Cold war Flashcards
Tehran Conference (1943)
- A second front was agreed between USA and UK
- USSR will declare war on Japan once Germany was defeated
- An international body was to be set up to settle future disputes between countries. The United Nations.
Yalta Conference (Feb 1945)
- When Germany was defeated, it would be reduced in size, demillitarised and would have to pay reparations
- The UN is to be set up
- Poland would be in the Soviet sphere of influence
Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945)
- The Nazi party was banned and war criminals were to be persecuted
- Germany was to be divided into four zones shared between Us, Uk, USSR and France
- Soviet Union would recieve 25% of the output from these other zones
Outcomes of the conferences
Depite many agreements coming out of the conferences there was a emerging tensions building between the USSR and US/UK. After Roosevelts death, Truman was appointed as president and he was much more distrustful of the USSR.
The Long Telegram (1946)
This was a secret report from the US amabassador in Moscow to Truman. It stated that the USSR saw capitalism as a threat and had to be destroyed and that the USSR were building its millitary power. It also stated that peace between communist Soviet Union and USA was not possible.
Novikov’s Telegram (1946)
From Soviet ambassador to Stalin. It said that the USA wanted world domination and was building its millitary strength and the USSR was the only country left that could stand up to the US after the war. The USA were preparing there people for war with the USSR.
What were Trumans concerns about communism
Truman was concerned about the spread of communism in Europe. Many countries were devastated after the war and had no money so therefore communism was appealing as it made sure everyone had enough money. Truman was worried that once one country became communist then many more would follow- the domino effect.
The Truman Doctorine (1947)
In this doctorine Truman stated that the spread of communism needs to be contained. He said it was bad becauae it meant people could not be free. He promised economic and millitary support to help stop the spread.
The Marshall Plan (1947)
This occured after the Truman doctirine. The US had 13 billion to help rebuild Europe. To get soke of this money you had to agree to trade with the US. 16 countries agreed to this. The USSR criticised this plan as they saw it as an attack on them.
Cominform (set up in 1947)
Got rid of any opposition to USSR control. And it encouraged communist parties in Western Europe to block Marshall Plan assistance.
Comecon (set up in 1949)
This was an alternative to the Marshall plan. It set up trade links between Comecon countries. Prevented these countries to sign up for the Marshall plan.
Berlin Blockade (1948)
Berlin was deep inside Soviet controlled Germany. The West Berlin was surrounded by the USSR’S secrion of Germany. Stalin wanted to show trizonia that a divided Germany would not work so therefore closed of all roads, train tracks and canals stopping anything betting in to Berlin. He did this to try and force the other superpowers out and give up Berlin. This was a big turning point in the Cold War.
Destalinisation in Hungary
When Stalin died and Khrushchev took over in 1956 he promised that Soviet control would relax. The Soviet Union no longer saw themselves as a dictatorship.
Issues in Hungary
In October 1956, poor harvests and bread shortages meant that Hungarians started demonstrating against communist control. Statues of Stalin taken down. Local communists were attacked.
Nagy as prime minister
Khushchev appointed Nagy as prime minister in hope that things would calm down. However Nagy wanted reforms for Hungary. He wanted Hungary to leave the Warsaw pact and for them to hold free elections. And UN protection from USSR. Khrushchev could nit let this happen as other sattelite states would follow.
