DTW GED PREP

turning these countries into satellite states with Communist governments loyal to Moscow. This was part of the broader geopolitical strategy of the USSR to create a buffer zone of friendly regimes after the devastation of World War II. These governments were often puppet regimes, heavily influenced or directly controlled by Soviet leadership, with the notable exception of Yugoslavia, which was led by the independent and fiercely nationalist Marshal Tito. Tito’s refusal to adhere strictly to Moscow’s directives marked Yugoslavia as an anomaly in Eastern Europe during this time.

The division of Germany after the war further deepened the rift between East and West. Germany was split into two distinct entities: West Germany, a democratic and capitalist state under the influence of the United States and its allies, and East Germany, a Communist state controlled by the Soviet Union. The ideological and political divide between the capitalist West and the Communist East came to be symbolized by the “Iron Curtain,” a term coined by Winston Churchill in 1946 to describe the stark division between Eastern and Western Europe. This metaphorical border was made real in Berlin in 1961 when the East German government, backed by the Soviet Union, constructed the Berlin Wall to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West. The Berlin Wall became the most visible and powerful symbol of the Cold War, embodying the ideological, political, and physical separation between the two superpowers.

The Soviet Union was not hesitant to use military force to maintain its grip on Eastern Europe and suppress any attempts at reform or rebellion. One of the most notable instances was the Prague Spring of 1968, when Czechoslovakia’s Communist government, under Alexander Dubček, attempted to introduce liberal reforms. The Soviet Union responded by sending in tanks to crush the movement, demonstrating the USSR’s commitment to preserving its sphere of influence and preventing any deviation from the Soviet model of governance.

Despite these efforts, Soviet Communism faced deep-rooted economic problems, and by the 1970s and 1980s, the Soviet economy was stagnating. While the Soviet Union did achieve notable successes in the “space race” with the United States, including launching the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, and sending the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space, these achievements were not enough to overcome the economic and political challenges facing the USSR. The leadership of Joseph Stalin, marked by brutal repression, had left the Soviet Union weakened, and after his death in 1953, a long period of stagnation followed.

The eventual thaw in Soviet policy, initiated under leaders like Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s, led to significant reforms. Gorbachev’s policies of “glasnost” (openness) and “perestroika” (restructuring) sought to address the USSR’s internal problems but also led to a relaxation of Soviet control over Eastern Europe. The winds of change were felt across the region, culminating in the peaceful revolutions of 1989, which saw the collapse of Communist regimes throughout Eastern Europe. The Berlin Wall was torn down in November 1989, symbolizing the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany.

In 1991, the Soviet Union itself collapsed, breaking into 15 independent republics. The end of the Cold War marked the triumph of democracy and capitalism over the Communist model, and the geopolitical landscape of Europe was fundamentally reshaped. The Soviet Union’s disintegration and the fall of the Berlin Wall were key moments in the broader shift toward democracy and market economies in Eastern Europe, signaling the end of a nearly half-century-long division of the continent.

THE END OF THE SOVIET UNION

Here is a rephrased version of your question:

Directions: Select the most accurate answer to the following question.

1. Which of the following factors played a role in the downfall of the Soviet Union?
   A. The suppression of the “Prague Spring”
   B. The division of Germany into two separate nations
   C. A prolonged period of economic stagnation
   D. The construction of the Berlin Wall

✅ Answer: C. A prolonged period of economic stagnation

Explanation:
One of the major factors that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union was its long-term economic stagnation—a situation in which the economy failed to grow or modernize. This resulted in shortages, inefficiencies, and dissatisfaction among the population, which undermined the government’s control and legitimacy.