How did the Soviet Union come to dominate Eastern Europe after World War II?
A.
by supporting communist parties in democratic elections
B.
by keeping troops in the region and setting up communist governments++
C.
by agreeing with the United States to divide Europe in half
D.
by making a separate peace agreement with Germany
Yes, B,
The Soviet Union came to dominate Eastern Europe after World War II primarily by keeping troops in the region and setting up communist governments. This can be seen as a result of several factors:
1. Military occupation: The Soviet Union had a large and powerful military force that played a significant role in the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II. As the war came to an end, Soviet troops occupied Eastern European countries, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, among others.
2. Yalta Conference: At the Yalta Conference in February 1945, leaders of the Allied powers, including the Soviet Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom, met to discuss the post-war settlement. The leaders agreed to divide Germany into four occupation zones, with the Soviet Union taking control over Eastern Germany. This division extended to other Eastern European countries as well, giving the Soviet Union influence over the region.
3. Political manipulation: The Soviet Union began to establish communist governments in the countries it occupied. They supported and promoted communist parties within these countries and gradually established regimes that were aligned with Soviet interests. By controlling the governments and manipulating political processes, the Soviet Union gained political and ideological control over Eastern Europe.
4. Iron Curtain: The term "Iron Curtain" was used to describe the division between Western and Eastern Europe during the Cold War. The Soviet Union's domination of Eastern Europe led to the establishment of communist regimes and tight control over these countries, which created a clear divide between the Soviet bloc and the democratic countries of Western Europe.
Overall, the Soviet Union's military presence, political maneuvering, and establishment of communist governments allowed them to dominate Eastern Europe after World War II. This significantly shaped the political and social landscape of the region during the Cold War era.