Causes of the cold war 1945-50 Flashcards
Who were the big 3 in the Yalta conference?
Josef Stalin
Franklin D. Rooservelt
Winston Churchill
What did the big three agree on? (YALTA)
-Stalin agreed to join the war against Japan
-Nazi criminals would be tracked down
-Germany would be divided into 4 zones
-Eastern Europe would become Soviet ‘sphere of influence’
What did the big three disagree on?
-Stalin wanted USSR border to move westwards into poland
-Churchill and Rooservelt didn’t approve on this but agreed on the conditions that Greece would not receive help from Stalin
-Stalin clashed with the USA and UK over what to do with Germany
Who was the new leader of the USA during the Potsdam conference?
Truman, who was more anti-communist and believed that Stalin was trying to take over Eastern Europe.
What were the disagreements at the Potsdam conference?
GERMANY- Stalin wanted to cripple Germany. However Truman didn’t want a repeat of the treaty of versailles
REPARATIONS- Stalin wanted compensation for the 20 million Russians who had died during the war, at first Truman agreed but he turned back on this.
EASTERN EUROPE- Stalin won the ability to set up pro-soviet governments across Eastern Europe. Truman became concerned and got a ‘get tough’ attitude.
What did the USA offer towards Stalin?
They offered him a 10 billion pound loan which would help re-stabilise the USSR. US worried they would have no market for their goods if Europe could not afford them.
What was the Truman doctrine?
The USA would provide money, equipment and advice to any country considered threatened by communism
What was Marshal Aid?
Truman believed that communism gained a foothold where poverty was the hardest. It was initially declined but after Czechoslovakia was taken over it was swiftly approved.
What happened to Germany after WW2 and what is the ‘Morgenthau plan’?
Germany was divided into four zones. The Morgenthau plan was to initially turn Germanys industry into an agricultural community, however it was decided that Germany could be a useful ally against the soviet union. Additionally, if German industries were not re-established then millions of Germans would starve.
Why did Stalin start the Berlin blockade and how did he do it?
Stalin had to show western leaders that he would fight back if they ‘encroached’ on the soviet sphere of influence.
In June 1948, he blocked the supply lines that were delivering Berlin food, if the USA tried to ram the roadblocks it would be considered an act of war.
What was the response to the Berlin Blockade?
The ‘Berlin Airlift’ was the response. Aircraft flew supplies to Berlin for 10 months delivering essential supplies. In May 1949 (same year China became communist) Stalin eventually withdrew.
