Soviet policy in controlling Eastern Europe, up to 1961

What are the four factors for the Soviet policy in controlling Eastern Europe essay?

1. Khrushchev’s policies of de-Stalinisation

Soviet reactions to events in:

2. Poland (1956)

3. Hungary (1956)

4. Berlin (1961)

What is the main argument being made throughout the Soviet policy in controlling Eastern Europe essay?

How (in)effective each factor was at controlling Eastern Europe

Overall, was Soviet policy effective or ineffective in controlling Eastern Europe?

It was generally ineffective

What is the context and background knowledge for the Soviet policy in controlling Eastern Europe introduction?

After WW2 the USSR started to gain control over Eastern Europe and began establishing puppet governments in countries such as Poland and Hungary. It got to the point that in 1947 Churchill declared an iron curtain had descended across Eastern Europe, indicating Soviet control. In 1953, Stalin died, and after several years of a power struggle, Khrushchev came to power and therefore controlled the USSR’s influence over Eastern Europe

What is the first piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - Khrushchev’s policies of de-Stalinisation?

Khrushchev tried to deescalate the tensions within the Cold War by praising alternative roads to socialism and promoting peaceful co-existence between the USA and the USSR… This shows that Soviet control in Eastern Europe was ineffective because these ideas encouraged politicians and the public to within Eastern Europe to rebel and seek more independence, thus challenging the USSRs political and social control over Eastern Europe

What is the second piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - Khrushchev’s policies of de-Stalinisation?

At the 20th Party Congress, Khrushchev gave a ‘secret speech’ in which he denounced Stalin’s personality and his tactics, promoting the ‘de-stalinisation’ of the USSR, allegedly this speech was so shocking that the leader of the Polish delegation died of a heart attack not long after… This shows that Soviet control in Eastern Europe was ineffective because it allowed politicians and the public to believe they would have more freedom as Khrushchev criticised Stalin’s strict approach over controlling Eastern Europe, thus implying that Khrushchev would take a more relaxed approach, allowing Eastern Europeans to exercise more independence, limiting the USSRs economic and political control

What is the counter analysis for the factor - Khrushchev’s policies of de-Stalinisation?

However, it could be argued that Khrushchev’s speech was actually effective at boosting Soviet control because its initial popularity amongst communists (but not Stalinists) leaders in Eastern Europe as they felt more positive towards the USSR, thus none of the nations left the Warsaw Pact

What is the first piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - Poland (1956)?

In 1956, people in Poznan, Poland rioted over food shortages and the poor living conditions, which led to the army getting involved and a new leader called Gomulka being put into power… This shows that Soviet control in Eastern Europe was ineffective because these riots showed a lack of social control as the public were actively rebelling and new political leaders who the USSR had previously arrested had to be put into power because of this

What is the second piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - Poland (1956)?

Gomulka brought in economic reforms such as lessening the state control over businesses and he also brought in political reforms such as limiting elections and he released former political prisoners… This shows that Soviet control in Eastern Europe was ineffective because these reforms showed that Poland was moving away from the economic and political approaches dictated by the USSR, showing a lack of Soviet economic and political control

What is the counter analysis for the factor - Poland (1956)?

However, this could also suggest effective Soviet control as ultimately Poland remained in the Warsaw Pact and Gomulka’s reforms were still limited to the wishes of the USSR

What is the first piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - Hungary (1956)?

After Khrushchev’s speech, riots over food shortages and low wages spread across Hungary as the public rebelled against the communist rule over their country, former leader Rakosi was replaced by Gero, who was then also replaced by Nagy… This shows that Soviet control in Eastern Europe was ineffective because the USSR had to replace Hungary’s leader frequently, showing that the Soviets had very poor control over the country as they had to allow poltical leaders to be put into power who they had previously opposed too due to pressure

What is the second piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - Hungary (1956)?

After Nagy took over Hungary he threatened to leave the Warsaw Pact which led to an invasion from the USSR that killed 2,500-4,000 Hungarians, forcing the establishment of a government led by the pro-Soviet leader, Kadar, who stayed in power of Hungary until 1989… This shows that Soviet control in Eastern Europe was ineffective because the USSR had to take such extreme measures to overcome the political and social revolt of Hungary and they had to halt the economic reforms that promised to move Hungary away from Soviet influence

What is the counter analysis for the factor - Hungary (1956)?

However, it could be argued that the USSR was effective at controlling Hungary as their invasion worked at overcoming the revolt and removing the independent political leaders, thus re-establishing Hungary as a loyal puppet government

What is the first piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - Berlin (1961)?

Between 1948 and 1961, 2.8 million workers left East Germany for the West, peaking with a flood of 30,000 Eastern Europeans migrating through East Germany per month in 1961… This shows that Soviet control in Eastern Europe was ineffective because the USSR failed to maintain social control of East Germany as they could not prevent the public from migrating despite being desperate to do so given the economic problems caused by the drain of workers

What is the second piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - Berlin (1961)?

In August 1961, the Soviets working with the East German government built a huge wall (with points involving guard towers and 3m high walls) which reduced the attempts of people fleeing the country to only 5,000 within 30 years… This shows that Soviet control in Eastern Europe was effective because they were able to persuade politicians in East Berlin to take such extreme actions, while also regaining a measure of control in society by preventing people from escaping against the USSR’s wishes

What is the counter analysis for the factor - Berlin (1961)?

However, such extreme measures could indicate the ineffectiveness of the USSRs control because if they were successfully controlling Eastern Europe then they would not have needed to resort to such extreme tactics like building a wall to forcefully keep people from leaving