Soviet Expansion in Eastern Europe Flashcards

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What is meant by Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe after the Second World War?

It was the USSR taking control of Eastern European countries and making them communist.

Why did Stalin want a ‘buffer zone’ of friendly states in Eastern Europe?

He wanted protection from future attacks, as Germany had invaded Russia twice in 30 years.

What is a Soviet ‘satellite state’?

It was a country that was officially independent but was controlled by the Soviet Union.

Name three Eastern European countries that became Soviet satellite states by 1948.

Examples include Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, East Germany and Czechoslovakia.

How did the Red Army help the USSR take over Eastern Europe?

Soviet troops stayed after the war, backing local communists and stopping opposition parties.

What were ‘salami tactics’?

A step-by-step method where communists cut away their opponents until only they remained.

How did communists use elections to gain control in Eastern Europe?

They fixed votes, bullied voters and banned rival parties so communists always ‘won’.

What happened in Poland as an example of Soviet expansion?

Communists joined a coalition, arrested rivals and rigged the 1947 election to rule alone.

What happened in Czechoslovakia in 1948?

Communists carried out a coup, removed non-communist leaders and made Czechoslovakia a one-party state.

How did Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe affect relations with the West?

It increased mistrust, as Britain and the USA felt Stalin had broken his promise of free elections.