Soviet Domination

IB DP HL History of Europe - Topic 18: Post-war Central and Eastern Europe (1945-2000)

Lesson 2 - Soviet Domination

Lesson Objectives

• To explain the motives for Soviet control of Eastern Europe

• To analyse the nature of Soviet control through political, economic and foreign policy

• To assess the extent of Soviet control in central and Eastern Europe

Lesson Activities

• Populist Writers as Secondary sources: students evaluate the COPVL of the source that describes Soviet Domination as a “plague”. Brief lecture on the geopolitical context of post-World War II Europe. Overview of Soviet aims and strategies in Eastern Europe.
• Stalin’s Actions in Eastern Europe (video analysis):
• Watch the video “The Cold War - Stalin’s Actions in Eastern Europe 1945-1948”. Students complete comprehension questions. Self/peer assessment. Discuss key points and take notes on Soviet strategies.
• Primary Source Analysis: Divide students into small groups and provide each group with primary source documents.
• Each group analyses their document, focusing on the Soviet approach to establishing control. Groups share their findings with the class.
• Geographical Analysis (Map Activity): Compare maps of Europe before and after World War II. Identify changes in borders and the establishment of Soviet satellite states. Discuss how these changes reflect Soviet influence.
• Collaborative Inquiry Case Studies: Assign each group a different Eastern European country (Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, East Germany).
• Research the Soviet policies implemented in their assigned country. Collate findings into collaborative document for review.
• Class Discussion: Reflect on the similarities and differences in Soviet control across Eastern Europe. Discuss the short-term and long-term effects of Soviet domination.
• Historiographical Evaluation: Provide students with quotes from historians Tony Judt, Anne Applebaum, and Norman Davies. Discuss how historians’ interpretations of Soviet domination vary and consider student own analysis, how can this be validated and challenged.
• Examination Questions: Students review potential examination questions and class discuss choices for the examination with reasons and approaches.