The history of Eastern Europe in the 20th century is defined by a transition through three distinct stages: the struggle for national independence, the establishment of "People's Democracies" under Soviet influence, and the eventual collapse of the socialist system. 1. Post-WWI and the Birth of National States
Following the First World War and the collapse of the Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and German empires, the region saw the emergence of new independent states, including Poland , Czechoslovakia , and Yugoslavia . This period was marked by: The history of Eastern Europe in the 20th
Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, 1989 - History State Gov This period was marked by: Fall of Communism
After World War II, the presence of the Soviet Red Army and the strategic goals of the USSR led to the creation of a "buffer zone" in Eastern Europe. and German empires
