Superpower relations and the Cold War - Divisions in Eastern Europe

Divisions in Eastern Europe

Not all USSR's satellite states had willingly accepted communism, and USSR soon faced unrest.

Unrest began to stir in the Eastern Bloc

When Khrushchev came to power, he made a speech critisising Stalin's policies and brought in measures to 'de-Stalinise' USSR. These included the abolition of the death penalty and the freeing of political prisoners jailed under Stalin's regime.

Some satellite states hoped that their countries would also become 'de-Stalinised'. Khrushchev abolisehd the Cominform, meaning that states in Eastern Europe would have more political and economic freedom from USSR. Communism created a lot of economic hardship - poor living conditions increased anti-Soviet sentiment.

These moves allowed tensions in the satellite states to rise to the surface. Not all states had chosen communism and saw the changes as a chance to lossen ties with USSR.

In 1956, there was an uprising in Poland. USSR threatened to intervene, but eventually allowed the new government to follow their own version of communism. This encouraged other states to consider revolt.

USSR used teh Hungarian Uprising to send a message

After WW2, USSR helped put Matyas Rakosi, a brutal Stalinist, in charge…