feb 4, 1948 - Czechoslovak coup d'etat

Description:

While the Communists had in won the 1946 Czechoslovak elections fair and square, Soviet uncertainty about the staying power of the party lead to a civilian coup which cemented the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia as the sole ruling party in the country. This was an important turning point in the solidification of the Eastern Bloc into an ideologically cohesive unit, one where competitive elections would not be tolerated, even if Communists were likely to win.

Added to timeline:

Date: