Cold war Flashcards
1
Q
Tehran Conference 1943
A
- USA and Britain open a second front
- Stalin would declare war against Japan and supply Soviet troops to held USA - once the war in Europe was over
- No formal agreement but agreed in general that the aim of war was to bring about the surrender of Germany and that it should remaind weak
- Agreed Poland should recieve land from Germany
- USSR could keep land it seized from Poland in 1939
2
Q
Impact of Tehran Conference
A
- Stalin was concerned that the WEst was deliberately delaying a second front so he was pleased
- Churchill less pleased because he wanted to open a second front in the Balkans
- Tension between USA and Britain - Roosevelt seemed at times to view British colonialism as a threat
3
Q
Yalta Conference - 1945
A
- Germany would be split into 4 zones controlled by a different power
- Germany woudl pay $20 billion in reparations
- Nazi party would be banend and war criminals prosecuted
- UN would be set up
- Stalin agreed to join the war against Japan 3 months after defeat of Germany
- Stalin agreed future government of countries in Eastern Europe would be decided in free elections
- Countries liberated could have free elections
- Agreed that the borders of Poland would be returned and that there would be free elections
- Stalin wanted to move the border of Russia into Poland
- Stalin expected those elections to bring a pro communist government
- Britain supported the non communist London Poles
- Stalin’s forces already in control of Poland so Churchill persuaded Roosevelt to agree to Stalin’s demands as long as USSR agreed not to interfere in Greece
4
Q
Potsdam 1945
A
- Scientist in the USA developed the atomic bomb
- UN had been created
- Truman determined to take a ‘get tough’ approach with Stalin
- Atomic bomb worsened relations
- Common enemy gone
- Germany divided into four zones administered by USSR, USA, Britain, and France but Germany economy would be run as a whole
- Berlin divided into four zones
- USSR wanted Germany to pay heavy reparations but Truman was concerned this would make it harder for Germany to recover
- Agreement not reached over government of Eastern Europe
- Truman objected to the arrangements for Poland the borders previously agreed
5
Q
Impact of the Atomic Bomb on relationship
A
- USA exploded an atomic bomb in Hiroshima 1945
- Historians claim USA used the bombs to establish a stronger negotiating position
- Development of atomic bomb made countries of Western Europe feel more secure about placing themselves under American protection
- Stalin felt more determined to make USSr secure - Aim was to create buffer zone
- Soviets also developed the atomic bomb 4 years after USA
- Increased tensions
- Enterened an arms race
6
Q
Creation of Soviet Satellite States
A
- Baltic States conquered by USSR and treated as Union
- Yugoslavia and Albania were never occupied by Soviets so had more independence
- Stalin turned six other countries into satellite states with communist governments
- Czech president overthrown in 1948, supported by USSR and communist government was set up
- USSR promised to help Warsaw Uprising but they waited until uprising was crushd - invaded Poland to put a pro communist government in place
- Hungarians voters threatened in a campaign supported by Mscow and a Communist Party government was elected
- Red Army took control of Bulgaria, Romania
- Free elections in Poland but in reality, voters were frightened into voting for Communist Party
7
Q
Rising tensions
Truman Doctrine
A
- Truman delivered speech to Congress to announce an economic aid package to Greece and Turkey
- Truman believed choosing democracy over communism was choosing good over evil
- Communism should not be allowed to grow and that the US was prepared to sent troops and aid countries trying to resist it
- Ideas known as ‘the Truman Doctrine’ and indicated the beginnings of a new approach to international relations
- Policy of isolationism abandoned
- Reoriented US’s foreign policy, provided aid to other countries
8
Q
Marshall Plan
A
- USA was in a good position to provide economic aid
- Economic aid to help war torn countries in order to stop communism from taking Western Europe
- $13.7b in aid in addition to $13 billion already given
- Many countries included
- Debate in the US whether to offer aid to the USSR and the satellite states
- Decided it could be offered but countries would have to agree to a thorough review of their finances
- USA knew Stalin would not allow this so in practice, Eastern countries did not benefit
9
Q
Dollar Imperialism
A
- Stalin believed the Truman Doctrine showed that the USA was trying to extend its influence in Europe
- Also thought it was weakening the role of the UN by suggesting it was USA’s job to protect the world
- Argued that the Marshall Plan was a way of using economic might divide Europe in two and establish an American economic empire there
10
Q
Impact of Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
A
- Any remaining belief that there was still a Grand Alliance was gone
- USA now had set itself in direct opposition to the USSR
- Stalin’s suspicion of the west were strengthened, believed he now had evidence that the USA was trying to destroy the USSR
- Marshall Plan successfully tied Western European countries into supporting the USA
- Europe became divided into two economic and political camps
- History of Europe for the next 50 years became one of extreme rivalry between the two superpowers
11
Q
Formation of Cominform and Comecon
A
- Marshall plan set Stalin an eocnomic and political challenge so he set up two new organisation
- Communist Information Bureau, a political organisation set up in 1947
- Council for Mutual Eocnomic Assistance, economic organisation set up in 1949
- Led to stand off in Berlin in 1948 and the formation of NATO in 1949
12
Q
Cominform 1947
A
- Association of Communist parties from all over Europe
- Gave Stalin a way of directing and controlling the government of the satellite states
- Rejected Marshall Plan at its first meeting
- Spread porpaganda and accused the US of being no different from Nazi Germany
- Responsible for ending oppositon to Moscow and ensuring the loyalty of Eastern European governments
13
Q
Comecon 1949
A
- Stalin wanted communist states to keep their independence from capitalist governments and did not want the USA to become powerful in Eastern Europe
- Knew he needed to offer a positive alternative to American aid if he was to keep the states under his control
- Created an aid package
- Direct competition with the Marshall Plan
- Also discouraged trade with the USA and Western Europe
14
Q
Germany divided
A
- Disagreements between occupying powers
- Soviets wanted to take as much material as possible back to help rebuild the USSR
- West wanted to build up Germany’s economy
- Talks between the ministers of occupying powers broke down and Soviets stormed out
15
Q
Uniting the Western Zones
A
- Remaining allies had to decide how to run Germany without Soviets
- UK and US combined into Bizonia 1947
- French added to create Trizonia
- Single currency to give Trizonia economic unity - new single currency created a separate economic unit from the East - Accepted that there were two Germanys
- Stalin felt this was a further example of ‘ganging up’ on the USSR
- More determined to stand firm and protect Soviet interests in Germany
- Stalin believed Germany should be one united country and follow communism
16
Q
Berlin airlift
A
- Flew food, coal, etc into the city from Allied zones
- At least 1000 tonnes of supply a day
- No fewer than 170,000 tonnes of supplies were sent into Berlin
- Soviets lifted blockade in May 1949
- West won propaganda war and Stalin looked foolish
16
Q
Berlin Blockade 1948
A
- Stalin shut oiff land routes into Berlin
- Wanted to show a divided Germany would not work
- Berlin run short of food
- If successful, Stalin would win a huge propaganda success
- Might also mean the Western powers would give up control of their zones in Berlin and allow the whole capital to be controlled by the USSR
- Direct challenge to Truman
- West knew that an attempt to force supplies into Berlin along the closed land routes would be seen as an act of war
- Truman wouldn’t shoot planes because it is an act of war
17
Q
Creation of West and East Germany
A
- US, UK, and France permitted their zones to come together as the Federal Republic of Germany - May 1949
- Germany in the new country were allowed to elect their own parliament
- New capital of Bonn
- Stalin created the German Democratic Republic in Oct 1949
- Only the communist bloc countries recognised it as a nation
18
Q
Creation of NATO
A
- Stalin’s threat to Berlin and the communist takeover in Czechoslovakia persuaded West to form a military alliance
- USA, UK, France and nin other countries joined together in the NATO
- Agreed that if any member was attacked, all members of NATO would come to its assitance
19
Q
Impact of Korean War
q
A
- Truman determined Korea should not become communist to prevent domino effect
- UN force help Korea
- USA now committed to supporting other coutnry in Asia resisting communism
- USA strengthened its land forces in Europe and encouraged Greece and Turkey to join NATO
- Defense budget in the USA tripled
- USSR worried by USA strengthening its forces and steps to increase the size of its own armed forces
- When West Germany joined NATO in 1955, USSR responded by bringing together eight communist countries in the Warsaw Pact
- Suspicion and distrust increased and both sides increased the size of their armed forces
- Desire to stronger military force led to a nuclear arms race
20
Q
Impact of the Arms Race
A
- Both countries spent huge sums developing armies, navies, missiles
- Led to a change in thinking about war
- Weapons and armed forces were developed to win wars
- New weapons were being developed to ensure that the other side would not go to war
- Acted as deterrent
