Imapct of soviet control

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Impact of Soviet rule on Hungary (Rakosi)

Rakosi: Rakosi was sent to Hungary after WW2 to run the Hungarian Communist Party and take power. Despite only getting 17% of the vote he used his position as Interior Minister to create a secret police(AVH). He used the AVH to introduce 'salami tactics' arresting and removing opponents one by one. By 1949 Rakosi had removed his opponents and became Prime Minister with total control.

Rakosi's Rule: As Prime Minister, Rakosi began to purge Hungary. He arrested or killed any potential enemies the AVH arrested 200,000 Communists and 100,000 people opposed him. these people were used as slaves on work camps or collective farms Rakosi also nationalized all industry and trade and seizing land. Schools began to teach obedience. Rakosi's policies were disastrous. By 1953 Rakosi had destroyed the Hungarian economy but refused marshal aid and banned trading with the West.

Ideological differences between Superpowers

Politics - America was capitalist, Russia was communist.

Lifestyle - America had freedom and a two-party democracy; Russia had secret police and a one-party state.

Aims - America wanted Germany to recover as a trading partner; Russia wanted to weaken Germany and create a buffer zone of friendly states around Russia.

America

Russia

1. The richest country in the world. 1. The biggest country in the world. 2. A democracy with free elections, led by an elected president.2. A one-party state led by a dictator. There were elections, but you could only vote for the Communist Party. 3. Freedom of speech and belief. 3. State control: censorship, secret police, terror and purges. 4. Capitalism - private ownership and the right to make money. 4. Communism - state ownership of the means of production, and the belief that wealth should be shared. 5. Led by Truman, who believed that Communism was evil. 5. Led by Stalin, who believed that capitalism was evil. 6. Had the atomic bomb - but was scared of Russia's conventional army. 6. Had the biggest army in the world - but was angry that Truman had not warned that he was going to drop the atomic bomb. 7. Feared the spread of communism throughout the world. 7. Was angry because America and Britain had invaded Russia in 1918-19 to try to destroy communism. 8. Angry about the Nazi-Soviet Pact that was a major factor in starting the Second World War. 8. Believed that America and Britain had delayed opening the second front (attacking France) to let Germany and Russia destroy each other on the eastern front. 9. Wanted reconstruction - to make Germany a prosperous democracy and a trading partner. 9. Wanted to wreck Germany, take huge reparations for the damage done during the war, and set up a buffer of friendly states around Russia to prevent another invasion in the future.