Question

‘After its liberation in 1945, Czechoslovakia soon fell behind the ‘Iron Curtain’. That it would do so, was not a formality: the US could have brought the country into the Western Bloc – had it been so inclined.’

With reference to the above source, explain Stalin’s takeover of Czechoslovakia and its subsequent impact on the Cold War.

Answer 1

The Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia is a classic example of taking power step-by-step.

1. At first, President Beneš ruled by decree. He was pressured by Gottwald to order the arrest of a number of 'traitors and collaborators' - all of whom were anti-Communists.
2. The Communists used their position in the Ministries of Interior Affairs and Defence to place Communist loyalists into key positions in the police and army.
3. A law was passed forbidding newspapers to be owned by private individuals - only trade unions, political parties or the government could publish a newspaper. In this way, most newspapers came to be controlled by the Communists.
4. In the elections of May 1946, the KSC gained 38% of the votes, more than any other party. Beneš asked Gottwald to become Prime Minister and to form a government. The new government, however, still included a number of non-Communists.
5. Opposition politicians were arrested on false accusations of collaboration with the Nazis or spying for the West.
6. During 1947, a secret police force was set up, under the control of the (Communist-controlled) Ministry of Interior Affairs.
7. n June 1947, Czechoslovakia was invited to the Paris Meeting to discuss the Marshall Plan. At first, Gottwald said he would attend In June 1947, Czechoslovakia was invited to the Paris Meeting to discuss the Marshall Plan.
8. At first, Gottwald said he would attend - but then he was called to Moscow by Stalin and forced to change his decision. Instead, in September 1947, Czechoslovakia joined Cominform.
9. Towards the end of 1947, Gottwald was reprimanded by Stalin for taking so long to take over. Czechoslovakia, he was told, was the last country where the Communist victory was not yet explicit.
10. On 10 March 1948, Czechoslovak Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk (the country's only remaining non-communist minister) was found dead under the bathroom window of the Foreign Ministry building in Prague.

After the takeover, the Iron Curtain was complete.