Soviet takeover and reactions to it + Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine

Why did Stalin want a buffer zone

1) Natural barrier against Germany
2) Before 1939 most EE countries were hostile to USSR

How many Russians died in WWII?

20 million

Why did Stalin believe Churchill approved of his takeover?

Percentages Deal

What did Stalin do to achieve control in EE? (5)

1. Set up coalition governments
2. Have communists take over civil service,media, security and defense
3.arrest or force opposition to flee
4. Fix potential elections
5. Set up people's democracies

Kennan Telegram Quotes

-There can be no permanent peaceful coexistence
-World communism is a malignant parasite

What is the Iron Curtain speech?

Speech by Churchill which demanded an anglo-american alliance to stop communism

When and where did the Iron Curtain Speech happen?

March 1946 in America

How did Stalin respond to the Iron Curtain Speech?

He compares Churchill and his friends to Hitler and his friends
Said his actions were necessary and responded through Pravda

What happened in Greece?

-Allies agreed to help train and equip Greek Army
-Civil War with Greek Communists
-In March 1947 the British could no longer fund the forces
-Truman feared that communist greek=communist oil rich middle east

What is the Truman Doctrine?

-asked Congress to use military/economic means to prevent communism (both internally/externally)
-Released 400 million to Greece
-Said it was for humanitarian reasons
"If we falter in our leadership we may endanger the peace of the world"

Who proposed the Marshall Plan?

Secretary of State George Marshall

What were the reasons for Marshall plan?

To prevent poor countries becoming communist

What was the money situation regarding the Marshall Plan?

-£13.3 Billion in Europe over 4 years
-large amounts were spent on defense and armaments

What was the catch to the Marshall Plan?

-As long as they opened their economies and markets to western goods and let their records to be inspected

Reactions to the Marshall Plan

-Caused Comecon and Cominform (1947)
-Congress didn't approve until events in Czechoslovakia
-Stalin described it as 'dollar diplomacy'
-Britain and allied parts of Germany benefitted overseen by OEEC

What is Comecon?

-Encouraged economic specialization within the soviet side
-EG and Czechoslovakia were encouraged to concentrate on heavy industry

What is Cominform?

-Soviet-style economic policies
-and a state-owned control of the industry
-examples include collectivisation of agriculture