145k views
4 votes
why were american diplomats particularly dismayed that the soviets had installed a procommunist government in poland in 1945?group of answer choicesu.s. forces had hoped to include poland in the western european security pact that later became known at nato.the soviet union had ruled poland brutally prior to the war and was responsible for most of the killings that took place there in the war.stalin had promised winston churchill and franklin roosevelt at yalta that he would allow a democratic government in poland.americans feared that soviet control of poland would make it easier for the red army to capture and control all of germany.poland had significant oil reserves that british and u.s. interests had planned to tap in an expanded baltic trade agreement after the war.

1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:

American diplomats were particularly dismayed by the Soviet installation of a pro-communist government in Poland in 1945 due to several reasons:

Ideological Conflict: The United States and the Soviet Union held fundamentally different ideologies and political systems. The Soviet Union was a communist state, while the United States was a capitalist democracy. The establishment of a pro-communist government in Poland represented the expansion of Soviet influence and communism, which clashed with American values and interests.

Broken Promises: During World War II, the Allies, including the United States and the Soviet Union, had agreed to support the principle of self-determination for nations in post-war Europe. The Soviet Union had pledged to allow free and fair elections in Eastern European countries, including Poland. However, despite these assurances, the Soviet Union installed a pro-communist government in Poland, undermining the principles of self-determination and raising concerns about Soviet intentions.

Threat to Eastern Europe: The Soviet takeover of Poland was seen as a part of a broader pattern of Soviet expansionism and the establishment of communist regimes in Eastern Europe. This development raised fears among American diplomats that the Soviet Union was attempting to create a buffer zone of satellite states under its control, effectively limiting the influence of Western democracies and posing a threat to the security and stability of the region.

Geopolitical Concerns: Poland, as a strategically important country in Eastern Europe, held significance for both the Soviet Union and the United States. Its location provided a gateway to Western Europe, and control over Poland could potentially allow the Soviets to exert influence over neighbouring countries. American diplomats recognized the geopolitical implications of Soviet control in Poland and the potential for further Soviet expansion.

Overall, the establishment of a pro-communist government in Poland by the Soviet Union was seen as a direct challenge to American interests, values, and security, contributing to the deep dismay felt by American diplomats at the time.:

hope this helps :)

User Smoove
by
7.5k points