Eastern Europe in Crisis

1
Eastern Europe in Crisis

• By what methods did the Soviet Union impose
  control over Eastern Europe?

2
It wasnt all bad!

• There was substantial sympathy with policies put
  forward by CPs.
• Called for radical change from pre-WW2 situation
  in tune with public opinion.
• Need for reconstruction fitted in with communist
  message of building a new society land reform,
  etc.

3
Communist Resistance

• Tito had helped liberate Yugoslavia before
  arrival of Red Army Kostov in Bulgaria.
• Part of resistance in occupied countries France
  Poland Czechoslovakia Austria Bulgaria
  Hungary Yugoslavia Holland Belgium Rumania.

4
But . . .

• Support was limited.
• Other political groups called for radical change.
• EG Peasant parties in countryside.
• Stalin recognised danger of other parties.
• CPs forced to adopt political measures in order
  to gain a hold over governments.

5
Salami Tactics!

• CPs were encouraged by the SU to form agreements
  and coalitions with other left-wing parties
  (socialist and peasant groups).
• Stalin felt this was acceptable to west.
• Salami tactics was given as a term by Rakosi in
  Hungary.

6
Salami Tactics!

• This involved forming these coalitions and then
  accusing them of being anti-Soviet or pro-fascist
  to discredit them.
• The result was to make the communists strong
  enough to take over government by themselves.

7
For example Hungary

• Communists worked with the peasant Smallholders
  Party.
• Provoked splits and divisions.
• In 1947 the leadership of the SP was accused of
  offences against the Red Army.
• SP was dissolved. All other parties disbanded by
  end of the year.

8
Other countries

• Similar tactics were used in Bulgaria Poland
  Romania East Germany and Czechoslovakia.
• See page 34 (and make notes!).

9
Cominform

• Communist Information Bureau established in 1947
  to co-ordinate CPs in Europe.
• Soviet response to Truman Doctrine to provide
  unity in socialist bloc.
• Aim to influence policy in states.
• Countries expected to fall into line with Soviet
  foreign policy.
• Encouraged adoption of Soviet model for economic
  development (collectivisation and nationalisation
  of industry).

10
Cominform

• Measures not adopted by all.
• Led to a purge (Gromulka in Poland Kádár in
  Hungary).
• Tito resisted less reliant on Red Army for
  liberation Yugoslavia expelled in 1948.
• Another purge throughout Eastern Europe to remove
  any Titoism.

11
Comecon

• Soviet response to Marshall Aid, founded in 1949.
• Council for Mutual Economic Assistance.
• Supposed to help socialist economies but worked
  to advantage of SU.
• Provided support for collectivisation and
  industrialisation but achieved little.

12
Red Army

• West saw imposition of communism as the result of
  pressure exerted by the presence of the Red Army.
• But, Red Army demilitarised quickly after 1945
  takeover was achieved without direct involvement
  of troops (except Romania) e.g. 500 troops in
  Czechoslovakia.