igcse two conferences and how ussr control east europe.pptx

how yalta conference and how ussr control east europe for igcse sutdent.

1. Tips on Note-taking of an Event Key Date Key Name of a place Ket character & Group Key Idea & Concept Data & Statistics

2. TWO CONFERENCES

3. Yalta Conference When they were waiting for Germany’s defeat. Feb 1945 Yalta, Ukraine The Big Three: Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill

4. ✔ Agreement Agreements at Yalta ✔ Japan Stalin agreed to enter the war against Japan once Germany had surrendered. ✔ Germany They agreed that Germany would be divided into four zones : American, French, British and Soviet . ✔ Elections They agreed that as countries were liberated from occupation by the German army, they would be allowed to hold free elections to choose the government they wanted. ✔ United Nations The Big Three all agreed to join the new United Nations organization, which would aim to keep peace after the war. ✔ War criminals As Allied soldiers advanced through Germany, they were revealing the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps . The Big Three agreed to hunt down and punish war criminals who were responsible for the genocide . ✔ Eastern Europe The Soviet Union had suffered terribly in the war. An estimated 20 million Soviet people had died. Stalin was therefore concerned about the future security of the USSR and specifically the risk of another invasion from Europe. The Big Three agreed that eastern Europe should be seen as a ‘ Soviet sphere of influence ’.

5. ✗ Disagreement Poland (Stalin vs. Churchill & Roosevelt) Stalin: wanted the border of the USSSR to move westwards into Poland; he argued that the Poland’s border could be move westward into German territory. Churchill: disapproved Stalin’s plan, however, he was unable to execute the disapproval. Roosevelt: unhappy about it too, but Churchill persuaded him to accept it, as long as USSR agreed not to interfere in Greece where the British were attempting to prevent the communists taking over. Stalin accepted this.

6. Greece The Domino Effect in the Balkans Britain feared that if Greece fell to communism, neighboring countries such as Turkey and Italy could follow . The Soviet Union had already gained control over Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Czechoslovakia . If Greece also turned communist, it could lead to communist expansion in Western Europe , threatening Britain's influence.

7. Balkan

8. Changes from Yalta to Potsdam Stalin’s armies were occupying most of eastern Europe. Leaders The allies had tested an atomic bomb on 16 July 1945, the Americans successfully tested on Atomic Bomb Conference US Britain Soviet Yalta Roosevelt Churchill Stalin Potsdam Truman Churchill/Clement Richard Stalin

9. Potsdam Conference July 1945 Due to absence of Churchill, the conference dominated by Truman and Stalin.

10. Disagreement Disagreement at Potsdam ✗ Germany Stalin wanted to incapacitate Germany completely to protect the USSR against future threats. Truman did not want to repeat the mistake of the Treaty of Versailles. ✗ Reparations Twenty million Russians had died in the war and the Soviet Union had been devastated. Stalin wanted compensation from Germany. Truman , however, was once again determined not to repeat the mistakes at the end of the First World War and resisted this demand. ✗ Eastern Europe At Yalta, Stalin had won agreement from the Allies that he could set up pro- Soviet governments in eastern Europe. He said, ‘If the Slav [the majority of east European] people are united, no one will dare move a finger against them’. Truman became very unhappy about Russian intentions and soon adopted a ‘get tough’ attitude towards Stalin.

11. Major Outcome The reparations would come mainly from East Germany, but the Soviet Union could not make Germany overcompensate, as this could economically devastate Germany again. The reparation would majorly be repaid by industry equipment.

12. How did the USSR gain control of eastern Europe by 1948?

13. Content Iron Curtain Stalin Strengthen his grip Cominform ( 共产党和公认的情报局 )

14. Iron Curtain Iron curtain: By 1946 Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania all had communist governments which owed their loyalty to Stalin. Churchill described the border between Soviet-controlled countries and the West as an ‘iron curtain.

15. Stalin Strengthens His Grip Communist governments established throughout eastern Europe. Stalin gradually tightened his control in each country. Secret police imprisoned anyone who opposed communist rule.

16. Cominform ( 共产党和公认的情报局 ) Communist Information Bureau C o-ordinate the work of the communist parties of eastern Europe Cominform regularly brought the leaders of each communist party to Moscow to be briefed by Stalin and his ministers. This also allowed Stalin to keep a close eye on them. He spotted independent-minded leaders and replaced them with people who were completely loyal to him. The only communist leader who escaped this close control was Tito in Yugoslavia. He resented being controlled by Cominform and was expelled for his hostility in 1948.

17. Further development

18. Military Presence: The Red Army liberated Eastern Europe from Nazi control but remained in these countries. Example: East Germany – USSR controlled the eastern sector until 1949.

19. Political Manipulation & Elections: The USSR ensured Communist parties became the largest in elections. Example: Poland (1947): Communists imprisoned opposition politicians. Czechoslovakia (1948): Communists banned opposition parties after their position was threatened.

20. Intimidation & Force: Assassinations & exiles were used to remove non-Communist leaders. Example: Hungary (1947): Communist leaders executed rivals. Romania (1947): The monarchy was abolished.

21. Cominform & Economic Control: Cominform (1947) ensured Communist governments followed Soviet policies. The USSR controlled trade, economies, and industry , making these countries dependent on Moscow.

22. Yugoslavia: An Exception? Marshal Tito resisted Soviet control and was expelled from Cominform in 1948. This shows that Soviet control was not absolute , and some countries had independent paths.

23. Source Analysis

24. Rules for Answering Questions Rule #1 – You shall answer the question directly in your first sentence, using the keywords from the question. No need for an introduction. Rule #2 – You shall not summarize. No question will ask you to summarize the sources, so never do it. Rule #3 – In comparison questions, you shall state exactly what the similarities and/or differences are. Discussing sources separately will be a fail. Rule #4 – Any question that involves two or more topics is a comparison question. Be careful : What does the question ask you to compare? Sometimes it’s attitude or view on something. Sometimes it’s usefulness or reliability .

25. Rules for Answering Questions Rule #5 – You shall USE THE SOURCE(S) to back up your arguments. Include lots of evidence and quotes from the sources. Rule #6 – You shall check if the question requires a two-sided argument. Example: Only question #3 below is one-sided . Rule #7 – You shall not just look at the surface meaning. You may be expected to discuss: Irony Tone Hidden messages Rule #8 – How useful a source is ≠ How reliable a source is.

26. Comprehension & Interpretation Questions Source A: A speech by Winston Churchill in 1946 "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an Iron Curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. The Communist parties, which were very small in all these Eastern states, have been raised to pre-eminence and power far beyond their numbers and are seeking to obtain totalitarian control."

27. What is the message of Source A How to answer: Identify the main message (Communists have taken over Eastern Europe under Soviet influence). Explain how Churchill views this control (as forced and undemocratic). Use a quote from the source to support your answer. Mention the context (the speech warned about Soviet expansion and the start of the Cold War).

28. Example Answer (6 Marks) – What is the Message of Source A? The main message of Source A is that the Soviet Union has taken control of Eastern Europe, imposing communist governments in these countries . Churchill describes this as an "Iron Curtain" , suggesting that Europe has been divided into two opposing sides: the democratic West and the communist East. Churchill views this control as forced and undemocratic , emphasizing that communist parties in Eastern Europe were originally small and weak , but were artificially elevated to power by the Soviet Union. He warns that these parties are now seeking to establish "totalitarian control" , meaning that the USSR is suppressing freedom and imposing strict rule over these nations. A key quote supporting this is "The Communist parties, which were very small in all these Eastern states, have been raised to pre-eminence and power far beyond their numbers" , showing that Soviet influence, rather than democratic elections, allowed communists to dominate Eastern Europe. The context of this speech is crucial. Churchill delivered it in 1946 in Fulton, USA , warning the Western world about the growing threat of Soviet expansion. This speech is often considered the beginning of the Cold War , as it highlighted the deepening divide between the USSR and the West, urging the USA and Britain to resist Soviet aggression.

29. Source practice Source B: A statement from a Polish citizen in 1948 "Before the war, we had hopes of rebuilding a free and independent Poland. But now, under Soviet influence, our elections mean nothing. The Communist Party always wins, and those who speak against them disappear overnight. We are told that we are free, but we live in fear."

30. answer The main message of Source B is that Poland is under Soviet control, and communism is being imposed on its people through fear and manipulation . The speaker expresses disappointment that Poland is not truly independent, despite Soviet claims of "freedom." The source suggests that elections in Poland are not democratic , stating that "the Communist Party always wins" , which implies that the Soviet-backed government is rigging the results to stay in power. It also highlights the use of fear and repression , mentioning that "those who speak against them disappear overnight" , suggesting that opponents of communism are being arrested, exiled, or even executed. The context of this source is that by 1948, Poland had become a Soviet satellite state . After World War II, Stalin ensured communist dominance by manipulating elections, eliminating opposition parties, and using secret police to silence critics . This pattern was repeated in other Eastern European countries, demonstrating how the USSR maintained control over its satellite states.

31. GRADING CRITERIA Clearly identifies the main message (Poland is not truly free; Soviet control is enforced by fear). Explains Soviet methods (election rigging, suppression of opposition). Includes a direct quote from the source. Mentions historical context (Poland in 1948, Soviet satellite states, Stalin's control).