What Are the Soviet Satellite Nations?
The Soviet satellite states were Yugoslavia, Albania, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Poland, Romania and Hungary. These were called satellite states because they bordered Russia, and while the nations were technically independent, they were under Soviet control.
Soviet expansion began in 1943 with a treaty between Germany and Russia that outlined the division of Poland between the two countries. Control of Czechoslovakia was gained through political means, including the assassination of the leading non-communist government official. Although Stalin had agreed in 1945 to relinquish control of occupied European nations, the withdrawal never happened and pro-communist governments were set into place. At the end of World War II, Germany was divided in half, with the Soviets controlling the eastern side. The Soviets tried to drive the Western powers from the city of Berli, by blockading it in an effort to starve out the citizens inside the city. The West responded by flying aid to the Germans to ensure a Western foothold remained in Germany to challenge the Soviet expansion. While this effort was a success it represented a complete deterioration of relationships between the East and the West. NATO was founded after the events in Germany. Collectively, Soviet satellite states were called the Eastern Bloc.
