Stalin and Tito: 1947 - Part Two

Episode Summary:

In the second part of our exploration into the Stalin-Tito split, Nick delves into the dramatic climax of 1948: the expulsion of Yugoslavia from the Cominform.

Stalin famously boasted, "I will shake my little finger, and there will be no more Tito." But as history shows, he couldn't have been more wrong. We examine how Tito's audacious foreign policy—from supporting Greek communists to proposing a Balkan Federation—terrified Moscow. We also look at the brutal internal purges that followed, as "Titoism" became the new "Trotskyism," a label used to hunt down heretics across the Eastern Bloc.

From spy scandals to the grim reality of the Goli Otok prison camp, this episode reveals the high stakes of defying the Kremlin.

Plus: Stay tuned for more details on our upcoming live masterclass on Stalinist Russia for A-Level students!

Key Topics:

• The Bled Agreement: Tito’s plan for a Balkan Federation.
• The Cominform Expulsion: How Stalin tried (and failed) to crush Yugoslav independence.
• Titoism as Heresy: The purges of "Titoist" elements across Eastern Europe.
• Goli Otok: The brutal camp where pro-Soviet communists were imprisoned.

Books Mentioned:

• Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century – And After by R.J. Crampton
• KGB: The Inside Story by Christopher Andrew and Oleg Gordievsky (referenced contextually)

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