The Creation of Soviet Satellite States (AQA GCSE History) : Revision Note
How did the Communist satellite states worsen Cold War tensions? - Timeline & Summary
Stalin was concerned for the security of the Soviet Union. He wanted to establish a ‘buffer zone’ between the Soviet Union and the West. To do this, Communist governments in Poland, Hungary and Romania would need to be created. However, free elections in Eastern Europe had been one of the agreements at the Yalta conference. Attempts to spread Communism in Eastern Europe would be seen as aggressive by Britain and the USA. Nevertheless, by 1948, the Soviet Union had incorporated several ‘satellite states’ under its control. Intimidation and violence were used in many countries to ensure elections were swayed towards the Communists. As a result, Truman created both the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan to protect other countries from falling into Communist hands. |
Why did Stalin want control of Eastern Europe?
The Soviet Red Army had liberated many countries in Eastern Europe from Nazi control at the end of the Second World War
Stalin wanted to keep control of these countries to act as a ‘buffer zone’ between the East and West
These countries were called satellite states because of how they seemed to orbit the Soviet Union
Truman’s concern about the spread of Communism was confirmed as each country fell under Soviet control
Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech was in response to the creation of satellite states such as Hungary, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria
The ‘Baltic States’, 1940
The ‘Baltic States’ were taken over by the Soviet Union during the Second World War
While the Soviet Union saw them as legitimate Soviet states, they saw their incorporation into the Soviet Union as illegal
Poland and The Warsaw Uprising, 1944-45
In 1944, the Soviet Red Army waited until the Warsaw Uprising had been crushed before occupying Poland
At the Yalta conference, the Grand Alliance had agreed to allow free elections to be held in Poland
However, Stalin was concerned that free elections would lead to a non-Communist government being elected
During the 1947 elections, a campaign of violence and intimidation led to the creation of a fully Communist government
Romania, Bulgaria and East Germany, 1944-45
It was agreed by the Allies at the Yalta Conference that East Germany would be under the Soviet Union's influence
Romania and Bulgaria both lost their monarchies, which were replaced by Communist governments
Hungary, 1945-49
Non-Communists won the 1945 election in Hungary
However, a Communist politician called Rakosi took control of the secret police and imprisoned political opponents
After the Prime Minister of Hungary resigned, the Communists won the 1947 election
All other political parties were banned in 1949
Czechoslovakia, 1948
Czechoslovakia had been a democracy from 1919 to 1938 until it was occupied by Nazi Germany
After the war, a coalition government was led by a non-Communist called Edward Benes
Stalin saw this as a threat to his ‘buffer zone’ and wanted a Communist government in power
In 1948, a coup led by the pro-Communist Klement Gottwald took over the government with support from the Soviet Union
Map of the Eastern Bloc
Worked Example
How useful are Sources B and C to a historian the creation of satellite states in Eastern Europe after 1945?
[12 marks]
Source B: From a broadcast by Moscow Radio, 1949
Every now and again the USA and Britain accuse Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria of violating the peace treaties which bound them to safeguard the human rights of their citizens. These accusations are absolutely groundless.
All these countries are strictly observing the terms of the peace treaties and are not violating human rights. Political freedom is secured for all citizens. These rights are embodied in the new constitutions. Racial discrimination is a crime punishable by law. Women enjoy the same rights as men. There is full freedom of conscience. Freedom of assembly, organisation and the press is secured. The overwhelming majority of the working people of these countries is organised in political trade unions on a democratic basis. There is no censorship.
Source C: A cartoon by Welsh cartoonist Leslie Illingworth in 1947. The man in the image represents Joseph Stalin
Answer:
Source B is useful to a historian studying the creation of satellite states because it gives insight into how the USSR wanted its actions to be seen. Source B is a broadcast from Moscow Radio in 1949. The source says that "Political freedom is secured for all citizens" in countries such as Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. This is useful because it shows the official Soviet view, which was that the USSR had not forced control on these countries but instead helped them develop fair and democratic systems. By 1949, most of Eastern Europe had Communist governments and were loyal to Stalin, but this source presents that control as peaceful and positive. Therefore, this source is useful to a historian because it shows how the USSR tried to justify the creation of satellite states and how they denied doing anything wrong.
Source C is also useful to a historian studying the creation of satellite states because it shows the Western view of Soviet expansion. Source C is a cartoon that shows Stalin stretching across Europe, placing Soviet flags over countries like Poland and Hungary. Stalin is reaching as far as possible over Europe suggesting that he is forcefully taking over these countries. This is useful because it shows that the West saw the USSR as a threat to freedom in Europe and believed that Stalin was expanding Communism without permission from the people in those countries. By 1947, this fear of expansion had already led to the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan. Therefore, this source is useful to a historian because it helps explain why the West became more hostile towards the USSR during the early Cold War.
Although these sources are useful to a historian, they are more useful when used together because they give views from both sides of the Iron Curtain. Source B shows the USSR defending its actions and claiming to protect freedom, while Source C shows the West accusing the USSR of taking control by force. This helps a historian understand why tensions increased, as both sides had very different views about what was happening in Eastern Europe.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
To achieve high marks for this question, you should:
refer to the content and provenance of the sources
include knowledge that is relevant to the source
make a judgement on how useful the source is for the given issue in the question
For further guidance on this question, you can read this revision note on how to answer the 12-mark"How useful" question.
Why was Yugoslavia a problem for Stalin?
Yugoslavia and Albania were considered satellite states, even though they were never occupied by the Soviet Red Army
They were given more independence than countries neighbouring the Soviet Union
Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia, broke away from the Soviet Union's influence in 1948
Tito explored different versions of Communism that undermined the Soviet Union
The USA’s reaction to the satellite states
At both the Yalta and Potsdam conferences, Roosevelt and Churchill had accepted that the Soviet Union would influence Eastern Europe
However, they also saw free elections as an important part of post-war Europe
Truman saw the creation of satellite states as a deliberate attempt to spread Communism
The satellite states challenged Truman’s policy of Containment, prompting him to establish the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
Examiner Tips and Tricks
An exam question could ask you how far you agree that the creation of satellite states was the main cause of tension between the USSR and the USA from 1945 to 1949.
To achieve Levels 3 and 4 (9-16 marks) you must discuss the stated reason in the question. For this example, you would have to discuss the creation of satellite states.
For further guidance on this question, you can read this revision note on how to answer the 16-mark “How far do you agree” question.
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