1946 ⟶ Bulgaria Votes to Become a People's Republic
In a referendum, Bulgaria votes for the establishment of a P...
Year
1946
1947
1948
🗳️ Bulgaria Votes to Become a People's Republic
In a referendum, Bulgaria votes for the establishment of a People's Republic, deposing King Simeon II. Western countries dismiss the vote as fundamentally flawed.⟶
BulgariaEastern EuropeSoviet InfluenceReferendumPeople's RepublicCold WarPolitical Transition
🇦🇱 Albania Declares People's Republic
Enver Hoxha declares the People's Republic of Albania, with himself as Prime Minister.⟶
AlbaniaCommunismPeople's RepublicEnver HoxhaEastern EuropeSoviet InfluencePost-War
🇮🇹 Italian Republic Born
Following a referendum, the Italian Republic is born.⟶
ItalyRepublicReferendumPost-WarEuropePoliticsDemocracy
🏃 Mikołajczyk Flees Poland
Stanisław Mikołajczyk, leader of the non-communist Polish People's Party, flees the country ahead of impending arrest. Organized, legal political opposition to Polish communism is effectively at an end.⟶
PolandCommunismPolitical RepressionSoviet InfluenceEastern EuropeCold WarOppositionExile
👑 Romanian Monarchy Abolished
In Romania, King Michael I of Romania is forced to abdicate by Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, the monarchy is abolished and the Romanian People's Republic is instituted instead. The Communist Party would rule the country until December 1989.⟶
RomaniaCommunismMonarchySoviet InfluenceEastern EuropeCold WarGheorghe Gheorghiu-DejPolitical Change
🚩 Rákosi Becomes Leader of Hungary
Mátyás Rákosi becomes General Secretary of the Hungarian Working People's Party and, therefore, the de facto leader of Communist Hungary.⟶
HungaryEastern EuropeCommunismPoliticsSoviet InfluenceCold WarLeadership