Untitled Document
Sub units: The iron curtain | The USA responds to communism: the Truman Doctrine and Marshall aid | Stalin reacts: Cominform

After Stalin refused Marshall aid, a Soviet recovery plan was announced, named after Molotov, the Soviet foreign minister. Its plan was to give economic assistance to Soviet-dominated eastern Europe. However, lacking the economic backing of the United States, the Molotov Plan could never match the results of the Marshall Plan. Economically, therefore, eastern Europe would always lag behind its Western neighbours.

Politically Stalin tightened his grip on eastern Europe by setting up a Communist Information Bureau (Cominform) in 1947. Its job was to coordinate the activities of the communist parties in Europe, thereby strengthening their power and influence.

Tug of war
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Punch cartoons

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Cartoon commenting on 'Marshall Aid'
The rope is the 'Marshall Plan' and the lifebelt is the aid to Europe.
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Atlantic Syndication

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Sub units: The iron curtain | The USA responds to communism: the Truman Doctrine and Marshall aid | Stalin reacts: Cominform
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