Notes for Extent of Soviet Control - IB | RevisionDojo
Extent of Soviet Control Notes
The Soviet Union gained control of Bulgaria after World War II through a combination of military occupation, orchestrated political consolidation, repression, and economic subordination. Bulgaria became one of the USSR's most loyal satellite states, earning it the nickname "the 16th Soviet Republic".
Extent of Soviet Control (1968–1989)
Bulgaria
One of the most loyal Soviet allies.
Leader Todor Zhivkov followed Moscow’s policies closely and supported the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia.
Economic and military cooperation with the USSR was strong.
Little open opposition due to tight political control and the absence of major nationalist movements.
Hint
Bulgaria is a prime example of full Soviet compliance
Following World War II, Czechoslovakia fell under the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union, culminating in a communist coup in 1948 and the establishment of a Soviet-aligned regime.
Czechoslovakia
After the Prague Spring (1968), a period called “Normalization” began under Gustáv Husák, restoring strict communist control.
Opposition survived underground, notably with Charter 77, a human rights movement led by intellectuals such as Václav Havel.
Havel later became a key figure in the Velvet Revolution (1989), which peacefully ended communist rule.
East Germany (GDR)
The GDR was economically dependent on the USSR and acted as one of its most reliable satellites.
The Stasi secret police maintained intense surveillance, limiting open protest.
Economic stability and welfare programs bought a degree of public compliance.
Hungary
Leader János Kádár introduced “Goulash Communism” (limited market reforms and better living standards in exchange for political loyalty to the USSR.)
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Note
After World War II, the Soviet Union established a sphere of influence over Eastern Europe, creating a bloc of satellite states that served as a buffer zone against the West. This control was maintained through a combination of military presence, political manipulation, and economic dependency.
The Warsaw Pact (1955) was a military alliance that bound Eastern European countries to the Soviet Union, serving as a counterbalance to NATO.
Soviet troops were stationed in many Eastern European countries, ready to intervene if communist rule was threatened.
The Soviet Union controlled key aspects of these countries' political systems, ensuring that loyal communist parties remained in power.
Analogy
Think of the Soviet control over Eastern Europe like a puppeteer controlling multiple puppets - while each puppet had some freedom of movement, the strings were always held tightly by the puppeteer.
