1941-58 Flashcards
Tehran conference
1943
Allies discussed Europe and Germany’s plans after the war.
Whilst tensions were clear they were able to set aside differences and focus fighting a common enemy.
The members agree on spheres of influence
Yalta conference
Feb 1945
UN would form and would replace the league of nations
Free elections would be held in previously occupied countries in eastern europe.
Stalin saw free elections differently and believed forcing a communist government onto the countries would be accepted
Potsdam
July-August 1945
War has ended . Now the sides do not have a common enemy to focus on . Tension grows.
They did agree on new boundaries for Poland
They did agree that Nazi leaders will be tried
They did agree that they would divide Germany and Berlin.
However the USA had a new leader who was a lot harder on the communist . The US had developed a nuclear bomb and would use that to manipulate the USSR into doing what the allies want .(get tough policy)
USSR increasing influence
At the end of the war the Red army occupied Eastern europe . These countries would be included in the Soviet sphere of influence.
Between 1945-48 Stalin created puppet governments in all of the countries . These governments would be communist and would allow Stalin to have more influence over the eastern bloc
The iron curtain
1946
Churchill says a speech that states an iron curtain has divided europe . This demonstrated the strain between relations and made it clear that the west saw the east as a threat
Long and novikov telegrams
Long telegram
Issued to president Truman .
Stated that Stalin had made a speech revealing his intent to destroy capitalism.
He would do this by dividing the western powers and increase his own military strength.
Novikov telegram
Issued to Stalin
Stated that America wanted to gain world supremacy
Warned that the US wanted to limit USSR influence .
Both reports caused tension to increase and propel the cold war forward
Trumans actions to contain communism
Truman doctrine march 1947
Would aid any country threatened by communist takeover for example they gave 400 million to turkey and Greece in an attempt to prevent the spread of communism
Marshall plan June 1947
Promised 17 billion dollars to aid Europe and rebuild the economy. Stalin forced the eastern bloc to accept the money as he believed it was an attempt to lure the countries away from communism.
USSR reaction to Truman’s policies
Cominform 1947
Used to bring all of the eastern europe countries together under Stalin’s control
Comecon 1949
Countered the marshall plan. It nationalised industry and collectivised agriculture , it provided economic aid .
Stalin hoped that this would increase economic development and also discourage trade with the west
Berlin Blockade
1948-1949
Berlin was split into four parts . The allies joined their parts forming Trizonia . In the new western zone they formed a new currency in an attempt to aid the economy .
This made Stalin feel ‘ganged up on’ . He also disagreed with the way they were treating Germany as a whole. The USSR had the most casualties in the war and believed Germany had to be punished.
On the 24th of June Stalin blocked all of the supply routes into Berlin. He believed this would force the allies to relinquish their control.
The western powers could not give up their hold in Berlin . To prevent this from happening the west orchestrated a series of airlifts dropping supplies to the people of Berlin. This lasted 318 days . 4000 tonnes of food was being flown and dropped from the planes each day. 275000 flights were flown. Stalin attempted to disrupt the planes however he could not directly shoot them down as that would be seen as a deceleration of war.
In may of 1949 Stalin called of the blockade
Consequences of the Blockade
The USSR was seen in a negative way due to their harsh treatment of the people in Berlin whilst the west was seen as heroes . This made capitalism much more appealing.
Germany was separated into east and west Germany.
The 2 powers formed military alliances
Nato in 1949 ,it meant that those in the alliance had to help out if anyone else was attacked .
The USSR felt threatened by the NATO pact and made their own called the Warsaw pact . This strengthened Soviet influence in the eats
Arms race
During the cold war both the USA and the USSR worked to develop the most powerful weapons they could.
Neither wanted to use these weapons but felt that the other could not gain an advantage . The fear was that if either gained a significant advantage then that country would be tempted to wipe out the other.
This competition spilled out into other areas , such as the space race .
The arms race fueled the mistrust and fear that the sides had for one another .
Khrushchev’s hopes
After Stalins death Khrushchev took over as leader. He wanted…
-peaceful coexistence with the west . His words brought hope that there would be a thaw in the cold war.
However
He remained competitive with the US and pushed for the expansion of Soviet influence
Khrushchevs new policy
The new leader promised that he would destalinise the USSR. This included abolishing the death penalty and would free political prisoners.
The satellite states under communist rule hoped that this would mean they would get more political and economic freedom
Hungarian uprising
October-November 1956
After WW2 Stalin appointed Rákosi , he was a brutal Stalinist and his harsh authoritarian ways became increasingly unpopular. In October protests began against Rákosi. Kruschev appointed the more liberal Imre Nagy as the new leader. Nagy hoped that Hungary could become a neutral state .
In November of that year Nagy announced that Hungary would withdraw from the Warsaw pact and hold free elections .
Khrushchev feared that if one country would obtain freedom then the rest would follow. To stop this Kruschev sent in Soviet tanks . Thousands of Hungarians were killed and Nagy was hanged . János Kádár became the new leader.
This show of force solidified Soviet influence in the east but it also confirmed fears that Khrushchev was as agressive as Stalin.
Consequences of the Hungarian Uprising
The brutal treatment of Hungary made all other satellite states fear the USSR. This fear prevented any uprisings for 12 years.
Due to a lack of Western intervention their reputation was discredited . The UN was also shown to be weak as their attempts to calm Khrushchev fall failed
