Context

• 11 million Red Army troops

• Allies supported self determination, but were taking over Italy etc so

• Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary & Romania were allies of Germany

• Poland & Czechoslovakia were occupied

• USSR experienced destruction of resources

Motivation

• Stalin wanted a buffer zone to prevent invaders

  • Invaded during Civil War, WW1 & WW2

• Needed to ensure they were neither weak enough to be taken over or strong enough for a threat

• Had no government → Power Vacuum became threatening

  • Allied Control Commissions filled gap

Poland

Bulgaria

Romania

Hungary

Czechoslovakia

Yugoslavia

Austria