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The Communist-Socialist coalition in Poland wins more than 85% of the votes in the Parliamentary elections.
Leaders of the Smallholders' Party are arrested by the Hungarian Communist, who have taken control of the police.
In response to a threat by a Communist-led resistance movement to take over the government of Greece, the United States releases the Truman Doctrine. In it, the United States promises to help stabilise legal foreign governments from threats by Communist forces. $400 million is given by the US government to support anti-Communist forces in Turkey and Greece.
The French join the American and British zones of administration in Germany and form a joined Western zone.
The Congress and Muslim League leaders agree to a partition of the country along religious lines, with predominantly Hindu areas allocated to India and predominantly Muslim areas to Pakistan.
In another step to combat the spread of Communism, the United States announces the Marshall Plan. In it, the United States commits itself to a massive economic aid programme designed to rebuild Western European countries. It also hopes to restore productivity as well as prevent Communist inroads. The plan pours more than $13 billion into Europe.
India gains her independence. Pakistan is recognised as a separate country. The division of Pakistan and India leads to a period of dislocation for the people as many Hindus move from Pakistan into India, and many Muslims move from India to Pakistan.
The Soviet Union establishes the Communist Information Bureau (Cominform) with nine members - the communist parties of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, France, and Italy. Its main activity is to reestablish information exchanges among the European Communist parties.
Disputes between India and Pakistan arise over the states of Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Kashmir - states that were not allocated to either India or Pakistan during independence. The maharaja of Kashmir, facing threats from tribal groups supported by Pakistan, asks India for help. Fighting breaks out between India and Pakistan over Kahsmir.
Romania's monarchy is taken over by the Communist Party. Romania is renamed "The People's Republic of Romania". A constitution, similar to that of the Soviet Union, is established.
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