cold war Flashcards
What were the origins of the cold war?
mutual suspicion
and the breakdown of the grand alliance
what was the mutual suspicion that lead to the cold war?
Stalin remembered that the western allies had intervened in the civil war in 1918-9 (Bolshevik revolution) and he suspected that they had encouraged Hitler in the 1930’s.
Britain and France had turned down an offer of an alliance with the soviet union in 1938
during the war the soviet people suffered terribly, 26,000.000 died altogether. This made Stalin determined that this should never happen again, hence the reason he was so keen to keep a soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe.
The allies had delayed invading France with a second front until 1944. This made Stalin very suspicious of the west. He believed that they had wanted the soviet union to destroy itself fighting Germany on its own.
What was the Grand alliance?
set up in 1941 to defeat the Nazis
consisted of Britain, USA and USSR (Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin)
However the alliance between the capitalists and the communists was purely to defeat the Nazis so is referred to as a “marriage of convenience”
Once Hitler had been defeated the “marriage” became strained as the two opposing ideologies clashed
The leaders of the super powers wanted each other to recognise “spheres of influence”
Between 1943-1945 leaders of the grand alliance made at 3 conferences: Tehran, Yalta, Potsdam
What happened at the Tehran conference?
1943
Stalin was annoyed that Britain and the USA delayed opening a second front in the war. Stalin was convinced that the West wanted the communist USSR to suffer against the nazis.
The big 3 agreed that the soviet union would have a sphere of influence in eastern europe which would gaurantee that the ussr did not feel threatened by any of its neighbouring countries.
big 3 agreed that a second front should be opened in the west to attack the Nazis and spilt their defences , and so would relieve pressure on the red army fighting in the east. But this didn’t happen until 1944(the Normandy landings).
What happened at the Yalta conference?
Germany would be reduced in size, demilitarised, have to pay reparation(in the form of goods and raw materials)
Grand alliance agreed to Germany being divided into 4 zones each one occupied by one of the 4 allies
The Nazi party would be banned and war criminals tried
Un would be set up to replace the league of nations as an organisation committed to peace.
The Ussr would declare war on Japan 3 months after defeat of germany.
The declaration of a liberated europe was agreed to work for a democracy in europe. Stalin promised to allow free elections in the countries of eastern europe which had been occupied by the soviet army for example poland.
the big 3 restated their agreement that the ussr should have a sphere of influence in the east.
Who replaced roosevelt?
Harry Truman
What happened at the potsdam conference?
july 1945
set up a council of foreign ministers to organise the rebuilding of Europe.
Germany was divided into 4 zones (France, Britain, USA,USSR)
Berlin was divided into 4 sectors
size of germany reduced
Nazi party would be dissolved. War criminals would be tried and punished in the Nuremburg trials.
USSR could have a quarter of industrial equipment from other 3 zones as soviet zone was less developed. In return USSR would provide other zones with raw materials e.g coal.
What disagreements were there at Potsdam?
Truman and Atlee had replaced Roosevelt and Churchill and so the personal trust and relationships build at last conference was lost.
The big 3 no longer had a common enemy
Truman tested the first atomic bomb without Stalin’s knowledge
Harry Truman tried to force the USSR to allow free elections in Eastern Europe and said that he wanted to get “tough with russia”
Allies could not agree on reparations. USSR wanted to impose heavy repartions but America wanted to rebuild germany.
By Potsdam conference stalin had broken his promise to allow free elections in Europe.
What was the iron curtain?
The term Iron Curtain was a metaphorical curtain to describe the clear division between east and west Europe.
What were the secret telegrams?
Truman and Stalin were concerned about breakdown of grand alliance and grew increasingly suspicious of one another and asked their ambassadrs from their embassies to help them understand their opponents more and these reports were sent as telegrams. Consequences: following telegrams both governments feared they were facing war.
what did The Long telegram state?
America’s ambassador George Kennan reported that:
Stalin had given a speech calling for the destruction of capitalism.
There could be no peace between the two countries whilst the USSR opposed capitalism.
The USSR was building up its military power.
What did Novikov’s telegram state?
Soviet ambassador Nikolai Novikov reported that:
USA was determined to rule the world
Following Roosevelts death the American government was no longer interested in the co-operation with USSR. The american public was being prepared for war with USSR.
Prague spring
Why was Czechoslovakia one of the most important countries in the Warsaw pact?
It was in the centre of eastern europe and it had the most developed industry.
prague spring
what did Dubcek want to create?
socialism with a human face however he promised breshnev that he would not try to leave the warsaw pact.
prague spring
what did dubcek do?
he reduced censorship and reduced the role of the secret police. Which lead to increasing criticism of communism by people in czechoslovakia. communist leaders were questioned in newspapers and on tv. Market socialism- the reintroduction of capitalist elements into czech economy. By the summer there were plans to allow another political party the social democratic party to oppose the communists in elections.
prague spring
how did the soviet union react?
The leaders of the warsaw pact countries put pressure on Brezhnev to stop the cahnges taking place in Czechoslovakia. Soviet troops threatened czechoslovakia by performing training exercises on the border. USSR considered taking economic action against czechoslovakia such as cancelling wheat supplies.In july at a meeting of all the warsaw pact countries the other leaders called up C to maintain stability. Dubcek agreed not to allows SDP but kept on with other reforms. On 20th august without warning soviet tanks moved into czechoslovakia. There was no fighting or armed resistance.
prague spring
What happened to Dubcek?
He was removed from power and demoted to an ambassador to turkey then to being in charge of a lumber yard. All images of him as a leader were censored.
What was the Brezhnev doctrine?
1968Communist countries had to remain one party systems
They had to stay in the Warsaw pact.
in the decrease in tension between USA-USSR in 1968-1979 what were the 3 main causes?
-the 1962 cuban missile crisis bought the world to the brink of nuclear war
- the ussr was spending 20% of budger on weapons and US was spending so much on the vietnam war it could not afford to improve life for the poor
- the USSR fell out with china and wanted to be friendly with US as it could not have 2 major enemies.
detente
when and what was the outer space treaty?
1967
- pledged no nuclear weapons to be put in space
detente
what agreement was made in 1968?
that neither superpower would supply nuclear weapons to other (countries?)
detente
1972 strategic arms limitation treaty I (SALT)
limited the building of mid range missiles for 5 years. no further production of short range, light missiles. significant because this was the first time an agreement was made to limit nuclear weapons.
detente
1975 apollo soyuz mission
joint space mission where both superpower space crafts docked together in space.
detente
Helenski agreement (1975)
agrrements made about security, cooperation and human rights
security: all country borders accepted therfore East and West Germany accepted each others existence for first time. All disputes were to be resolved with UN not violence, countries would inform each other about big military manoeuvres and no country would interfere in the foreign affairs of other countries.
co-operation: agreed that there should be better co-operation in trade, industry science and education.
Human rights: countries including USSR should have human rights, including freedom of speech movement religion and information.
SALT II
would have limited the no. of long range missiles but was never signed.
three main consequences of detente?
cultural links between USA and USSR- orchestras and sports teams visited each other
trade between US and USSR with $4.5bn of grain going to USSR
co-operation between superpowers in space (Apollo-Soyux mission 1975)
prague spring
what were the effects of the invasion of czechoslovakia?
1)returned to communist control, russian troops were stationed there and directors of many firms (especially publishing companies) were sacked + 47 anti-communist arrested.
2) Russia stayed in control behind iron curtain
3) Increase of cold war. West was horrified + many communist countries (e.g Romania and yugoslavia) who then became closer to china. America publicly condemned the invasion but no military support.
What are 3 causes of the prague spring?
1) Long term anger at communist rule
a) Czechoslovakia was a satellite state and in the warsaw pact
b)The economy was struggling and there were no free elections and the state was run by seceret police. Standard of living low for czech people.
2) Dubcek becomes leader
a) former president unpopular Novotony fell form power and on 5 january 1968 Alexander Dubcek- a reformer took over.
b) policy of detente encouraged the uprising. Romania had also broken free of russian control and was improving relations with west.
3) socialism with a human face
a) april 1968, dubcek government announced an action plan for what it called a new model of socialism it removes stake controls over industry that allowed freedom of speech dubject aim to remove the repressive elements of communist rule
b) dubcek was committed communist who was very friendly with breshnev at first until he made too many reforms.
Why was there an arms race?
Strategic superiority by developing new and more powerful weapons and having weapons more weapons in the enemy
Costs both sides need to cut Arms costs and given the destruction they cause nuclear weapons were cheaper to produce than conventional weapons
Deterrence the aim was not to launch them at each other but to deter the Other Side from doing so each wanted enough nuclear weapons to survivor First Strike so the enemy would not dare strike first and fear of retaliation.
What was MAD?
Mutually Assured Destruction
Cuban missile crises
3 reasons for crises?
1.in 1959 Fidel Castro seized power of Cuba until then cuba had been under U.S influence and many companies had invested heavily in the country Castro Vowed to become more independent of America
cuba’s main export was sugar the economy relied on this export to survive and in response to Castro becoming leader and nationalising American businesses America decreased their sugar purchases by 95% crippling the Cuban economy
the USSR was keen to extend its fear of influence into the Western hemisphere and promised to buy one million tons of sugar per year from Cuba this tied the two countries closely together
2) arms
America was much stronger in terms of nuclear weapons in the USSR having over 20 times more the USSR still did not have intercontinent capabilities without these they could not attack the US mainland the USSR hope that by putting missiles onto Cuba that they would hold the trump card and be able to force America into decisions for example over berlin
USA had missile bases in Turkey which gave strategic superiority in terms of lodging attacks the USSR wanted to even this up
3) pigs
in April 1961 the CIA supported an attempted invasion of Cuba by anti Castro Cuban exiles the Bay of Pigs it failed miserably greatly embarrassing Kennedy Castro believed that he needed more protection from USA attack
he asked Russia for weapons to defend against America on 14th October 1962 an American U2 spy plane took pictures of nuclear missile base being bought built on Cuba this meant that all us missile defense systems when now useless
cuban missile crisis
key feuatures:
On the 25th of September 1962 Kruschev sent 114 Soviet ships to Cuba
from 16th October Kennedy spent one week asking his defense Chiefs for possible reactions he decided on a blockade this came into effect on 24 October after Kennedy gave Kruschev warning 180 ships were used including a fleet of nuclear submarines ships sailing to Cuba slowed down and even began to sail in circles Kruschev sent two letters one in public was defiant the second offered a compromise the missile sites would be destroyed if the USA guaranteed to leave Cuba alone
Kennedy agreed to Kruschev’s offer the blockage was removed the sites were destroyed and cuba’s left alone
in secret meeting between Kennedy and Soviet ambassador the US government agreed that U.S missiles would be removed from Turkey however as these were in a NATO force it could not be announced immediately they were removed three months later
what are 3 consequences of the cuban missile crisis?
- Propaganda
Turkey agreement was not very public so appeared to the world as if USSR had backed down. JFK won an important propaganda victory. In 1964 Kruschev was forced to resign and was replaced with breshnev. Many historians believe that he had lost a lot of prestige - better communication
in 1963 the hot line was set up. This was a direct tele-printer between kremlin and the white house - Detente
JFK realised he had to make a stand. Khrushchev realised he had gone to far. neither prepared for nuclear war and so focused superpowers minds on their responsibilities.
in august 1963 superpowers signed the test ban treaty. banned all above ground nuclear tests and to stay in force forever.
What was the battle of the pigs?
April 1961 CIA supported an attempted invasion of cuba by anti-castro cuban exiles at the bay of pigs however failed miserably and was a great embarrassment to Kennedy.
Left castro feeling he needed more protection and asking russia for weapons to defend against USA.
14 October 1962 an american U2 spy plane took pictures of a nuclear missile base being built on cuba. - all us missile defence systems now useless.
How did the USA react to the Berlin wall?
- JFK ordered 3 increases in the US defense budget in next 2 years
- JFK siad that “its not a very nice solution but its better than a war”
- he went to berlin and made a speech to west Berliner’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” to show he was sharing their difficulties
What was the impact of the Berlin wall?
1.stopped east Berliners fleeing to west and ended refugee crisis
2. Alllowed Krushchev to avoid war with USA and still appear strong
3. became powerful symbol of divison in Europe and between different ideologies
4. wall remained in place until 1990 and more than 300 people were killed trying to cross it.
Why did Kruschev order the builiding of Berlin wall?
August 1961 he believed he could get away with it as JFK had been made to look foolish over bay of Pigs
USSR could not afford war and USA were 20x more powerful with nuclear weapons
BUT he had to stop the regugee crisis
What did Kruschev declare about Berlin in 1958?
that the whole of Berlin belonged to USSR and that the USA removed their troops. The USA refued and four meetings were set up to discuss the future of Berlin. (Geneva, Camp David, Paris, Vienna)
Berlin wall
what happened at the Geneva 1959 conference?
foreign ambassadors were able to speak face to face aboutthe problems. All agreed to have the Presidents meet
no solutions were agreed but it was planned that the Presidents would meet together later in the year
Berlin Wall
What happened at the 1959 Camp david conference?
meeting was held at the presidential retreat in the USA. The 2 leaders spoke honestly and this was good process
No solutions were agreed but promised to meet again next year
Berlin Wall
What happened at the 1960 Paris conference?
meeting was ruined by the shooting down of the U2 spy plane. Kruschev refused to take part in talks until US apoligised and cancelled all future spy flights.
Presdient Eisenhower agreed to cancel flights but refused to apologise- so Khrushchev went home and summit collapsed
Eisenhower’s planned visit to Russia cancelled and Russia grew in confidence.
Berlin Wall
What happened at the vienna 1961 conference?
Kruschev saw the new president JFK a someone young and inexperienced - someone who could be bullied. Again demanded that the Americans leave West Berlin within 6 months
- JFK refused and on 25 july increased America’s spending on weapons by £3.2 billion
- 13 august Khrushchev closed border between east and west berlin and built an wall.
