1940's : Start of the cold war Flashcards
What was the cold war
A technological war of threats and fear between the capitalist USA and communist USSR with no direct fighting between both sides, hence the word ‘cold’
When was the Yalta Agreement
February 1945 (WW2 ended in May)
What things were agreed in the Yalta agreement
-Government of Germany : Divided Germany and Berlin into 4 zones. UK, USA, USSR and France each control their zone.
-Future Peace : USA, UK, USSR would join the United Nations to prevent war in the future
-Eastern Europe : liberated countries should hold ‘free elections’, however Eastern Europe allowed to be under USSR’s ‘sphere of influence’
-Reparations : Germany should pay for the damage caused, not specified how much
-War : Stalin agreed to enter war against Japan once Germany surrendered
Why was the Yalta Agreement so successful
WW2 had not yet ended, the USA and USSR wanted peace during war
Which 3 leaders were involved in the Yalta agreement
-Stalin
-Roosevelt
-Churchill
When was the Potsdam agreement
July 1945 (WW2 over)
Which 3 leaders were involved in the Potsdam agreement
-Stalin
-Truman
-Atlee
What was disagreed on at Potsdam
-How much Germany should pay. The USSR wanted huge reparations but Truman refused because he wanted West Germany / Berlin to be wealthy and capitalist
-Free elections : Stalin refused to agree to let Eastern European countries to have ‘free elections’
Why was there more disagreement at Potsdam
-because USSR didn’t need USA anymore as Germany was defeated
-USA became worried that the USSR was trying to spread Communism across Europe
-The alliance between the USA and USSR began to break down
Which two Eastern European countries were taken over in 1945
-Bulgaria
-East Germany
Which three Eastern European countries were taken over in 1947
-Romania
-Poland
-Hungary
Which Eastern European country was taken over in 1948
Czechoslovakia
What methods did the Soviet Union use to take over Eastern European countries
Communist-led coalitions followed by Execution and Imprisonment of Non-communist leaders, which were then replaced by Communists.
What did Winston Churchill say descended upon Europe and when
‘An Iron Curtain’ - 1946
When was the Truman doctrine
March 1947
What was the Truman Doctrine
the USA would now focus on CONTAINING communism which meant spreading it any further
What did Stalin do in response to the Truman Doctrine
He set up Cominform - made sure that the USSR had control over what other communist countries were doing
When was the Marshall plan set up
June 1947
What was the Marshall plan
where USA would give money to European countries to help them recover from the damage caused in WW2 and therefore stopping communism as he believed that poverty led to communism
How much money in total did USA give to Europe
$13.5 billion - between 15 countries
What did Stalin call the Marshall plan
‘Dollar Imperialism’ - USA was trying to bribe Europe to become capitalist
What did Stalin do in response to the Marshall plan
-He prevented any Eastern European countries from accepting any money from the USA. He set up comecon, which would provide money and resources to the countries of Eastern europe
what was Trizonia
The British, American and French zones of Germany coming together to form one zone, marshall aid was given to the area
What was the new currency that the USA introduced to West Germany
The Deutsche Mark
