Eastern European countries whose policies were dictated or heavily influenced by the soviet union?

The Eastern Bloc refers to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe that were under the political and economic control of the Soviet Union from the end of World War II until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Eastern Bloc countries were:

* Albania

* Bulgaria

* Czechoslovakia

* East Germany

* Hungary

* Poland

* Romania

* Yugoslavia

These countries were all communist states, and their policies were dictated or heavily influenced by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union maintained control over the Eastern Bloc countries through a variety of means, including:

* Military occupation: The Soviet Union kept large numbers of troops stationed in the Eastern Bloc countries, which helped to ensure that these countries remained loyal to the Soviet Union.

* Economic control: The Soviet Union controlled the economies of the Eastern Bloc countries, and they were forced to trade with the Soviet Union on unfavorable terms. This economic dependence made the Eastern Bloc countries vulnerable to Soviet pressure.

* Political control: The Soviet Union installed communist governments in the Eastern Bloc countries, and these governments were closely tied to the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union also controlled the media and other forms of communication in the Eastern Bloc countries, which helped to ensure that the people of these countries were exposed to Soviet propaganda.

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to the end of the Eastern Bloc. The Eastern Bloc countries became independent states, and they began to reform their political and economic systems.