Question

Explain the deepening of the crisis in East-West relations during the Cold War with reference to :
The Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia (1948).

Answer 1

A coalition government was set up and led by the Non-Communist Benes. However, the Communists’ leader Gottwald made sure that they controlled the radio, the army, and the police. Gottwald became the prime minister and set up a secret police force. Non-Communists were arrested. In 1948, Communist workers went on strike, the Non-Communist minister Masaryk committed suicide and Gottwald took over the government.

1. It was the only remaining democratic state in Eastern Europe.
2. It had a coalition government of communists and other left-wing parties in 1946.
3. The communists had won 38 percent of the votes and held a third of the cabinet posts.
4. Prime Minister Gottwald was a communist, but President Benes and foreign minister, Masaryk, were non-communists. It was the only bridge between the East and the West.
5. A crisis arose early in 1948: elections were due in May.
6. There were signs that the communists were going to lose the elections as they had rejected the Marshall Plan.
7. The communists decided to act before the elections and took control of the unions and the police in an armed coup.