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CAUSES OF THE COLD WAR: EASTERN EUROPE, Created by Norman Chua - Coggle…
CAUSES OF THE COLD WAR: EASTERN EUROPE
Soviet policy and perceptions
Stalin confused by changes in US policy; saw Declaration of Liberated Europe a statement of intent and not binding
Stalin not fully driven by communism; did not initially impose Soviet style communism; wanted a gradual approach so as not to alienate the US; primary concern for Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Germany
Stalin under pressure from EE communists; wanted to consolidate control as they recognised limited support for communism and resentment towards the Soviet invaders
Saw Marshall Plan as a US threat to lure Eastern Europe from the Soviet bloc; Hungary and Czechoslovakia sought to participate but stopped by Soviets
Differences in Soviet treatment of Eastern Europe
Direct intervention by Stalin
Poland: Soviet refusal to support Warsaw uprising, rejection of London Poles in favour of Lublin Poles; persecuted the opposition People's Party
Stalin's call for 'democratic, coalition' governments; undermined by local communists
Hungary: noncommunist Smallholders Party in coalition government with the communist Hungarian Working People's Party using salami tactics to destroy democracy and won rigged 1947 elections
Bulgaria: traditionally pro-Soviet; communist Fatherland Front easily came to power and purged opposition; forced by Stalin to accept non-communists like the Agrarian Party which was suppressed; communists won 1946 rigged elections
Romania: communist National Democratic Front easily crushed opposition and won rigged 1946 elections ; forced King Michael to abdicate in 1947
Albania: communist National Liberation Movement won rigged 1945 elections and abolished monarchy
Czechoslovakia: Czech communists willing to consider coalition government; won free 1946 elections
US policy and perceptions
FDR acceptance of Soviet spheres of influence due to realipolitik; Red Army controlled the region and US had little interests; had to conceal as US democracy was anti-imperialist
Truman's ignorance of FDR's policy; insisted on self-determination and democracy; assumed that Soviet communism was aggressive and expansionist
Created by Norman Chua