1. Aim: Explain How Soviet Domination of Eastern Europe Developed

2. Eastern Europe’s Iron Curtain
Major goal of the Soviet Union
Shield itself from another invasion from west
Lacked natural western borders
At WWII end, Soviet troops occupied a strip of countries along their own border
Stalin regarded these countries as a necessary buffer (wall of protection)
Buffer included Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, & Yugoslavia
Europe now lay divided between East & West
Germany split into 2 sections
Soviets controlled eastern part (Berlin)
Churchill referred to Europe’s divisions as the “iron curtain” 2

4. United States Tries to Contain Soviets
US-Soviet relations continued to worsen between
Pres. Truman adopted a foreign policy of containment
Policy directed at blocking Soviet influence & stopping the expansion of communism
Policy included forming alliances & helping weak countries resist Soviets
Truman’s support for countries that rejected communism was called the Truman Doctrine
Congress authorized aid of $400 million
Much of Europe lay in ruins
1947: US Secretary of State George Marshall proposed that US give aid (food, machinery) to needy European countries
Program called Marshall Plan 4

5. The Berlin Airlift
US & its allies clashed with the Soviet Union over Germany
Soviets wanted to keep their former enemy weak & divided
1948: France, Britain, & the US decided to withdraw their forces from Germany & allow their occupation zones to form one nation
Soviets responded by holding West Berlin hostage (Berlin Blockade)
American & British officials flew food & supplies into West Berlin for nearly 11 months (Berlin Airlift)
May 1949: Soviet Union admitted defeat & lifted the blockade 5