Cold War Flashcards
Tehran conference Nov-Dec 1943
Stalin made it clear he intended to establish a Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe after the war
Allies discussed plans to divide Germany
How did Tehran conference increase tension
Stalin establishing soviet sphere foreshadows the division of europe
Western allies wanted Germany to become capitalist USSR wanted communism
Yalta conference Feb 1945
Germany would pay reparations
Stalin promised to allow a government in Poland with free elections
How did Yalta conference increase tension
The West wanted Germany to recover economically and become democratic. USSR wanted to keep Germany weak
Stalin installed pro-communist government in Poland infuriated Britain and US
Potsdam conference July-Aug 1945
Ban Nazi party and prosecute war criminals
Reduce size of Germany
How did Potsdam conference increase tension
Truman informed Stalin that the USA had successfully tested an atomic bomb
Soviet Union demanded heavy reparations from Germany, while the USA and Britain worried damage Germany economy
Iron Curtain speech 1946
Churchill mentions Stalin wants to control Europe
‘Iron curtain’ means Stalin wants to create a division between communist and capitalisy europe
Churchill wanted US support to help prevent communism even further
Truman doctrine 1947
America helps countries resist communism economically or troops if necessary
Truman made it clear US try to contain communism
Marshall plan
US provides $13 billion to some euroupean countries
Impact of marshall plan
USSR saw Marshall Plan as a threat to its influence in Eastern Europe and responded by Cominform
Cominform 1947
Unite communist parties in Europe under Moscow’s leadership
Spread communism
Impact of cominform 1947
Solidifed iron curtain
Control of East Europe - made sure they followed soviet policies
Comecon 1949
Co-ordinate economic policies between countries
Ensure Eastern european countries economically dependant to soviet union
Impact of comecon 1949
Showed power of USSR over eastern countries
Political and economic division cemented
Cuban missile crisis part 1
1959 Fidel Castro overthrew Cuban government
US attempt overthrow castro with bay of pigs invasion 1961 which pushed Cuba to soviet union
Nikita Krushchev place missiles in Cuba
President John F Kennedy Naval blockade to prevent more missiles
Cuban missile crisis part 2
US demand immdeiate removal of missiles
Over 13 days tension escalates as soviet ships approach blockade
Krushchev agreed to remove missiles from Cuba in exchange for:
US not invade Cuba and secret agreement for US to remove missiles for Turkey
Consequences Cuban Missile crisis
Hotline set up between washington DC - allow better communication between white house and the Kremlin. This symbolises a shift towards mutual standings
Limited test ban treaty - prohibits nuclear tests in atmosphere, outer space and under water
The Berlin Crisis 1957
Around 2.7 million East Germans fled to west Berlin
Many were skilled workers important to the economy
Geneva 1959
No real agreement was made but Krushchev visits US
Camp David 1959
No solution
Krushchev withdraws ultimatum
Paris 1960
Krushchev storms out after Eisenhower refused to apologise about U2 incident
Vienna 1961
Krushchev repeats 6 month ultimatum
Krushchev’s ultimatum
Gave Western Powers six months to withdraw from Berlin and make it a free, demilitarized city
Impact of the Berlin wall 12 August 1961
Introduction
The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 was a key moment in the Cold War. It symbolized the division between the communist East and capitalist West and had profound political, social, and economic impacts.
