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The Communist Takeover in 1944-1948: Soviet Outlook and US Policy Analysis

This text discusses the Soviet outlook after World War II and its practical policies, as well as the US policy analysis in response. It emphasizes the need to advance the strength of the USSR and exploit conflicts between capitalist powers.

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The Communist Takeover in 1944-1948: Soviet Outlook and US Policy Analysis

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  1. Communist takeover in the years 1944-1948 Meeting 3.

  2. http://omniatlas.com/maps/europe/19441017/

  3. http://omniatlas.com/maps/europe/19441224/

  4. http://omniatlas.com/maps/europe/19450324/

  5. http://omniatlas.com/maps/europe/19450502/

  6. http://omniatlas.com/maps/europe/19450514/

  7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Germany_occupation_zones_with_border.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Germany_occupation_zones_with_border.jpg

  8. Population movements 1944-48

  9. 861.00/2 - 2246: TelegramThe Charge in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of StateSECRETMoscow, February 22, 1946--9 p.m. [Received February 22--3: 52 p.m.] 511. Answer to Dept's 284, Feb 3 [13] involves questions so intricate, so delicate, so strange to our form of thought, and so important to analysis of our international environment that I cannot compress answers into single brief message without yielding to what I feel would be dangerous degree of over-simplification. I hope, therefore, Dept will bear with me if I submit in answer to this question five parts, subjects of which will be roughly as follows: (1) Basic features of post-war Soviet outlook. (2) Background of this outlook (3) Its projection in practical policy on official level. (4) Its projection on unofficial level. (5) Practical deductions from standpoint of US policy. I apologize in advance for this burdening of telegraphic channel; but questions involved are of such urgent importance, particularly in view of recent events, that our answers to them, if they deserve attention at all, seem to me to deserve it at once. There follows:Are as Follows: (a) USSR still lives in antagonistic "capitalist encirclement" with which in the long run there can be no permanent peaceful coexistence. As stated by Stalin in 1927 to a delegation of American workers: "In course of further development of international revolution there will emerge two centers of world significance: a socialist center, drawing to itself the countries which tend toward socialism, and a capitalist center, drawing to itself the countries that incline toward capitalism. Battle between these two centers for command of world economy will decide fate of capitalism and of communism in entire world." (b) Capitalist world is beset with internal conflicts, inherent in nature of capitalist society. These conflicts are insoluble by means of peaceful compromise. Greatest of them is that between England and US. (c) Internal conflicts of capitalism inevitably generate wars. Wars thus generated may be of two kinds: intra-capitalist wars between two capitalist states, and wars of intervention against socialist world. Smart capitalists, vainly seeking escape from inner conflicts of capitalism, incline toward latter.

  10. (d) Intervention against USSR, while it would be disastrous to those who undertook it, would cause renewed delay in progress of Soviet socialism and must therefore be forestalled at all costs. (e) Conflicts between capitalist states, though likewise fraught with danger for USSR, nevertheless hold out great possibilities for advancement of socialist cause, particularly if USSR remains militarily powerful, ideologically monolithic and faithful to its present brilliant leadership. (f) It must be borne in mind that capitalist world is not all bad. In addition to hopelessly reactionary and bourgeois elements, it includes (1) certain wholly enlightened and positive elements united in acceptable communistic parties and (2) certain other elements (now described for tactical reasons as progressive or democratic) whose reactions, aspirations and activities happen to be "objectively" favorable to interests of USSR These last must be encouraged and utilized for Soviet purposes. (g) Among negative elements of bourgeois-capitalist society, most dangerous of all are those whom Lenin called false friends of the people, namely moderate-socialist or social-democratic leaders (in other words, non-Communist left-wing). These are more dangerous than out-and-out reactionaries, for latter at least march under their true colors, whereas moderate left-wing leaders confuse people by employing devices of socialism to seine interests of reactionary capital. So much for premises. To what deductions do they lead from standpoint of Soviet policy? To following: (a) Everything must be done to advance relative strength of USSR as factor in international society. Conversely, no opportunity must be missed to reduce strength and influence, collectively as well as individually, of capitalist powers. (b) Soviet efforts, and those of Russia's friends abroad, must be directed toward deepening and exploiting of differences and conflicts between capitalist powers. If these eventually deepen into an "imperialist" war, this war must be turned into revolutionary upheavals within the various capitalist countries. (c) "Democratic-progressive" elements abroad are to be utilized to maximum to bring pressure to bear on capitalist governments along lines agreeable to Soviet interests. (d) Relentless battle must be waged against socialist and social-democratic leaders abroad.

  11. 1946 5 March – Winston Churchill’s speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri (The Iron Curtain speech) given after he had received a honorary degree 14 March – Stalin’s reply to Churchill’s speech in a press interview

  12. Winston S. Churchill:Fulton, Missouri, "Iron Curtain Speech", March 5, 1946 The United States stands at this time at the pinnacle of world power. It is a solemn moment for the American democracy. For with this primacy in power is also joined an awe-inspiring accountability to the future. As you look around you, you must feel not only the sense of duty done, but also you must feel anxiety lest you fall below the level of achievement. Opportunity is here now, clear and shining, for both our countries. To reject it or ignore it or fritter it away will bring upon us all the long reproaches of the aftertime. It is necessary that constancy of mind, persistency of purpose, and the grand simplicity of decision shall rule and guide the conduct of the English-speaking peoples in peace as they did in war. We must, and I believe we shall, prove ourselves equal to this severe requirement. I have a strong admiration and regard for the valiant Russian people and for my wartime comrade, Marshal Stalin. There is deep sympathy and goodwill in Britain -- and I doubt not here also -- toward the peoples of all the Russias and a resolve to persevere through many differences and rebuffs in establishing lasting friendships. It is my duty, however, to place before you certain facts about the present position in Europe. 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. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control from Moscow. The safety of the world, ladies and gentlemen, requires a unity in Europe, from which no nation should be permanently outcast. It is from the quarrels of the strong parent races in Europe that the world wars we have witnessed, or which occurred in former times, have sprung. .

  13. Elections post 1945 Salami tactics - forming of an antifascist coalition - participation in electoral front - acquisition of the ministry of interior and justice - breaking up and dissolution of opposition - new elections - consolidation of power - getting rid of political enemies

  14. BULGARIA 1944, September – USSR declares war on Bulgaria when their army approaches the state; Bulgaria changes front and starts war against Germany 1945, January-June – Communist control established; class enemies are eliminated November – Rigged elections: 90% is won by Bulgarian National Front (US rejects results) 1946, October – New elections with terror and intimidation result in Communists gaining absolute majority in the parliament; Georgy Dimitrov becomes PM 1948, August – Merger of communists with social democrats against their will and forming of one Bulgarian Communist Party

  15. HUNGARY 1944 September- October – ActionPlan formulated by Hungarian Communists in Soviet Union 3 December– Formingof Hungarian National Independence Front in Szeged: Szeged Program 22 December– Debrecin– Temporary National Council 1945 18 January– Liberationof Pest (Buda - 13 February) 20 January– Treatywith Soviet Union (200 million US$ reparations to USSR, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia to be paid by Hungary) 15 March – Landreform 4 April– Wholestate free from Nazis Hungary suffered from the war, even if they entered the war late: one million casualties; 40% loss of national wealth; borders practically returned to 1937 due to territories annexed by Czechoslovakia and Romania.

  16. 1945 Fall– Municipalelections won by Smallholders’ Party (50,54%); Social Democrats together with Communists get 34%; National Peasant – 7,1% 4 November– Electionsto parliament Smallholders party 57 % (245 seats) Communists 17 % (70 seats) Social Democrats 17 % (69 seats) National Peasant Party 6,8% (23 seats) 15 November– Coalitiongovernment under Zoltan Tildy (SHP) as p.m. (50% ministerial posts go to Smallholders’ party; min. of interior and justice to Communists) 1946 1 February– Declarationof Hungarian Peoples’ Republic under Tildy as president 4 February– FerencNagy p.m. (Smallholders Party) 5 March– Formingof the Leftist Block

  17. 1947 9 January– Ministryof Interior (Communist control – Laszlo Rajk) informs about right wing conspiracy; earlier many NGOs and autonomous movements were delegalized (by 1946). Arresting SHP leader Bela Kovacs, who disappears for 9 years. 14 May – FerencNagy p.m. accused of acting against state resigns in Switzerland 30 May– Crisiswithin Smallholders party 31 August- Elections Leftist Block – 60.1 % Democratic Peasant Party – 16 % (Communist Party only 27% within Leftist Block) 1948 February– Signingof Hungarian-Soviet treaty of Friendship and Cooperation 12 June– Mergingof Communist and Socialdemocratic Parties into Hungarian Workers’ Party – Matyas Rakosi 1st secretary

  18. CZECHOSLOVAKIA 1945 January–April– Liberationof Slovakia by Red Army 22-29 March– Czechand Slovak politicians in Moscow decide on the program and personals of the Czech and Slovak National Front 4 April - Forming of a new Czechoslovak government under p.m. Zdenek Fierlinger in Košice 5 April– Formulation of the Košice program 5/6 May– Uprisingin Prague; forming of Czech National Council 10 May– Czechoslovakgovernment arrives in Prague 19 June– presidentialdecree about war crimes 21 June– presidentialdecree about confiscation of real estates of Germans, Hungarians and Nazi collaborators 24 October– presidentialdecrees on nationalisation of large industrial companies, banks and social security institutions 25 October– presidentialdecree on the confiscation of enemy property 29 October-4 November – currency reform

  19. 1946 26 May– Elections 38 % Czechoslovak Communist Party (114/300 seats) 18% National Socialist Party (in Slovakia – 62 % Slovak Democratic Party) 19 June– Eduard Beneš elected president 2 July– formingof coalition government with Klement Gottwald – p.m. 1947 7 July – Czechoslovakia still interested in the Marshall Plan 9-12 July–Czechoslovakiarejects Marshall Plan

  20. 1948 20 February– 12/26 ministers resign hoping for new elections 25 February– Benešaccepts; Gottwald restructures government 10 March– JanMasaryk commits suicide jumping out of window of Ministry of Foreign Affairs 21 March– landreform 28 April – nationalisationof all industrial firms, banks and trade April-June– Unificationof Czechoslovak Communist Party and CzechoslovakSocialist Party – forming of Czechoslovak Communist Party 9 May– Newconstitution 30 May– electoralfarce with only one – Communist list 4 June – Benešrefuses to sign and resigns (soon later dies of heart attack 3 September) and is succeeded by Gottwald as president; Antonin Zapotocky p.m.

  21. POLAND 1944 3 January – RedArmy crossed Polish pre-war border 22 July– Pronouncementof Polski Komitet Wyzwolenia Narodowego – PKWN (Polish Committee for National Liberation) - Lublin Manifesto of PKWN– stating that new democratic state will be called to life; announcing nationalisation of industry and land reform 31 December– FormingofProvisional Government of the Polish Republic based on Communist groups meets protests from western allies 1945 21 April - Treaty of “Friendship, mutual help and co-operation” signed in Moscow with Soviet Russia for 20 years 8 May– Germanycapitulates 21 June– Announcingthe forming of Provisional Government of National Unity 17 July – 2 August – Conference in Potsdam 1946 17 February– DemocraticElectoral Block formed March– Polisharmy in the West dissolved 30 June– Referendum: 1. Do you want the Senate dissolved? 2. Do you want in the future Poland nationalisation of industry and land reform? 3. Do you accept the new western borders?

  22. 1947 19 January– Electionsto the parliament (miracle over the urn) Democratic Block (PPR, PPS) 80.1 % PSL 10.3 % SP 4.7 % PSL “Nowe Wyzwolenie” 3.5 % PPR – Polska Partia Robotnicza (Polish Workers’ Party) PPS – Polska Partia Socjalistyczna (Polish Socialist Party) PSL – Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (Polish Peasant Party) SP – Stronnictwo Pracy (Labour Party) 9 July– Rejectionof Marshall Plan by Poland 21 October– StanisławMikołajczyk escapes from Poland 1948 15-21 December – Unification of Polish Workers’ Party (PPR) and Polish Socialist Party (PPS) into Polish United Workers’ Party – PZPR – Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza

  23. ROMANIA 1944, August – King Michael has his General Ion Antonescu arrested and surrenders Romania to the Allies: Red ARmy occupies Bucharest 1945, September – at a meeting of Allied foreign ministers, US representative demands the change of Communist government – no reaction 1946, November – elections with terror and intimidation result in Communists gaining absolute majority in the parliament 91 % of votes 1947, December – King Michael is forced to abdicate and leave the country 1948, April – Romanian Communist Party (est. 1921) forms government with Gheorge Gheorgiu-Dej as PM (former railroad worker)

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