Cold War 1945-1963 Flashcards
Why did USA and USSR become rivals?
1918-1921: USA fully supported whites in civil war - sent supplies and troops for assistance
1941 - 1945: USA/USSR ‘Allies’ during WW2 while hitler attacked; Stalin ignored US warnings in may/June 1941; Angered by delay of second front during 1942-1943 - Stalin believed USA/GB letting USSR suffer alone, Stalin suspicions of A-Bomb as not told about it till days before
Differences between USA/USSR
Government: USA - Democratic
USSR - Communist - 1 party dictatorship
Economic: USA - Capitalist - Keep profits
USSR - Everything state owned
Rights: USA - Freedom and rights important
USSR - Rights closely controlled by state, labour camps and purges, Atheist non religious worship state
What They wanted post WW2
Germany: USA - Only desire to punish Guilty Nazis, No desire for huge reparations as crushing them solves nothing, Wanted to quickly create a democratic Germany with capitalist economy
USSR- Extensive reps, Punishment/pay for war damage, Germany to be several weakened so can never attack again, needed to be sure of friendly government
Eastern Europe: USA - Free elections to be held once they were freed, Democracy and prosperity, a guarantee of peace, Rejected Stalins security agreement
USSR - Need security against further attacks from west > buffer zone required > Friendly pro communist governments needed
Yalta conference - Feb 1945
Leaders: Stalin (USSR)
Roosevelt (USA)
Churchill(UK)
What they disagreed on:
- Amount of reparations to be paid
- Government and frontiers of Poland once freed from Nazi control
What They Agreed On:
- Germany divided into 4 Zones (UK,GB,USSR,FR)
- Berlin and Vienna also the same
- Nazi war criminals hunted and tried
- Free elections held in E.Europe after freed
- Stalin Agreed to enter war Vs Japan for land
- UN set up to replace L.O.N
- Some reparations to be paid by Germany
Overall: 8/10 - Lots agreed, relative success
Potsdam Conference July 1945
Leaders: - Attlee (UK)
- Truman (USA)
- Stalin (USSR)
What They Disagreed On
- Truman disagree with Stalin, unwilling to negotiate - Didn’t discuss A-Bomb
- Soviet Troops occupied most of E.Europe - no free elections
What was agreed
- Divisions confirmed
- Treatment/Trial of war criminals confirmed
- Reparation amount decided(Up to individuals)
- USSR allowed to receive industrial equipment and goods aswell
Summary: Friction - Esp between Trump/Stalin
- Truman arrogant and rude - demeaned soviet role in war, Atom bomb inc sense of superiority, allowed by Attlee. “We have to get tough with Russians”, “We have to teach Russians how to Behave”
Soviet take-over of E.Europe
Between 1945-48 stalin set up series of satellite states in Europe - Broke promises of free elections
Stage 1 - Poland 1946
Stage 2 - Romania/Bulgaria 1947
Stage 3 - Hungary CZ.SL (1948)
Stalins justifications
War as a triumph for soviet communism - Soviet union has more influence of power
Level of soviet war-time sacrifice: - 4 mill dead, huge damage
To resist USA dollar imperialism- Resist economic power and influence
Soviet strategic thinking - Buffer states to protect against any future attack from the west
Iron Curtain
Churchills speech: March 1946, Fulton missouri USA
Key phrase - “From Stettin in the baltic to trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent”
What was the It - Fortified frontier between soviet satellite states and west.
- strong fences/border obstacles/watch towers:patrols
Stalins reasons:
- Defence against west
- Keep out western military/capitalism - imperialism and Crime/Drugs/Porn
Churchills idea - It was to deny freedom to the peoples of Eastern Europe
Why was USA concerned at soviet policy in E.Europe:
Stalin seen as 2nd Hitler - Empire building, denying freedoms and wishes, exploiting power vacuum
Western Europe under threat: GB,Fr,Italy all weakened by war, Germany devastated - All in no position to meet soviet threat, European Eco critical to USA trade and wealth
Communism = political cancer
- Offensive communism - where would it stop
- 1917 = Russia, 1945-9 = Poland, CZ.SL, E.Germany, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, 1949 - China, N.Korea, N.Vietnam - Emergence of Domino effect
Competition for global dominance - By 1945 only USA/USSR left as superpowers so USA had 1 rival. Stakes high for global control
Truman and stalin/USSR
Problems: Lack of experience, New + unexpected threat of soviet threat, conflicting advice on how to respond
Possible Responses:
1) Isolationism - policy of 20-30’s, would stalin go further, could W.Europe defend, surely USA safe from communism, USA had A-Bomb
2) Roll back - Use power of A-bomb to force Stalin down, push communism back to USSR, Democratise E.European states
3) Containment - Truman adopted
Policy of American diplomat in Moscow George Kennan - seen as Stalin Expert. Sent Telegram in Feb 1946:
Key points: Stalin/Communism want to expand,Russian leader want to destroy western world, Soviet leaders untrustworthy, would expand where resistance weak, no negotiating
Advice: Ensure no weak democracy, send aid to communist threatened countries, If stalin sees resistance he will back off, Should meet force with force.
Truman Doctrine
Why was it announced:
- Communist Threat to Greece/Turkey
- British Inability to cope
- Domino effect - Few countries fall it will spread to others
- Containment essential - message to Stalin
- 400 million to be spent
“I believe that it must be the policy of the united states to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures”
“The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining those freedoms. If we factor in our leadership we may endanger in the peace of the world”
The Marshall plan -
Made by secretary of state George Marshall
What is it: $17 billion US aid to European countries,
Why: helps western countries after WW2, help countries most likely to be effected by extremism
Who: 16 countries in W.Europe - most received by UK,France,Italy, W.Germany
How: Money spent on Infrastructure and building up Economy
Physical plan that makes Truman Doctrine work
Why was it made in 1947
1) Marshall Aid would help revive of economies of Europe - $17 billion enough to help/Poverty would go + 270 million ppl would be less susceptible to communism/Truman hoped E.European countries would seek a share of the money(against USSR Rules)
2) Trade with Europe Boosted (Dollar imperialism): - US foreign trade hugely boosted as some of the $17 billion spent on US tech and expertise
Stalins suspicions and Response
Suspicions:
Truman Doctrine - Global policy to stop growth of communist governments
Marshall plan - Trying to colonise E.European states, soviet security risks
What were Truman’s Long term intentions?
Dollar imperialism?
Response - Reply T.D and M.P
Cominform (1947):
- Communist Info Bureau
- Intended to defend communism against USA aggression
- Increased Stalins control over satellite states - members supposed to trade with one another
Comecon (1949) - USSR aid offered to satellites states to unite the economies of communist states/Increased Stalins Control
Berlin Blockade : June 1948 - May 1949
Background: - Berlin split into 4
- By 1948 Stalin very annoyed about W.Berlin situation - Truman saw it as vulnerable domino
- Marshall aid sent into W.Berlin
- 1947 - Bizonia united economically
- 1948 - New W.Currency put into 3 zones of Germany and Berlin without Stalin Consultation
Stalin wanted All Berlin as 3 zones blot on communist landscape
23rd June 1948 - Soviet authorities closes land access to W.Berlin saying technical problems
Motives
Political: - W.Berlin was flaw in Iron curtain as within were western military units
- W.Berlin escape route from communist E.Germany
-No prospect of German Reunification
Economic: - M.P pumped into W.Berlin which became “shop window” for communism
-USA/British introed new currency/E.Berlin remained largely wrecked in comparison which reflected badly on Communism
How should Truman Respond
1) Do nothing - Stalin had fair point - agreements made no longer valid
Position of W.Berlin behind Iron Curtain
Berlin not worthy of WW3
2)Force into Berlin - Easy to remove blocking troops, USA had A-Bomb, USA had to show no intimidation
3) Airlift supplies into W.Berlin: Expensive compromise, war avoided and freedom preserved, clear message to Stalin, vulnerable W.Berlin must be helped or it would fall
The Berlin Airlift - Option 3
- Required 12k tonnes per day
- Operation Planefare
- Initially 2k tonnes per day but in eventually 13 tonnes. 10 tonnes unloaded in minutes
- Planes landing every 2 mins
- 200k flights and 1.5 million tonnes flown in
Why no planes shot down: Stalin didnt want war - USA had A-Bomb, Stalin never expected this response thus no plan B
Consequences of Berlin Blockade
1) Creation of 2 German states - Stalins behaviour over W.Berlin made reunification impossible
W.Germany- Federal Republic of Germany, First election won by Christian Democrat party
E.Germany - Germany Democratic republic - Founded in October 1949
2) Formation of N.A.T.O 1949
- 1949 USSR detonated first atom bomb
- Truman feared invasion of W.Europe
- Essential for US forces to be stationed in vulnerable areas
- Send a message of ‘back off’ to stalin
- Signed in April 1949
- HQ today in Brussels
- Attack against 1 or more members shall be considered an attack on them all
- USA could station troops in member states
- Soviet attack = immediate NATO response
Why did Stalin End the Blockade
Surprising decision as Blockade was costing nothing and was maintainable
1) USA had met and exceeded stalins challenge, every landing of a plane was embarrassing
2)Western powers wanted to counter Blocked Stalin - Refused trade of coal from W.Germany to the East which hurt soviet economy
3) Blockade distraction from events in china
- Brutal civil war - USA backed Chiang Kai vs Communist Mao zedeg
- Civil war ended in 1949 for communist win - no blockade could = USA saving Chiang kai
