The Soviet Union wanted control of Poland after World War 2 to prevent further invasions through Polish territory and to act as a buffer between Russia and Western Europe. They promised free elections but eventually forced Poland to become a communist country, angering the United States who wanted the Poles to have self-determination. Polish workers protested in 1956 seeking independence, which temporarily gave them more freedom before communism tightened its grip again.

3. LEARNING INTENTIONS
• Explain why the Soviet Union wanted to
control Poland
• Explain why the Soviet Union’s actions
angered the USA

4. The German invasion of Poland in September 1939
helped started World War Two. Poland was also
involved at the start of the Cold War.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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