Anti-Soviet resistance movements across Eastern Europe between 1945 and 1956

What is it about?

After World War II (WWII), Soviet rule in Central and Eastern Europe was met with violent opposition. However, these conflicts went overlooked for years by historians. In March 2017, a seminar on this resistance movement was hosted by the Arenberg Foundation in Vienna. This seminar provided one of the first opportunities to discuss this overlooked struggle. Experts in this field congregated to share their stories, knowledge, and understanding. These have since been collected into this anthology. It provides insights into the resistance across Eastern Europe and its lasting repercussions.

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Photo by Calvin Hanson on Unsplash

Photo by Calvin Hanson on Unsplash

Why is it important?

WWII ended in 1945, and the West celebrated the end of this conflict. However, Eastern Europe prepared for a prolonged, brutal, and armed resistance against Soviet rule. Siding with the West, the Soviet Army's advance into Eastern Europe turned the tide of WWII, particularly during the Battle of Stalingrad against Hitler’s Wehrmacht. The Soviets had shouldered enormous costs both before and during this battle. It was clear that, with the disintegration of the Nazi regime, they would need to be compensated. To this end, the West accepted that the countries the Soviets had occupied during WWII would fall under their sphere of influence. There was little regard for how the new Soviet rule would impact these countries. Moreover, the resulting conflicts failed to enter the public consciousnesses for decades after. This book gives an overview of the resistance movement to better inform the wider public. KEY TAKEAWAY: This book highlights the impact Soviet rule had on the affected Eastern European countries. It sheds light on the complex reasons why the rest of the world was ignorant of these events. The information aims to facilitate further research into the topic. It also aims to inform the wider public and provide lessons on politics in these countries today.