1940s Flashcards
Yalta Conference
- Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin.
Agreed to divide Germany end of war, free elections in EE, USSR gain land from Poland, would join War in Pacific. Tensions about reparations and Poland- Soviet troops were in control of Poland and agreed to have a Polish Provisional Government (both communists and anti-communists). Went in Stalin’s favour due to help needed in Pacific, Churchill wrote to Roosevelt saying that Soviet Union has become a danger to the free world. Criticised for giving too much.
Potsdam Conference
- Attlee, Truman, Stalin.
Relations worsened, Truman more anti-communist, USA had atomic bomb- didn’t need help in Pacific. Disagreed on amount of reparations for Germany, Truman annoyed non-communists in Polish government had been arrested (Polish Provisional Government was supposed to be combined anti-communists and communists), Truman didn’t mention atomic bomb.
Dropping of Hiroshma and Nagasaki.
- Dropped when Japan was on verge of surrender, Truman dropped them before USSR could enter War and turn Japan into satellite state. Stalin saw this as more against USSR than Japan. After this, Truman changed from pro-Soviet to anti-communist advisers and attitude to USSR became more aggressive.
Iron Curtain
1946.
Churchill (no longer PM but still influential) declared in a speech that an iron curtain had spread across Europe, seperating communist East from Democratic West. Stalin felt like the US and Britain were working together to bring him down, he responded that the EE allies were being used to reinforce the USSR’s security.
Truman Doctrine.
1947.
US sent military and economic aid to anti-communist forces as form of containment. Went to EE countries threatened by communism. $350 mil to Greece, $50 mil to Turkey. Greece was fighting civil war at time, Brit soldiers couldn’t afford to be there so US gave them money under Truman Doctrine. Prevented Soviets from aiding Greek communist movement/protect democracy and freedom/demonise USSR in eyes of American public, present communism as enemy, USSR feel threatened.
Marshall Plan
1947
George Marshall went to Europe to come up with recovery plan- poverty=communism. Failure of European economies= recession for US.
USSR walked out of Paris conference and told the Eastern European countries to go with him so it only went to Western Europe. USSR feared it would undermine their control of Eastern Europe.
Cominform
1947
Every communist party in Europe joined, it allowed Stalin control of the communists in Europe. It was a response to the belief that the USA was holding an anti-Soviet, US-led global alliance and the measures USA had been taking e.g Marshall Plan. Purpose was t unite and coordinate the role and actions of communists throughout Europe- so that the communist party functioned as a whole, under the direction of Moscow.
Bizonia
1947
British and American zones merged economically, clear indicator that Germany was divided (along with Marshall Aid). In 1949 it became Trizonia.
Czechoslovakia Communist Takeover
1948.
Communists took power in Czechoslovakia, this scared American congress and caused them to vote for Marshall Aid. The communists had been asked by Stalin to rebel, and they got rid of the non-communists in government and Benes (the liberal leader).
Berlin Blockade
1948.
Happened day after the new Western currency was introduced. Soviets blockaded all road and rail links to the Western zones and West Berlin. Brit foreign secretary argued SU was trying to aust Western powers from West Berlin. Caused by the Cold War tension and the different aims for Germany.
Berlin Airlift
1948
Supplies were airlifted into West Berlin. The USSR were unable to shoot the planes down for fear of the atomic bomb. The results= Cold War worsened, Germany was split into two zones in 1949, NATO and Warsaw Pact, and Arms Race started as they were in constant competition.
NATO
- North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
A means of reassuring Western European states in the face of possible Soviet military aggression. Alliance of UK, USA and most of Western Europe. Soviet ambassador said that the Soviet Union saw it as an aggressive organisation designed to pressurise states into complying with the interests of Britain and USA.
End of Berlin Blockade. Federal Republic of Germany (USA, Britain, France) USSR detonates atomic bomb China communist German Democratic Republic (USSR)
1949
Kennon’s Long Telegram
1946
Fundamental in shaping of US policy towards Soviet Union, and determining role as Global Power. Kennon has been in favour of developing hard line against USSR. Believed that the Soviets wanted people to fear Britain and the USA. Soviet Union “highly sensitive to the logic of force”- wanted the US to have a proactive role in Europe and was basically calling for the US to take action and putting pressure on Truman to change from his policy of isolationism.
