What roles did the Soviet Union play in the economic reconstruction of Europe after WWII?

Answer 1

They didn't do very much that was constructive.

First of all, the Soviet Union never really had a viable economy of their own. They were facing some horrendous reconstruction problems in their own country and they seized much of Eastern Europe as a buffer against what they saw as a threat of invasion from the west.

Most of the economic reconstruction load was carried by the United States. Even Britain was faced with its own problems of reconstruction.

Much of the world was thrown into a recession in the immediate post-war years, and it took some major efforts to get past that.

Answer 2

Directly, little or nothing. In fact, in Soviet occupied East Germany they kidnapped German scientist, engineers and other thinkers to use in their own country's advancement. The Soviets would even move entire German factories to their own country, piece by piece.

But indirectly, it could be said that the Soviet Union's aggressive stance when dealing with the US caused the United States to reevaluate their former isolationist policies. After World War II the US began to invest in the reconstruction of Europe through programs such as the Marshall Plan. The Americans sought to "buy" the loyalty of Europe and prevent the misery that would ultimately result in Communism spreading to other parts of Europe..

Ultimately, the Soviet influence on European reconstruction was not through positive actions such as economic aid but instead was achieved only indirectly through the American response to Communism and Soviet expansion

Answer 3

Well, they captured the Eastern part of it and subjected its people to misery, the gulag, and economic disaster for the next several decades...

Answer 4

....sounds like a homework question to me...