What were the stages of Eastern Europe's takeover by Communism?

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What were the stages of Eastern Europe’s takeover by Communism?

STAGE 1 : POLAND

Stalin’s first priority was control of Poland. The country was one of the largets in Eastern Europe and, if conquered, it provided a corridor to Germany.  As the red Army pushed back the German one, Soviet soldiers remained in Easter European countries. This happened also with Poland. The Soviets set up anti-fascist governments and at the end of June 1945 a few London poles were included in the Polish government. However, as Stalin gave leading positions to Communists, the Lublin group remained largely dominant.  The Western Allies ‘recognized’ the largely Communist government in Poland on 5th of July 1945. This meant that the USA and Britain accepted that the Communists were in charge in Warsaw. Communist power was strengthened even further when in January 1947 rigged elections were introduced in Poland. Any opposition was destroyed and the leader of the London poles, Mikolaczyk thought his life in danger and fled the country. This was the final step in securing the Soviet control over Poland.

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STAGE 2: ROMANIA AND BULGARIA

After Poland Stalin’s first priorities were the control of Romania and Bulgaria. These two countries had ice-free port and across the Black Sea there was the USSR, so transport for the Soviets would be very easy. As the Red Army pushed back the German Army they set up coalition governments dominated by Communists in late 1944. In February 1945, within days of the Yalta Agreement Vyshinsky, a leading Communist, ordered the King of Romania to appoint a new prime minister appointed by Stalin. When the King of Romania said that this was not in ...

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