How did Stalin take control of Eastern Europe?

Hungary

• imprisoned opposition politicians and attacked Church leaders leading to communism becoming the largest single party in the 1947 elections

Romania

a communist was elected prime minister & they abolished the monarchy

Bulgaria

the communist members of the left-wing coalitions executed leaders of other parties and the coalition won elections in 1945

East Germany

allies gave USSR control of eastern sector of Germany

Poland

they forced the non-communist leader into exile

Albania

communists gained power immediately after war and became the backing of communist Yugoslavia and USSR

Yugoslavia

Marshall Tito was the Yugoslavia leader who was communist but didn’t believe in Stalin

Czechoslovakia

left wing coalition won elections and communist party was the largest single party and banned other parties making Czechoslovakia a communist, one party state

Describe the USSR “salami tactics”

slice by slice:

1. communists agree to join a coalition government

2. communist leaders take over jobs in government: money, schools, police, factories, newspapers and radio stations

3. removing opponents: “disappeared”

4. call an election

5. communists win as there are no other parties