The USSR and Eastern Europe

What happened in Eastern Europe after WW2?

Communism swept across Eastern Europe.

Why did left-wing politics gain more traction in Eastern Europe?

In reaction to fascism, left-wing politics gained more support.

What is Yalta considered in terms of Soviet influence?

The first clear expression of a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’.

What did Stalin agree to at Yalta regarding Eastern Europe?

He agreed to the ‘Declaration of Liberated Europe’.

How did Communist Parties come to power in Eastern Europe?

They came to power under the pretence of democracy, but most countries did not have free elections.

Which countries were Soviet satellite states by 1949?

Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.

Why did the Soviet Union want these satellite states?

As a buffer to the west due to escalating hostilities with the US and as an opportunity to spread communism.