Cominform and Comecon

Cominform was the Communist Information Bureau that was established in 1947 by Stalin. It was a organisation set up to represent Communist Parties all across Europe and bring the under the direction of the USSR.

The first Cominform conference rejected Marshall Aid. The Eastern European governments refused to accept it and the Western parties encouraged strikes against the plan. In France 2 Million worker went on strike in protest against Marshall Aid.

Cominform was set up in order to test the loyalty of Eastern European governments. It investigated and removed those minister who weren't loyal. In Hungary 5% of the population was in prison by 1953. Cominform consolidated the power of the USSR through Eastern Europe by stamping out the opposition.

Comecon was the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance that was established in 1949 by Stalin as a counter for  Marshall Plan. Stalin knew that the Marshall Plan was very attractive to some Eastern European governments. he ordered  his satellites states to boycott it and so he needed to set up a Communist alternative.

In the first year, Comecon compromised of USSR, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania and East Germany joined soon after. It was aimed at encouraging economic development and preventing trade with Western Europe and America.

However there were multiple key implications:

• Politically it would minimize American influence in eastern Europe. 
• Economically it ensured that benefits of the economic recovery in Eastern Europe remained in Eastern Europe. 
• It also meant that Eastern Europe did not have access to the prosperity of Western Europe. 

USA and USSR had both realized following Potsdam, that Europe had been divided into two Camps. Division hardened as a result of Marshall Aid. which brought Western Europe in to the American camp. Comecon and Cominform formed a Soviet Camp in the East. Marshall Aid and Comecon turned these 'spheres of influence into economic alliances.