How did Stalin consolidate his control of Eastern

Europe?L/O – To explain why Satellite states were set-up and to identify the key features of COMINFORM & COMECON

What is a satellite state?• Satellite State = a country that is

officially independent but is in reality controlled by another country.

• Between 1947-49, the USSR extended its control in Eastern Europe by turning Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Eastern Germany into Satellite States.

• Stalin set-up satellite states as a buffer-zone for protection and as a reaction to the Marshall Plan. This would prevent American influence spreading.

COMINFORM (1947)• The Communist Information Bureau was an

international political organisation that represented Communist Parties across Europe and brought them under the control and direction of the USSR.

• Cominform was Stalin’s direct response to the Truman Doctrine. It tried to ‘contain’ American influence, forced other Satellite States to reject Marshall Aid and worked to organise strikes in Western Europe.

• In France, 2 million workers went on strike in winter 1947, calling for France to reject Marshall Aid.

COMINFORM (1947)• Cominform was also used to ensure the

loyalty of East European governments.

• It investigated and reported on government ministers and removed those not loyal to Stalin and the USSR.

• In Hungary, 5% of population was in prison by 1953.

• Cominform consolidated the power of the USSR over its Satellite States by stamping out opposition and ensuring the loyalty of governments.

COMECON (1949)• The Council for Mutual Economic

Assistance was Stalin’s Communist alternative to the Marshall Plan.

• It aimed to encourage economic development in Eastern Europe AND prevent trade with Western Europe and the USA.

• COMECON minimised US influence in Eastern Europe by integrated E. European economies with the USSR. In reality, they lost more to the USSR then they gained.

Conclusion• The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan

brought Western Europe into America’s sphere of influence.

• COMINFORM and COMECON established Soviet control over Eastern Europe.

• Marshall Plan and COMECON had therefore turned these ‘spheres of influence’ into two official economic alliances – further cementing the division between the two camps.

Tasks1. Complete the following table, summarising the key

features of Cominform and Comecon:

2. ‘Why did Stalin launch Comecon in 1949? Explain your answer.’ (8 marks)

COMINFORM COMECON

Full name

Date established

Aims

Effects