Post WWII Soviet Union Timeline

Post World War II, and the division of Germany

Imperial Japan and Hitler’s Germany surrender to the allies.
The former Germany is divided by U.S., British, French, Russian, and Polish forces.
The occupation was split between the Soviet Union in the East, and the other countries in the West.

The Russians quickly dismantle German industry in the eastern zone, and instill an act of utter dismemberment.
Americans do not dismember, as they see that they would have to help Germany economically if they did so.
Churchill also fears control of Eastern and Central Europe and also opposes dismemberment.
Berlin, as well as Vienna, is governed by four separate nations.
Germany is therefore restored, and made self-sufficient.

Tensions arise between East and West

Russians fear a re-stabilized Germany, and therefore demand all industrial equipment in all zones.
Americans resist the demands of the Russians.

The Berlin Blockade

Western powers agree to go forward with a separate constitution for western sectors of Germany in 1948.
As a result, the Soviets walk out of the joint Allied Control Commission.
A new currency is introduced by the Western Nations.

Soviets fear the new currency, as it circulates than their own currency does in Berlin.
Soviets seal off the city by closing down all railroads and highways, in attempt to rid themselves of Western powers in the city.

The Western Allies quickly respond

Supplies are airlifted in by allied air forces on a daily basis.
Russians then re-open Berlin after almost a year.

Germany is formally split

West Germany formally becomes the German Federal Republic in September 1949.
East Germany formally becomes the German Democratic Republic a month later.
The two different Germanys, with a divided Berlin, would remain the same geographically until 1989.

The Seizure of Eastern Europe

Soviet Reasons for Eastern-European Domination

Russia is invaded twice in th3 19th century, by Napoleon as well as in the Crimean war.
Russia is invaded twice more in the twentieth century, one of which is by the Nazis.
Stalin sees a need to establish a buffer zone of satellite countries, that would slow down another Western attempt to invade Russia.

Stalin’s suspicions, and reactions

Stalin views containment as a renewed Western attempt to isolate and encircle the U.S.S.R.
Stalin responds by calling a meeting of all communist parties in Warsaw.
It is in this conference that the Communist Information Bureau (Cominform) is established.
Cominform put and end to the era of popular front during which communists cooperated with non communists.

Replacement and Domination in Eastern Europe

All communist leaders in the West who favor collaboration and reform are replaced by leaders who support the Soviet line on every issue.
In 1948, in Prague, all off the democratic members of the coalition government are removed, and Jan Masaryk, the Foreign Minister is murdered.

Russia requires submission of other Eastern countries

Russia imposes Stalinist policies, including one-party systems.
Close military cooperation with the Soviet Union, the collectivization of agriculture, the Communist Party domination of education and attacks on the churches are also imposed on the Eastern satellite countries.

NATO and the Western response to the Warsaw Pact

NATO is formed in the West.

Western European nations draw closer together, as the Marshall Plan encourages international cooperation.
In March 1948, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and Britain sign the treaty of Brussels.
In 1949 these nations, joined with Italy, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Iceland sign a treaty with the United States and Canada.

As a result the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO, is formed, soon to be joined by West Germany, Greece and Turkey.
The United States pledged to defend allies outside the Western Hemisphere, should the Soviet Union start problems with the West.

The Warsaw Pact is formed in the East

A series of treaties are signed between the Soviet Union and the other Eastern countries.
In 1949, these states form COMECON, who unlike NATO, the Soviets directly dominated their Eastern Alliance.
In May 1955 the Warsaw Pact is signed, forming an alliance of the Soviet Union, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
Europe was now clearly divided between the two alliances.

Khrushchev and the U.S.S.R’s emergencies

Khrushchev rises to power at the death of Stalin.

Stalin dies March 6, 1953.
Presidium resides in U.S.S.R. for a short duration of time, also known as collective leadership.
Nikita Khrushchev who was party secretary in 1953, rises to power as premier, ending the idea of collective leadership.

The Suez intervention

In July, 1956, the Suez canal was lost by England and France, and is nationalized by Egypt.
As a war between Egypt and Israel breaks out, Anglo-French forces leap at the chance to seize the canal back.
Russia protests vehemently, and U.S. does not send aid to English and French forces, so the Anglo-French forces withdraw.
This is a sign that without the U.S. the western European countries cannot stand up to the East.

The Polish try for Independence

In autumn 1956 the prime minister of Poland dies, and the Poles refuse to replace him the with choice in Moscow.

Wladyslaw Gomulka is announced leader of Poland, because he promises continued economic and military cooperation with Russia, as well as continued membership in the Warsaw Pact.

On the other hand, he severs collectivization of Polish agriculture to Russia, as well as makes amends with the Catholic Church.

The Hungarians take a chance at freedom

In October 1956, riots and demonstrations for Polish freedoms in Budapest lead to violence.

As a result of the conflict the Communists installed former premier Imre Nagy, who sought for independence of Hungary.
Nagy infuriated the Soviets, calling for withdrawal of Soviet forces, support from non communist parties, and removal from the Warsaw Pact.

As Russia saw this as clearly unacceptable, an invasion force was sent to Hungary, where Nagy was removed from power and executed.

Later Confrontations within the Warsaw Pact

The Berlin Wall and the questioning of Soviet superiority

In 1961, thousands of refugees were escaping from the confines of East Germany, and traveling into West Germany.
These refugees hurt the economy, and deeply embarrassed East Germany as well as the Soviet Union.
In response to the constant fleeing of East Germany, the Berlin Wall is set up.

Khrushchev is removed from power

In 1964, the Communist Party concludes that Khrushchev has tried to do too much with his power and has done a poor job with it.
He is then replaced by Alexei Kosygin as premier of Russia, but Alexei’s party secretary, Leonid Brezhnev, emerges with the power.

The Invasion of Czechoslovakia

In 1968, Alexander Dubcek, the leader of the government of Czechoslovakia, began experimenting with more liberal communism.
In addition, he expanded the freedom of discussion and other intellectual rights that were being suppressed by the Soviets.

The Warsaw Pact responded by sending troops and invading Czechoslovakia, replacing Dubcek with more conservative communist leaders.

At the same time, the Brezhnev Doctrine was created, declaring that the Soviet Union had the right to interfere with the policies of other communist countries.

Conclusion

The relationship between Russia and the Eastern European states, as well as the rest of the world, was constantly a very rocky and unstable one. Following the collapse of Nazi Germany and the rest of the Axis nations, Russia assumed control over not only Eastern Germany but the rest of Eastern Europe as well.

Stalin looked back with disgrace upon history and the numerous previous attempts of invasion of the motherland. He then devised a plan of a buffer zone, that would give the Russians time to prepare for another invasion, before the enemy had cut too deeply into the Russian frontier.

This domination of the east frustrated western European countries, but they could do nothing to alter Stalin’s progress. Stalin, as well as the following premiers of the U.S.S.R. dealt with the Eastern bloc states severely and harshly. He demanded not only from them allegiance to the Russian state and the Communist party, but military cooperation as well as agricultural tributes as well, which ultimately drained the Eastern bloc’s economy and cause its citizens to have great resentment for the government in Moscow.

As there were tensions, there were inevitable conflicts, which first appeared in Yugoslavia, and then followed to Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. It would only be a matter of time before these Eastern nations finally won their independence.