Cold War Flashcards
What was agreed at the Tehran conference in November 1943?
- The USA and Britain would launch a second front attack on Germany in West Europe to draw troops away from the Soviets
- Stalin would declare war on Japan once the war in Europe was over
- They agreed that after the war Germany would give land to Poland but Stalin could keep any land he won in Poland
What was agreed at the Yalta conference in February 1945?
- After Germany was defeated, it would be split into 4 sections that would be controlled by the UK, the USA, France and the Soviets.
- Germany would pay $20 billion in reparations and the Nazi party wouod be banned
- The UN was formed, but the USA and the UK didn’t agree with Stalin’s proposition that all 16 Soviet republics could have individual membership so only Russia, Ukraine and Belarus were added.
- Stalin joined the UK and USA to fight Japan
- The governments of the freed countries would be decided in free elections
- Poland was restored to how it was in 1921 and free elections were to happen but Stalin wanted it to be communist whereas the UK wanted it to be capitalist
What was agreed at the Potsdam conference July-August 1945?
- Germany was divided into zones as agreed but it would have it’s own economy
- Berlin was also divided into zones despite it being in the Soviets’ zone of Germany
- Each country took reparations from it’s own zone
What was the Iron Curtain speech?
In March 1949, when he was no longer prime minister, Winston Churchill made a speech in Fulton, Missouri. In this speech he said that the Soviet Union was a threat to capitalism and world peace. He told the USA to get involved with the Soviet Union to prevent communism from spreading.
What was the Truman doctrine and Marshall Aid?
The Truman Doctrine was a speech made by President Harry Truman on 12th March 1947, in which he announced he would be giving an economic aid package of $400 million to Greece and Turkey as well as military personell. He also said he would try to bring freedom to Europe and compared communism as evil to shy away Europe from becoming communist. Marshall Aid was the money the US sent to countries in West Europe and between 1948 and 1952 they sent $12.7 billion worth of Aid in addition to the $13 billion sent before the Aid project started.
What was Cominform?
Cominform was set up on 22nd of September 1947. It contained the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Parties of Bulgaria, Czeckoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, France and Italy. It was a political organisation that gave Stalin better control of his satellite states, as they not only were communist but now took orders from Moscow. The parties were discouraged from communicating with non communist parties and were forced to reject Marshall Aid.
What was Comecon?
Comecon was Stalin’s way of controlling the satellite states and preventing them from accepting Marshall Aid. It was formed on 25th Jan 1949 and first consisted of the USSR, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary Czeckoslovakia, Romania and East Germany. Albania joined in 1950. Stalin introduced rationalisation to keep each state dependent on each other, and Comecon itself was mainly for increasing trade within the Soviet Union and the satellite states.
What were the causes, events and consequences of the Berlin Blockade?
Causes: Stalin didn’t want to lose control of Berlin and since the formation of Trizonia the capitalists controlled half of Germany
Events:In June 1948 Stalin made a blockade to block all ground and river routes connecting the two halves of Germany. This cut off supplies for the Western Berliners. Truman responded with the Berlin airlift, known as Operation Vittles: supplies were sent through plane and the Soviets couldn’t shoot them down as it would start a war they weren’t ready for yet. After 11 months the blockade was taken down.
Consequences: Nobody died, it avoided conflict, it was a huge propaganda win for the US and NATO was formed
When and why was the Warsaw Pact formed? What were its consequences?
May 1955 in response to West Germany joining NATO. It split Europe in two and strengthened both the Soviet control of the East and American influence on the West
What was the arms race?
When both superpowers spent billions of dollars on nuclear bombs (USA: $49.6bn and USSR:$25.5bn) between 1949 and 1958). It was important because it made both sides more scared of the other and increased tensions because everyone was scared of getting nuked by the other superpower.
What were the causes, events and consequences of the Hungarian Uprising
Causes:Nikita Khrushchev appointed Imre Nagy as the new prime minister of Hungary. Nagy believed in more freedom within the communist regime. He made some minor changes such as increasing the amount of political parties and getting rid of some Soviet troops in Hungary. Khrushchev was fine until Nov 1st 1956 when Nagy announced Hungary would be leaving the Warsaw pact.
Events: On Nov 4th 1000 Soviet Tanks entered Budapest and attacked Nagy’s followers. About 20000 Hungarians dies and Khrushchev appointed Janos Kadar as the new PM. Nagy was allowed to go free but was later kidnapped and 2 years later was tried and executed.
Consequences: The Hungarians had lost all their freedom and were too scared to fight back. The USA didn’t give support to Hungary in fear of starting a nuclear war but it made them seem unwilling to help Europe. Soviet control became stronger and relations between the 2 superpowers became tenser
What were the causes, events and consequences of the Berlin Crisis?
Causes: People in east Berlin were so near the people in West Berlin, so could see the good lives they had. This caused many people to leave communism which annoyed Khrushchev because the USSR were losing many of their most skilled workers
Events: On the 27th of November 1958 Khrushchev announced the Berlin Ultimatum- Berlin should be demilitarised and become a free city or Khrushchev would hand over control of transport to the East Berlin government. His plan was to make all of Berlin part of East Germany, which the west viewed as a way to spread communism. His threat was clever as it would force the West to acknowledge East Germany as a legitimate country. In 1959 at the Geneva meetings, the USA invited Khrushchev to talk with Eisenhower. At Camp David in September 1959 Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the Ultimatum. On May 1st 1960 the Soviets shot down a U2 spy plane and admitted to it during the Paris talk later that month. The USA denied it being a spy plane however the USSR had interrogated the pilot, Gary Powers, and because of his confession no decisions were made at the meeting. In January 1961 JFK became president. Khrushchev believed he could take advantage of Kennedy’s inexperience and reinstated the Berlin Ultimatum during the Vienna meeting in June 1961. Kennedy refused to lose Berlin and once again nothing was decided. After this Kennedy spent $2 billion on armed forces. On the night of 12th August 1961, the East German troops built a barbed wire fence around Berlin which also split East and West Berlin. Eventually an actual 165km long wall was built. Both superpowers put troops at Checkpoint Charlie in October 1961 since neither trusted the other’s border control until Kennedy promised he would remove his troops if Khrushchev removed his. On June 24th 1963 Kennedy went to Berlin and made his famous “Ich bich ein berliner” speech
Consequences: The wall stopped refugees and technically brought peace as Khrushchev no longer worried about people leaving, which prevented a war as both sides were less likely to nuke the other out of frustration or anger. However, people who tried to leave were shot, families were separated and buildings were destroyed as a consequence of the wall. JFK’s speech proved the US cared about Berlin, and highlighted the freedom of the West against the doom+gloom of the East. It also condemned the Soviets, which worried relations and increased tensions.
What were the causes, events and consequences of the bay of pigs?
Cause: Before 1959, Cuba was run by Fulgencio Batista, was very poor and under American influence. Once Castro was elected leader of Cuba, Eisenhower was worried as Castro was strong and influential. Castro’s main aim was to take Cuba out of American influence.
Events: When Kennedy became president he knew Castro would be a threat as Cuba was so close to the USA. The CIA, with permission and knowledge of both Kennedy and Eisenhower, trained Cuban exiles to attack Cuba. The reason for this was so it would seem like less of an American attack and more a Cuban one. On 17th April 1961 they landed in the Bay of Pigs. However, Castro had found out and 20000 Cuban soldiers were waiting for them. Also the USA couldn’t send reinforcements for the reason stated above, and not only did the exiles not have any military experience but they also didn’t get any help from the civilians as they liked Castro.
Consequences: The USA was humiliated and accused of building an empire, the Cuban exiles started a terrorist group called Alpha 66 who still remain a threat to the USA today. Castro became more popular and befriended Khrushchev, which led to him becoming popular and Khrushchev promising to send arms to Cuba. Kennedy warns Khrushchev to not put missiles in cuba. Khrushchev says he wont’ but does it anyway.
What were the causes, events and consequences of the cuban missile crisis?
Causes: On October 14th 1962, a U2 spy plane spotted launch pads for missiles in Cuba. Later the USA found out that ships were also coming to Cuba, probably with missiles. It would make sense for Khrushchev to put missiles in Cuba, since not only was Cuba near the USA, but NATO had missiles in Turkey.
Events: the 13 days of 1962 were very tense. 16th October-Kennedy calls an Ex comm to discuss what they should do. 20th-Kennedy suggests a naval blockade. 22nd-The USA officially announce the blockade and ask Khrushchev to remove the ships. 23rd-Khrushchev sends a letter saying his ships will break through the blockade. 24th-Soviet ships approach the blockade and Khrushchev says he’ll send nukes if war breaks. 25th-people are told to prepare for war. Kennedy asks Khrushchev to withdraw missiles. 26th-Khrushchev lies, saying he’ll remove his if the USA guarantee that they won’t invade Cuba. 27th- Khrushchev says he’ll remove his missiles if USA do the same. U2 plane gets shot. Robert Kennedy meets with him in secret and they agree to remove them as long as it’s kept secret. 28th- Khrushchev agrees the deal
Consequences: Tensions were high for a while, but lowered once both powers removed their missiles. People understood the threat more properly. People in the USA didn’t know the missiles in Turkey were taken down, so felt safer. Cuba became more secure and communist, and Kennedy became more popular
What were the causes, events and consequences of the Prague Spring?
Causes: In Czechoslovakia, the standard of life was very low. There was no freedom of speech and radio, TV and news were all censored. People who could be threats to the USSR were purged. There was no democracy and too much state spying, so when Alexander Dubcek came to power, he tried to change that and make Czechoslovakia more relaxed.
Events: When Dubcek came to power, he started to make Soviet shackles more relaxed. Censorship was relaxed, trade with the west was increased, travel freedom was increased and other Czech governments were given more power. As a result of these reforms, Brezhnev sent Warsaw pact troops to carry out manoeuvres in CS to threaten Dubcek. On August 20th 1968 500000 WP troops invaded CS. The Czech army couldn’t do anything as they were ordered to stand down, and the citizens were defenceless, so Dubcek was arrested along with 1000 other Czechs. Dubcek was sent to Moscow, forced to reverse his reforms, kicked out and replaced by Gustav Husak.
Consequences: Brezhnev made his doctrine, which stated the USSR have the right to intervene to stop any threat to the Warsaw Pact. The Prague spring ended and Soviet authorities were restored. The Soviets gained greater control of the Warsaw Pact. People recognised that the UsA weren’t taking direct action to stop crises
