Some, eg. Samuel Sharp and F. Shuman think he was following the expansionist policies of the Tsars. Revisionists believe he was being defensive.
The USSR had been invaded 3 times by the West in the past 30 years.
Threat of the US A-Bomb.
Threat of US military bases in eg. Alaska, Turkey, Japan and Greece.
After 4 years of war, the USSR was economically weak.
Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria had sided with the Nazis. Perhaps this justified keeping Soviet troops there?
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How Did He Do It?
About 11 million Red Army troops were stationed in Eastern Europe after World War Two.
Stalin made sure that coalition governments were set up in the liberated countries to ensure Soviet influence.
He took a 'gradualist' approach.
The destruction caused by war made Communism an appealing ideology to many.
Stalin valued power over ideology and was pragmatic.
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Example One: Czechoslovakia
The non-Communist Benes led a coalition.
The Communist leader, Gottwald, ensured that the radio, police and army was under his control.
Gottwald became Prime Minister and established a secret police.
Non-Communists were arrested.
In 1948, there was a Communist workers' strike and Gottwald took power.
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Example Two: Poland
Stalin had promised a coalition government at Yalta.
In 1947, he invited 16 non-Communist leaders to Moscow and arrested them.
Thousands of others were arrested, and the 1947 election was rigged.
A Moscow-directed government took control.
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Example Three: Hungary
In 1945, the non-Communists won the election. Tildy was in power.
Rakosi took over the secret police and excuted opponents.
Tildy was forced to resign.
In the 1947 election, Rakosi took power.
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Other Examples
East Germany: In 1949, the Soviets set up a Communist controlled state - the GDR.
Yugoslavia: An independent state led by Tito.
Albania: In 1945, the Communists immediately took power.
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The Warsaw Pact
In 1955, the USSR and its Communist satellites signed the "Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance." This became the Warsaw Pact.
This pact meant that their armed forces were under joint command, and they would defend each other if threatened by an aggressor (eg. NATO.)
West Germany joined NATO in 1955. This was a catalyst for the formation of the Warsaw Pact.
The standoff between NATO and the Warsaw Pact was the basis for Cold War tension. MAD prevented nuclear conflict, and proxy conflicts bore the brunt of tensions.
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