Satellite States
History: KS3, topic 20.1.4
Satellite States
The creation of Soviet 'satellite states' in Eastern Europe were important in early US-Soviet relations.
Satellite states
- 'Satellite states' are countries that are officially independent, meaning they make their own rules and laws like any other country.
- However in reality they are influenced or controlled (politically, economically and/or militarily) by another country.
- This control can be a lot or a little.
Poland
- The allies had agreed that Poland would be a democracy.
- However, Stalin broke this promise.
- He turned it into a satellite state (a country unofficially controlled by the Soviet Union).
Buffer zones
- The Soviet Union had been invaded twice by Germany (in 1914 and 1941).
- This had caused huge territorial, industrial and human loss.
- Because of this Stalin viewed the satellite states as a necessary buffer against invasion.
Rigged elections
- The Soviet Union had promised free and fair elections in neighbouring countries, but they went back on their promise between 1947 and 1949.
- Everyone did not choose communism as the Soviets had thought they would.
- So Stalin fixed the elections to ensure the Communist Party would win.
Salami tactics
- After the elections, opposition was shut down.
- This was known as ‘salami tactics’.
- In the late 1940s, communist leaders were installed in:
- Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany.
The Soviet justification
- The Soviet Union’s actions were seen by America and Britain as an attempt at spreading communism.
- They saw this as a direct threat to the West and capitalism.
- But Stalin said it was to create a buffer zone in Eastern Europe to protect the USSR from attack.
Test yourself on Satellite States
Which was NOT a communist country by the 1940s?