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How did the Soviets secure political control over central and Eastern…
How did the Soviets secure political control over central and Eastern Europe?
Salami tactics
the USSR orchestrated the
removal of all other political parties
"like slicing of a salami, piece by piece"
The promised free elections took place in January 1947
Prior to these elections, there was a
campaign of intimidation, censorship, arrest, and murder
-> 50,000 people were deported to Siberia from Eastern Europe before the elections
Other parties were permitted in East Germany -> had to be obedient to the
Socialist Unity Party
Elections were only held to give the ruling group
legitimacy
- false appearance of democracy
By
1950 Polish communist
party
membership
increased to
1.2 million
Czechoslovakia
to
1.5 million by 1954
Election
results
were already
predetermined
1946 the extent of Soviet control over Eastern Europe states increased
each country had become a
"police state"
by the end of 1940's
KGB exercised their
control
over the
population
via
surveillance
and widespread use of informats
Soviet trained people were placed in all key positions in each state (security services)
Satellite states were
isolated
from each other ->
no united opposition
Methods to control the states
tight control over the
media
Soviet films and books were imported
well organised
propaganda
total control over
education
compulsory to learn and teach
Russian
society was indoctrinated and mobilised by mass parades and rallies
socialist holidays
replaced national public holidays
promotion of
cult of personality
Ceausescu and Romania
politburo determined policies
follow the
Soviet Marxist Leninism
religion was suppressed
in
Poland
,
Catholicism
was a
powerful force
which could
challenge Soviet influence
church and state were separated
the government nationalised the church property
key facet
in the nature of
Soviet domination
was the use of
force
and
intimidation
to maintain the regimes in central and Eastern Europe
97 concentration camps in Poland by 1950
political prisoners were sent to new camps, similar to Gulags
500,000 party members were purged
-> Titbits agents
1950 Czechoslovakia had 124 concentration camps
1950's Hungary had 199 concentration camps
200,000 party members were purged
oppression and purging in Romania and Bulgaria