy of appeasement The failure of the policy of appeasement was the cause of the rise of Communismwas the cause of the rise of Communism

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern Europe: CzechoslovakiaEurope: Czechoslovakia

► In Feb. 1948, the communist Minister of In Feb. 1948, the communist Minister of the Interior, Vaclav Nosek, replaced the the Interior, Vaclav Nosek, replaced the eight police commissioners in Prague with eight police commissioners in Prague with communistscommunists

►The cabinet voted to reverse this, but the The cabinet voted to reverse this, but the minister refused to agree and the PM minister refused to agree and the PM supported himsupported him

►Non-communist members of the cabinet all Non-communist members of the cabinet all resigned in protestresigned in protest

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern Europe: CzechoslovakiaEurope: Czechoslovakia

►Anti-Communist demonstrations took Anti-Communist demonstrations took place in Pragueplace in Prague

►Two ministers were killed be Two ministers were killed be defenestrationdefenestration

► In June, the president resigned and In June, the president resigned and political parties were merged into a single political parties were merged into a single communist dominated National Frontcommunist dominated National Front

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: YugoslaviaEurope: Yugoslavia►When the Germans withdrew, the When the Germans withdrew, the

communist partisans led by communist partisans led by Joseph Tito took over the countryJoseph Tito took over the country

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: YugoslaviaEurope: Yugoslavia►There were problems between the There were problems between the

USSR and Yugoslavia:USSR and Yugoslavia: Soviet advisers were arrogantSoviet advisers were arrogant Stalin offered Yugoslavia no support in Stalin offered Yugoslavia no support in

its claim upon Triesteits claim upon Trieste

►As a result, Tito acted independently As a result, Tito acted independently from the USSRfrom the USSR

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: YugoslaviaEurope: Yugoslavia►Stalin tried to overthrow Tito by non-Stalin tried to overthrow Tito by non-

military means:military means: He expelled them from CominformHe expelled them from Cominform Cut off economic aidCut off economic aid Withdrew Soviet advisorsWithdrew Soviet advisors Made the satellites break their Made the satellites break their

agreements with Yugoslaviaagreements with Yugoslavia Launched a propaganda campaign Launched a propaganda campaign

against Titoagainst Tito

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Europe: Sovietization of Eastern Europe:

YugoslaviaYugoslavia►As a result:As a result:

Tito became a popular leaderTito became a popular leader They received aid from the WestThey received aid from the West Witch hunts and mass trials were Witch hunts and mass trials were

held in other satellite states in order held in other satellite states in order to remove nationalist communists to remove nationalist communists from positions of authority and make from positions of authority and make those states subservient to Stalinthose states subservient to Stalin

Origins of the Cold Origins of the Cold War – War –

Sovietization of Sovietization of Eastern Europe: Eastern Europe:

FinlandFinland►Finland had been an ally of the Germans Finland had been an ally of the Germans and was right next to the USSRand was right next to the USSR

►After the war, the Finns agreed to:After the war, the Finns agreed to: Neutrality in the Cold WarNeutrality in the Cold War No alliancesNo alliances A foreign policy that wouldn’t work against A foreign policy that wouldn’t work against

the USSRthe USSR Host Soviet military bases in return for non-Host Soviet military bases in return for non-

interference in Finland’s internal affairsinterference in Finland’s internal affairs

Origins of the Cold War – Origins of the Cold War – Sovietization of Eastern Sovietization of Eastern

Europe: AlbaniaEurope: Albania► After the withdrawal of the German forces, the After the withdrawal of the German forces, the

communist partisans took over control of communist partisans took over control of AlbaniaAlbania

► Royalists in exile were secretly trained by the Royalists in exile were secretly trained by the British and secretly sent to Albania to incite a British and secretly sent to Albania to incite a civil war against the Communistscivil war against the Communists

►However, they disappeared because the However, they disappeared because the operation had been betrayed by a double agentoperation had been betrayed by a double agent