Soviet expansion and the US response
The Soviet satellite states
Between 1945 and 1948, communist governments loyal to Moscow took power across Eastern Europe, including Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia. These became : independent in name, but controlled by the USSR.
How: the Red Army was already there after defeating Germany. Communists joined coalition governments, then took control of the police, fixed elections and removed their opponents. In Czechoslovakia, the communists seized power in 1948.
Significance: Stalin had his buffer zone, but the West saw it as Soviet expansion that had to be stopped.
Key terms
The Truman Doctrine, 1947
In 1947, Britain could no longer afford to help the Greek government fight communist rebels. On 12 March 1947, Truman asked Congress for $400 million in aid for Greece and Turkey, and set out a new policy.
('Subjugation' means 'being taken over and controlled'.)
Significance: this was the policy of : the USA would stop communism spreading any further. The USA was now committed to opposing communism around the world.
Key terms
The Marshall Plan, 1947
In June 1947, US Secretary of State George Marshall offered economic aid to help Europe rebuild after the war.
Over the next four years, about $13 billion was given to Western Europe. Aid was offered to Eastern Europe too, but Stalin refused it, and stopped the satellite states from accepting.
Purpose: a prosperous Europe would be less likely to turn to communism, and would buy American goods.
Common mistake
Don't confuse them: the was a political promise to contain communism; the was the money to rebuild Europe.
Key terms
'Dollar imperialism'
The Soviet Union called the Marshall Plan . It argued that the USA was using its money to take control of Europe, making countries depend on American aid and open their markets to American business.
Consequence: the two sides now saw each other's actions very differently. The USA saw the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan as defending freedom. Stalin saw them as an attack on the Soviet Union's security and influence.
Key terms
Cominform and Comecon
Stalin responded with two organisations of his own:
| Cominform (1947) | Comecon (1949) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Communist Information Bureau | Council for Mutual Economic Assistance |
| Purpose | Coordinated communist parties and made sure they followed Moscow's line | Organised trade and aid between communist states, as the Soviet answer to the Marshall Plan |
When Yugoslavia's communist leader, Tito, refused to follow Stalin's orders, Yugoslavia was expelled from Cominform in 1948.
Significance: Europe was now divided into two blocs, political and economic.