Causes of The Cold War Flashcards
What was agreed at Yalta?
- Eastern Europe seen as Soviet Sphere of Influence as Russia lost 20 million soldiers and did not want to get invaded again
- set up Polish government of national unity
- Germany divided into 4 zones - America France England Russia
- Big three all agreed to join the United Nations to keep peace after war
- Russia agreed to go into war against Japan
Causes of tension at Yalta?
- Stalin ignored calls of free elections and arrested non-communist/ set up pro-soviet governments
- Roosevelt unhappy about Stalin’s plans for Poland but Churchill persuaded him to accept it
- Churchill not happy about Stalin’s plans but knew he could do nothing about it as red army was already in Poland
- Stalin wanted reparations in coal but was ignored so USSR forced Germans to sell food to Soviets
What was agreed at Potsdam?
- Soviet not aloud naval base in Mediterranean
- Stalin set up communist goverment in Poland
- Nazi Party to be banned in Germany
- Germany was De-militarised
Causes of tension at Potsdam?
- Stalin suspicious on why West wanted to protect Germany and help it recover
- Churchill argued often with Stalin at Potsdam and rarely agreed on anything
- Stalin was not allowed Naval Base in Mediterranean
- 16th July 1945 American atom bomb was successful at Potsdam Truman told Stalin about this.
How did USSR gain control over Eastern Europe? (red army)
Used red army
- East Germany 1945 used Red Army to control the Eastern Section of Germany
- Czechoslovakia 1948 used red army to seize control/non-communists arrested
- Baltic States 1945 Red Army never left after WW2
How did USSR gain control over Eastern Europe? (rigged elections)
- Poland 1947 Stalin Rigged elections which overthrew The Government of National Unity
- Bulgaria 1945 communist rigged elections and in 1946 they abolished monarchy
- Czechoslovakia 1948 rigged elections over politcal parties banned
How did USSR gain control over Eastern Europe? (appointing a communist leader)
-Romania 1945/ communist dominated government set up and forced the king to appoint a communist leader
-Yugoslavia 1945 Tito was appointed/ did not obey Stalin so was not aided by COMINFORM and turned to the west for help
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What was the Trueman Doctrine and what did it mean?
- Was a speech in March 1947
- USA were prepared to send money equipment and advice to any country under the threat of communism
- This was known as containment
- Some people thought Trueman Should’ve used military force
What was the Marshall Plan and what did it do?
- Sent George Marshall to see the economic state in Europe
- Europe owed $11.5 billion to USA
- Most countries were still rationing food
- Marshell plan meant countries could apply to end people’s poverty and hunger
How did Stalin respond to the Marshall plan?
- created cominform to strengthen ties between communist countries
- Created comecon which gave money to communist countries but he couldn’t afford this
What was the Berlin Blockade?
- Germany divided into East(ger) and West Germany(usa,fra,uk)
- Berlin divided into East and West Berlin
- New currency introduced in West Germany called Deutschmark
- Stalin worried a richer West Germany would threaten USSR and he didnt like idea of rich west being next a poor east
- 24th june 1948 Stalin blocks all roads, canals and railways into west germany to slow down economic growth
How did America overcome the blockade?
Used airlifts
- 5000 tonnes a day of supplies had to be sent
- 275,000 flights were made
- UK had B29 bombers which could drop atomic bombs and that is why Stalin did not attack
- Stalin called blockade in west Berlin on 12th may 1946 off
What was NATO?
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
- military alliance of many countries which promised to help if they were attacked
- showed the determination to stand up to communism
- USA BRITAIN BELGIUM CANADA
The Warsaw Pact?
- an alliance of communist countries in Eastern Europe
- agreed to support each other if they were attacked by a non-communist country
- RUSSIA ALABANIA POLAND ROMANIA
