LEARNING INTENTIONS

• Explain why the Soviet Union wanted to control Poland

• Explain why the Soviet Union’s actions angered the USA

The German invasion of Poland in September 1939 helped started World War Two. Poland was also

involved at the start of the Cold War.

In both World Wars One and Two, millions of Russians were killed, soldiers and civilians

alike.

After World War Two, the Soviet Union wanted to stop this happening again. Poland was a key

part of their plan.

Russia had been invaded three times in the

twentieth century and the route through

Poland allowed this to happen.

The Soviet Union wanted control of Poland to

stop anyone else using this route to invade

them.

The USA wanted the Poles to have free

elections. They also hated Communism.

The Soviets promised to have free elections if they had control of Poland. Based on this promise, the Soviets

were given this power.

At first Poland had a coalition government (made up of Poles and

Communists).

However eventually the Soviet Union forced the Poles’ choices

out, and pushed Poland towards Communism.

By 1956, two major changes had happened.

Joseph Stalin was dead, as was Boleslaw Bierut (the Polish Communist leader).

Polish workers started to protest and

threaten revolution. They wanted to run

their country.

For a time, Poles gained more freedom.

their protests inspired others in Eastern Europe.

Eventually however this control was taken away as Poland once again became firmly Communist, angering

the USA