Cold war

Question 1

Agreements at Yalta conference (1945)

Answer 1

Germany would be divided into 4 zones
Newly liberated nations would hold free elections (Declaration of a liberated Europe)
Germany would surrender unconditionally
Russia would assist in the fight against Japan once Germany was defeated
A government of national unity would be set up in Poland consisting of non-communists and communists.

Question 2

What happened at the Potsdam conference (1945)

Answer 2

Tensions were sky-high because:
Rampant Soviet presence in Eastern Europe with
Soviet-backed communist parties all over
Roosevelt was replaced with Truman; Staunch anti-stalinist
Revelations of atom bomb which the USSR wasn’t even aware of.
Disagreements over Germany’s future (USSR - Germany could`not be a threat again - Wanted resources from all of Eastern Germany and 10% of industrial equipment in Western zones; USA didn’t want to create a new Hitler); agreed to split Germany into 4 zones (With respective military leaders overseeing each zone thus, the Allied Control Council) and make them pay reparations

Question 3

What was the Truman doctrine (1947)

Answer 3

Fears of Greece and Turkey turning to communism prompted US to engage in a policy of containment to suppress communism in the East. Doctrine promised any nation financial and military aid to those who were against communist parties globally.

Question 4

What was the Marshall plan? (1947)

Answer 4

Aid scheme to war ravaged countries in Europe to prevent communist from having Western Europe in its sphere of unfluence.
Yugoslavia under Tito took aid
Stalin was mad; labelled it ‘Dollar diplomacy”

Question 5

Berlin blockade (1948-1949)

Answer 5

Stalin was infuriated due to the implementation of Western currency in Berlin
Belief that West was trying to create a dominant economic system in Berlin
USSR closed all roads and railways into Berlin
West was unable to supply west Berlin which could prompt citizens to moving towards communism

Question 6

Berlin airlift (1948-1949)

Answer 6

West responds by supplying West Berlin with food, fuel and medicals supplies through airplanes for almost a year.
Stalin opens blockade (Win for the west)
Germany formally divided in German Federal rRepublic (GFR; Konrad adenauer) and German Democratic Republic (GDR, Walter Ulbricht)

Question 7

Berlin uprising 1953

Answer 7

EB workers protested for:
Greater political and economic freedom
Union with WG
End to communist employment
Withdrawal of Soviet forces

USSR crushed uprising
600 people executed
300,000 EG fled to the west
EG government announced new reforms
USSR allowed greater independence
Made USSR look bad

Question 8

Khrushchev’s demands 1958

Answer 8

Khrushchev demanded handing over of West Berlin to EG
Ignored by the west and dropped issue (Seen as weak leadership)
Tensions cooled and meeting was planned for Paris

Question 9

U2 spy plane incident 1960

Answer 9

USA spyplane caught spying over USSR
US refused to apologise for incident
Paris meeting cancelled
Increased tensions

Question 10

Berlin wall 1961

Answer 10

3 million EB left to the west since 1949
EG wanted to stop brain drain into the West
Wall built between city (Weakened USSR internationally)

Question 11

NATO (1949)

Answer 11

Berlin blockade increased suspicion of Soviet intentions

Military pact to protect European nations against Soviet expansion/

Question 12

COMINFORM (1947)

Answer 12

Communist Information Bureau - Used to co-ordinate all the communist parties in Soviet-occupied Eastern Europe.

Question 13

Molotov plan (1947)

Answer 13

Supplied aid to assist economies of satellite states

Question 14

COMECON (1949)

Answer 14

Council for Mutual Economic Aid - Intended to strengthen economic ties between the USSR and its satellite states.