How did the Soviet Union come to dominate Eastern Europe?

The Soviet Union dominated Central and Eastern Europe during the Cold War. After World War II, it formed the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance of European communist states meant to counter NATO. When the war ended, Soviet troops occupied several Central and Eastern European states, including the eastern part of Germany.

Why did the Soviet Union want to spread communism to neighboring countries?

After World War Two a Cold War developed between the capitalist Western countries and the Communist countries of the Eastern Bloc. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin wanted a buffer zone of friendly Communist countries to protect the USSR from further attack in the future.

How did the Soviet Union maintain control over satellite nations?

Like NATO, the Pact pledged each nation to defend the others in the alliance. However, the Soviet Union also used the pact to keep control over its satellites. Through the Cominform, Comecon, and Warsaw Pact, the Soviet Union kept its satellites in orbit through the Cold War.

Why did the Soviets want to have control over the countries on its western border?

2) They wanted to set up satellite countries because they could. The Red Army had conquered the territory at great expense and the Soviet leadership was unwilling to simply withdraw – allowing Western style governments to push right up to her borders.

Why did the Soviet Union set up satellite nations?

Stalin’s main motive for the creation of Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe was the need for security. And so, Stalin believed that the satellite states of Eastern Europe would act as a buffer against future aggression.

Why did the Soviet Union take over Eastern Europe?

Thanks to their military control of the countries, the Soviet government was able to ensure friendly, communist governments were established after the Germans were driven out. Yugoslavia was a notable exception that proved the rule. Also Know, what Eastern European countries were occupied by the Soviet Union?

Why did the Soviet Union want a buffer zone in Europe?

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin wanted a buffer zone of friendly Communist countries to protect the USSR from further attack in the future. However, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee and US President Harry Trueman made it clear at Yalta and Potsdam that this was unacceptable to the Western governments.

Was the Soviet Union able to invade and control any countries?

First, let’s define invade and control. The Soviet Union was able to invade them during WWII as part of its anti-German offensive in 1944-1945, and most of those countries had been either Hitler’s allies (Hungary, Romania) or annexed by the Third Reich (Poland, Czechoslovakia); therefore, in the world’s eyes the Soviets were liberating them.

What was the structure of control of Eastern Europe during WW2?

But the structure of control had been layered. Eastern European countries of course had “own” governments, with an extensive security and repression apparatus. Hell, in Czechoslovakia the local people (arguably) even installed a Soviet-controlled government (in 1948). Those local governments could manage day-to-day control of their countries.