Cold War Flashcards
a state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare, such as what existed between the Soviet bloc countries and the U.S. - led western powers from 1945-1990
Definition of the Cold War
- 50 million people killed
- starvation
- homlessness
- Germans who had been placed in conquered territories kicked out
WWII Aftermath
- Disagreement between the allies during WWII
- Differing U.S. and Soviet political & economic system
- Differing goals for postwar Germany and Eastern Europe
- Soviet expansion of communism
- U.S. resistance to Soviet aggression
- Soviets fear capitalism; U.S. fears communism
- Suspicious of eachother
- U.S. and S.U. - Superpowers
Causes of the Cold War
countries with military power & political influence
Superpowers
July 1945 - Stalin, Truman, Churchill, Attlee
1. Agreed to divide Germany into 4 zones. Soviet Union gets 1/3; U.S. G.B. and France get 2/3
2. Divided capital (Berlin) which was in the Soviet controlled region
3. Nuremburg Trials
4. Plan for Germany to pay reparations - currency & industrial equipment. Soviets got the larges spare because it experienced the most destruction.
Potsdam
Disagreement of what to do with Eastern Europe (held by USSR). Soviets want a buffer zone –> no attacks. Stalin promised to protect rights and allow self-determination of the people living in Europe. U.S. & G.B. worried he would establish a pro-soviet & communist government. It ended up happening but Yugoslavia is an independent communist country.
Areas of Contention
countries under the influence of others. economically/politically dependent
Satellite States
- 193 nation members.
- Votes on membership, budgets, & pass recommendations & resolutions but these have no force
UN (General Assembly)
- Organ of UN with power to take action.
- 5 permanent members (Russia, China, U.S., France, and G.B.) along w/ 10 other rotating members
- Goal: Keep peace in the world
- Tools: diplomacy, economic sanctions, military (last resolve)
- Military sent from membership countries
UN (Security Council)
all 5 security council members have the ability to shut down a vote on an issue
UN (Veto Power)
- AKA World Court
- Judicial organ of U.N.
- 15 judges that settle disputes
UN (International Court of Justice)
- 1946 - Winston Curchill
- Describes the sharp division of Europe that was the result of the Soviets actions
Iron Curtain
1946 - George Kennan - U.S. wants to stop the spread of communism. This doctrine expanded U.S. involvement in Korea, Vietnam, and elsewhere
Containment
American diplomat that came up with containment
George Kennan
- 1947
- Soviet-backed communist threatening the gov. in Greece & Turkey.
- U.S. gives economic and military aid
Truman Doctrine
- 1947 - George Marshall
- 13 billion dollars to rebuild Europe
- Truman thought if conditions worsen, countries would turn to communism
- Helped Western Europe recovery quick and get political stability
Marshall Plan
- Soviets see U.S. attempt to buy countries support.
- The Soviet’s answer - try to give money also
- fails because lack of finance
COMECON
- 1947 Central Intelligence Agency established
- mainly focuses on overseas intelligence gathering for the President and Cabinet.
CIA
- 1933-1939
- Hitler came to power
- Nazi project develops
- Isolates Jews
- Rearms Germany for conquest
German Phase
- Sept 1939-June 1941
- Nazi violence spreads to Western Europe
- Mass violence
- Ghettoization
- Go into Poland, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Soviet Union
- Go after Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, disabled
Expansion and Violence
- mobile killing squads that would follow the military & kill Jews
Einsatzgruppen
- 1941-1944
- Final Solution
- Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Sobibor were death camps
Dedication to Mass Killings
- The plan for dealing with the Jews.
- Called for complete annihilation & extermination
- Sent to Auschwitz to be starved and killed
Final Solution
- Jan 1945-May 1945
- Death marches
Liberation of Auschwitz