Q2.

How far can development between 1945-1948 sustain the contention that “the USSR was
systemically executing its masterplan to spread Soviet communism worldwide”?

Stand: the view posted is accurate to a large extent.

Division in Germany
 The soviet s had set up German agencies in their own zone, seeing them as the embryo of a
future German administration.
 Soviets wanted their zone to proceed slowly towards socialism.
 Reparations caused considerable friction between the Soviets and the east German
politicians.
 Stalin’s lack of diplomatic expertise gradually prised the two halves of Germany apart
 He would not risk Germany to fall into US hands.
 Berlin blockade—wanted to turn eastern Germany into a communist state.
Soviets were carrying out their spread of communism in Germany.

Soviet action in eastern and Southeastern Europe

 the soviets sought secure borders and to establish a soviet-friendly buffer zone
 the soviets reabsorbed Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as annexed small portions of
Czechoslovakia, Romania and Germany.
 Soviet installed subservient regimes in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and the soviet zone of
occupation in Germany.
 Soviet dominated Yugoslavia and Albania.
 Soviets employed “salami tactic” to slice away democracy in soviet-dominated areas.
 Soviets began a systemic discrediting of non-communists.
 Elections were rigged and the constitution was then amended by pro-communist
government.
Soviets were carrying out their spread of communism in eastern and Southeastern Europe.

Formation of Cominform and Warsaw Pact

 in response to Marshall Plan, the soviets set up Cominform(Communist Information Bureau)
in July 1947.
 It is designed to strengthen soviet control in Eastern Europe through coordinating the
actions and thoughts of the various communist parties in Europe under soviet direction.
 Soviets formed the eastern bloc’s equivalent, the Warsaw Pact.
Soviets were carrying out their spread of communism worldwide.

However, development between 1945-1948 was a fundamental growth of soviet’s spread of

communism. Other development beyond 1945-1948 was also important for the soviets to spread
communism worldwide.