Cold War Flashcards
What were the West’s aims for the Yalta conference?
Forming the UN should prevent war. International economic cooperation to help restart global economy. Liberated countries in Eastern Europe should have to right to self determination and there should be no spheres of influence.
Soviet’s aims for Yalta?
Spheres of influence should be created round the SU. Germany should pay for rebuilding of damage from WW2. Germany should remain weak so it doesn’t become a threat. Non acceptance of the world bank but some willingness to cooperate with the UN.
what happened at the Yalta conference?
The formation of the UN, reparations were agreed to, Poland’s borders were moved, SU agreed to join the war in the Pacific, Germany was divided into 4 zones, liberated Europe was to have self-determination.
Who was at the Yalta conference?
Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin
When did Stalin set up it’s future communist government for Poland?
1944
Changes between Yalta and Potsdam?
Roosevelt was replaced with Truman, Churchill was replaced with Attlee, almost all European countries were now communist governments and the red army had taken over.
What happened at Potsdam?
USSR got Polish land, denazification was agreed on, Stalin rejected the western ideas for Eastern Europe, America rejected Stalin’s request to run to Ruhr(Germany’s rich industrial area, owned by USA), further reparations agreements and German zones agreed on.
Affects of the atomic bomb on Japan?
78,000 killed them 140,000 died by the effects by the end of the year. City destroyed, surrendered.
Atomic bomb effects on USSR?
Felt betrayed he hadn’t mentioned it at Potsdam, this created mistrust. Increased tension and showed military power and began arms race.
Atomic bomb reaction from USSR?
1949, USSR had caught up and developed their own nuclear bomb. MAD(mutually assured destruction let to tense conflicts.
Cominform?
Set up by Stalin to sustain communist policies in other countries.
Truman doctrine?
March 1947 Truman made a speech announcing the Truman Doctrine, about containing communism within Eastern Europe. Asked for 400 million dollars to help eliminate poverty which he believed would make people less likely to be communist.
The Marshall plan?
4 year American scheme giving money to European countries
Which countries were helped by the Marshall plan?
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands and UK
Which countries didn’t accept help from the Marshall plan?
USSR, Poland and Czeckslovakia
When was the Marshall plan occurring?
April 1948- December 1951
Reasons for Marshall plan being innocent and helpful?
Marshall plan was offered to both western and European countries to help starving and unemployed
Reasons for Marshall plan being strategy?
The Marshall plan aimed to contain communism, helping the west would make them str mg allies, they wanted Europe as trading partners.
Stalin’s reaction to Marshall plan?
Comecon and cominform
When was comecon set up?(economic)
1949
When was cominform set up?(political)
1947
Cominform?
To coordinate the communist governments and the SU could give instructions to them.
Comecon?
Co ordinate industries and trade with each other, not the West.
Why did the Berlin blockade happen?
In 1947 USA and Britain joined their German zones(Bizonia) in 1948 France joined(trizonia). June 1948 introduced deutschmark which strengthened West German economy and causes economic crisis in the east. Stalin felt betrayed they had not discussed this before with him.
What was the Berlin blockade?
USSR stopped the main autobalm and stopped all traffic between Berlin and western Germany, West Berlin was surrounded by soviet troops and the east was short of power, gas, coal and electrics.
Berlin airlift?
Saturday 26 June- May 12 1949. 5000 tonnes of food everyday
Stalin’s response to the Truman doctrine and Marshall plan?
Cominform and comecon
Reaction to Berlin blockade?
Berlin airlift
Vietnam contribution to Cold War?
SU supplied them with arms to fight USA, if south vietnam spread to communism it would start a sphere of influence in Asia
China affect on Cold War?
Good relationship with SU, China, the most populated country in the world became communist 1949, SU sent $300 million in aid, seen as a victory for Stalin