Cold war Flashcards
Tehran 1943
increased cooperation
- international body would be created to prevent, mediate, future conflicts
- USSR would join the war against japan after the war against germany ended
- GB would open a second front in europe to help the USSR relieve pressure
heightened tension
- disagreement about the location of the second front
- USSR and USA suggested that GB imperialism was a threat to world peace, even more so than the soviet union
Yalta 1945
increased cooperation - 5 d’s in germany, demili, denazi, democr, decen, deindustri, - ‘declaration of liberated europe’ vgermany divided into 4 zones - 20billion in reparations (germany) - UN established in April 45
heightened tension
- free elections in eastern europe
- Stalin wanted the free elections in poland to est. communist govt.
- Churchill strongly supported the London Poles
Potsdam 1945
increased cooperation
- Truman has a ‘get tough’ approach on Stalin
- TRuman objected to many of stalin’s actions
- against Soviet expansion
- believed stalin was using his troops as an army of occupation in E.E
- Stalin wanted germany pay heavy reparations
→ Truman concerned this would make it difficult for germany’s economy to recover
heightened tension
- Truman delayed the conference til atomic bomb was ready
- started the arms race - USSR threatened, wanted their own bomb to match power
- made stalin more convinced that buffer zone of satellite states were needed
ideological differences
tension
- stalin believed delays in the opening of a second front were motivated by anti-communism, whilst the western powers suspected that stalin’s approach to poland was driven by a desire to expand communist influence
Led to worsening in relations.
- American intervention in europe. Policy of containment, truman doctrine aimed at targeting communist spread & influence. The latter was perceived as “dollar imperialism”
Atomic Bomb
Increased tension
- USA had stronger negotiating position
- countries in eastern europe felt secure putting themselves under US protection which would threaten soviet expansion
- USSR simply feared the atomic bomb’s destruction
Increased rivalry
- prompted stalin to form the buffer zone. Purpose being to make USSR more secure
- Soviet union would work on their own atomic bomb, which would be successfully tested in 49
- by 64, britain, france and china had bombs. It was necessary so that nobody would be at a disadvantage-> nobody wanted mutual destruction
therefore also fuelled the arms race
Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe 1945-1948
Worsened relations
- USSR took advantage of poland. They waited until the Warsaw uprising ended in 1949, and then used coalition government to kick the London poles out, and rigged elections
- Czechoslovakia - Edvard Benes was replaced by Klement Gottwald through a communist coup
increased tension
- It made the US more wary of what the soviet union would do next
- Kennan’s telegram stated that only when a force is shown can it weaken the expansion
- This “force” was presented in the form of the truman doctrine, the us coming out of isolationism and into containment, taking a stance
Iron Curtain Speech 1946
Increased tension
- Russia thought the west was ganging up on them because Truman was standing behind churchill
- the speech was given in the USA, stalin therefore understood that Truman shared the same views of Churchill.
- Stalin therefore felt a hostile pressure on him.
worsened relations
- it announced the separations of europe: “from stalin in the baltics… an iron curtain has descended across the continent”
- The uniting of ideals from the US and GB against the soviet union created a distinct separation from the “allies” they once were all apart of.
Truman Doctrine 1947
Increased tension
- Established the principle of containment backed by the US financial and military support, demonstrating that the USA had rejected isolationism
- The US gave 400 million to greece and turkey to defend against the USSR and help defend them
Deteriorated relations
- Truman openly declared that choosing capitalism was “choosing good over evil” and criticised the communist philosophy
- The doctrine made a significant contribution to the division of Europe into 2 rival groups, linking western nations to the USA and provoking a reaction amongst the soviet union and its allies
Marshall Plan 1948
increased tension
- $3.7 billion given to help countries fight against communism= Stalin angry
- Stalin believed that it was the US trying to build an economic empire and called it ‘dollar imperialism’
increased rivalry
- Stalin forced Eastern European countries to reject Marshall plan
- Comecon 1949=satellite states remain loyal
- Countries fighting to have best aid to turn countries to their side
Cominform 1947
Increased Tensions :
- directly opposed truman doctrine
- satellite states only followed direct orders to ensure loyalty
- ensured ideological unity
- accused US of being no different from Nazi germany
- US believed this threatened freedoms of the satellite states
Confirmed division in europe into opposite superpower alliances
- cominform discouraged satellite states from contacting the west
- therefore more division
- showed contrast between Communist and capitalist princinples
Comecon 1949
Increased tension
- This was in direct competition with the Marshall plan, as it provided aid in line with communist principles
- highlighted communist and cpaitlst principle difference
confirmed a division between east n west
- arranged trading between the satellite states and USSR
- five year plan for each state
- Nationalised industry, colklectivised agriculture
- no trade with the west
Creation of Bizonia 1947
Led to Berlin Blockade
- Trizonia + deutschmark
- all actions opposing the USSR
- highlighted irreconcilable difference between communism and capitalism
worsened relations
- Stalin thought they were ganging up on him
- felt threatened of communist destruction
- Bizonia was a sign that germany was becoming more powerful -> feared its growth would be another threat
- Now Germany was economically split
Setting up of NATO 1949
Worsened relations
- NATO formed after B.B
- formal military alliance to protecct from ussr
- message to stalin about determination to resists
- one country attacked meant retaliation
- M.A.D
increased rivalry
- Stalin forms the Warsaw Pact in 1955 - both sides now had military alliances, fears of war breaking out again.
- confirmed divide
- USA directly involved with the defence of Western europe
v confirmed transfer from isoklationism to containment
Creation of two Germanys
Increased tensions
- Trizonia decided to use a new currency, showing that there is a seperate economy which they did not agree on.
Increased rivalry
- Now that there are two germanies with different political standpoints, people can directly compare the effects of capitalism
Korean War 1950-1953
Increased tension
- USA felt threatened by communism- feared a domino effect of communist influence would occur
- formed SEATO to prevent further communist expansion
Increased tension
- confirmed suspicions about communist countries working together to spread communism worldwide
- tripled defence budget, strengthened land forces, encouraged Greece n Turkey to join NATO
- USSR army doubled 2.8 to 5.6 by 1955
Berlin blockade
Worsened relations
- stalin humiliated, force to take military action to assert communist strength
- USA outraged - showed stalin trying to spread communism + wanted west to get out of Berlin
- Stalin would go to the lengths of making Berliners starve
- West used Operation Vittles to send supplies, 1000 tonnes a day
- showed stalin the west were committed to containment
- propaganda victory for US, angered stalin
Increased tension as it confirmed division
- NATO now had military camps in europe,
- tension increased- any form of conflict would resuult in war
- germany divided into east and west germany
Warsaw Pact 1955
Deterrent for war
- MAD theory, both military alliances meant both capable of nuclear destruction
- neither wanted the world to descend into nuclear war
- 1 country attacked meant all countries within group would escalate into war
Increased separation between east and west
- europe now separated into 2 camps in terms of military, economy and ideologies
- highlighted irreconcilable relationship
- symbol of soviet dominance, tighter grip of the satellite states
- firm division of europe
Khrushchev’s policy of peaceful co-existence
Improved relations
- khrushchev believed communism superior, capitalism inevitably collapse
- therefore conflict unnecessary
- USA saw as USSR making - effort to improve relations, created friendly atmosphere in Geneva Summit- no agreements reached tho
- less harsh than stalin- Khrushchev was open to peace
- peace meant less sums spent on military
- Khrushchev denounced stalin in his speech -> planned de-stalinization
Led to hungarian uprising
vrakosi introduced purges of the intelligent and the bourgeoisie; made people fear him
- US saw this as violation of the freedoms of the HUngarians, encouraged a revolt
- led to said uprising -> also because of soviet rule
- firm supporter of stalin
- de-stalinization meant hungarians believed there would be hope for new leader
therefore led to more protests
De-Stalinization in Hungary
Resulted in the soviet invasion
- In october there were riots protesting against political freedoms, fuel shortages, poor harvest
- Khrushchev thought that de-stalinization was threatening the stability of the Warsaw Pact- people more willing to protest
- sent red army restore order
- Imre Nagy’s proposals angered Khruschev. Included leaving Warsaw pact, becoming neutral
- Did not want domino effect,
- therefore soviets invaded..
Soviet rule in Hungary
Increased hatred for the USSR led to the hungarian uprising
- rakosi introduced purges of the intelligent and the bourgeoisie; made people fear him
- US saw this as violation of the freedoms of the HUngarians, encouraged a revolt
- led to said uprising
- firm supporter of stalin
- de-stalinization meant hungarians believed there would be hope for new leader
therefore led to more protests
Showed the extreme extent of the soviet rule
- Rakost introduced a five-year plan similar to Stalin which was a failure similar to the original, people still starving
- banned all non-communist organisations
- lots of censorship
- Russification emblematic of Tsarist rule
- Secret police required to help those unhappy with communism
- ‘let this be a lesson to all you Soviets’
Soviet invasion of Hungary 1956
increased tension - us humiliated
- between relations- It became clear that protestors within the eastern bloc would not receive any western military support. This was because the US could not directly intervene as would assure mutual destruction.
- US therefore appeared to be “all talk” and no action
- USA frustrated that they couldn’t do anything
Increased tension
- showed the soviet union’s hold over eastern europe. Demonstrated that no nation was allowed to leave the warsaw pact. As a result, many western european communists left the party, or their organisations dissociated themselves from Moscow’s control.
- ussr looked more like a threat than before
U2 incident 1960
Worsened relations
- Eisenhower lying saying it was a weather plane
- pilot questioned admitted he was on a spy mission, therefore Eisenhower lied
- Eisenhower said spying was inevitable- Khrushchev to walk out of the paris summit conference with no final conclusion.
- Vienna summit also went badly
- All previous atmosphere of cooperation was gone
- Resorted to building the Berlin Wall - no agreements
Led to the creation of the Berlin wall
- Because no agreements made at Paris Summit, it increased tension as it therefore diminished hopes of a compromise
- Khrushchev hardened approach to USA in Vienna summit
- Trust built up till now had been shattered- no solution made, resulted in berlin wall
Construction of the Berlin Wall
Worsened relations
- propaganda failure for communism
- made west berlin a symbol of freedom + defiance against communism
- Kennedy celebrated by west berliners “ich bin ein berliner” I am a citizen of Berlin
- Khurshchev abandoned plans to unite germany under soviet control
- did not consult USA about closing borders
- Reminiscent of churchill’s “iron curtain” speech, however more physical
Increased tension
- Prevented more refugees from leaving east Berlin to the West- the west was against this as this restricted East Berlin’s freedom
- As a result, west berlin became a symbol for defiance and freedom directly against communism
- sent the west the message that communism would survive in Berlin. Sent the message that it was impossible to reunite Germany under western control. This put pressure on both sides to appear successful.
- Went against the Berlin Ultimatum of berlin being a free country
Bay of Pigs invasion 1961
Worsened relations
- seen as hypocritical
→ accused USSR of spreading influence
→ they themselves expand influence on independent countries
- Kennedy confronted Khrushchev during Vienna 1961 about having hidden intentions, but he was the one having hidden intentions
- Kennedy was seen as weak due to failure -> 20,000 soldiers were ready to defend against 1400.
Increased tension
- Pushed Castro towards USSR -
- Khrushchev saw an opportunity to provoke USA -
- weapons on Cuba for Cuba’s protection after US aggression which allowed soviet weapons near the doorstep of the US
