Cold War GCSE Year 11 Mock Flashcards
When was the Tehran Conference?
From November-December 1943
Tehran Conference key agreements
Spheres of influence(USSR in E Europe, Britain and US in W Europe)
Western allies agreed on D-day(attack on Germany from the West) - the USA and Britain agreed to open up a second front by invading Nazi-occupied Europe.
Disagreed about Germany’s future: Stalin wanted punishment, Roosevelt and Churchill wanted rebuilding.
Foundations for the United Nations
The boundaries of Poland would he moved westwards; Poland would gain territory from Germany and lose it to the Soviet Union
When was the Yalta Conference?
February 1945
When was the Potsdam Conference?
July-August 1945
Yalta Conference features
Work for democracy in Europe by United Nations- agreed the UN would be set up. but disagreed about what was meant by ‘democracy’
Truman less willing to compromise with Stalin than Roosevelt was(Truman showed hatred of communism)
USSR Sphere of influence in Eastern Europe
Germany, when defeated, would be reduced in size, divided and demilitarised having to pay reparations.
Poland would be run pn a broader democratic basis despite being in the Soviet sphere influence
Potsdam Conference Key Features
Divide Germany and Berlin into four zones(run by USSR, Britain,France and USA)
A Council of Foreign Ministers was set up to organise the rebuilding of Europe.
Reduce size of Germany
Ban Nazi party and prosecute war criminals
The Soviet Union was to receive 25% of the output from the other three occupied zones.
Significance of Potsdam Conference
Decisions about Germany were made
Significance of Tehran Conference
About how to win WW2
Significance of Yalta Conference
What happens in Europe when WW2 finishes
Iron Curtain Speech
In 1946, Churchill says in USA to provide support to stop communism spreading further, the speech implies Stalin is a threat to much of Europe, not just Britain as he wants to control Europe.
Significance of the Iron Curtain Speech
Stalin sees this as an attack on communism and it damages his relationship with Britain.
Highlighted the breakdown of the Grand Alliance - Britain and the USA now viewed the USSR as a threat, not an ally
Truman Doctrine key features
In a speech in 1947, US president Truman showed countries faced a choice between capitalism and communism, communism was bad as it meant people could not be free and the USA tried to contain the spread of communism. He claimed the USA should provide money and troops to help free governments to combat communist takeovers.
Truman Doctrine significance
USSR feel worried and concerned - damages relationship with USA
Marshall Plan key features
Was financial support to Europe- with the idea European recovery will help contain communism $13bn of US money to rebuild post-war Europe. The Marshall Plan hoped to stop communism by making it appeal to people who had nothing to lose. It showed countries must trade with the USA to get money.
Marshall Plan significance
Stalin insisted Eastern European countries should refuse it
USSR furious at US attempt to split Europe
Hopefully for USA this would make communism less attractive and help the US economy as countries had to agree to trade with America
Makes division of Europe bigger.
Sixteen Western European countries took the money from the Marshall Plan, including Britain, France and West Germany
Organisations for Soviet response to Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
Comecon
Cominform
Both were forced upon Eastern Europe by USSR
Comecon=
Council for mutual economic assistance
Cominform=
Communist Information Bureau
When was Cominform formed?
In 1947
When was Comecon formed?
In 1949 -
What was Cominform?
The political union of Eastern Europe- organised all communist parties in Europe and arranged leadership so they’d do what Moscow told them to do. They got rid of any opposition to the Soviet Union’s control in the satellite states and encouraged communist parties in Western countries to block the Marshall Plan assistance.
What was Comecon?
The economic union of Eastern Europe- built trade links between the Comecon countries, prevented these countries signing up to the Marshall Plan
Significance of Cominform
Consolidated the power of the USSR by stamping out opposition
Tried to control Communist parties and ensure loyalty of Eastern European governments
Significance of Comecon
Political and economic division of Europe cemented
Encouraged economic development of Eastern Europe
Why was the refugee issue in Berlin a problem for the USSR by 1957?
Between 1949 and 1961, 2.7 million East Germans crossed into Aest Germany vi a West Berlin. The flow of refugees was humiliating for the USSR since people preferred living in the West.
Many were skilled workers, important to the economy in West Germany.
The existence of West Berlin as an island of capitalism with East Germany was always resented by the USSR
Causes of the Berlin Crisis
Four unsuccessful summit meetings, particularly Paris in 1960 where Khruschev storms out after Eisenhower refused to apologise about the U2 Spy Plane incident. No real solution to the Berlin crisis
The refugee crisis - Khruschev wanted to solve this problem without starting a war
Krushchev issues an ultimatum for West Europe to get out of West Berlin in Nivember 1958, occupying troops must leave in six months, but the Western powers stayed in Berlin despite this.
There was a divided Berlin, with West Berlin giving the USA a footnold inside the Soviet Eastern bloc(East Germany).
Berlin Wall features
The wall was built in August 1961 and the wall remained in place until November 1989, during which time more than 300 people were killed trying to cross it. The wall was a barbed wire fence. Anyone trying to escape was shot at - many people were killed and over 200 people lost their lives trying to cross the wall
Significance of Berlin Wall(for Khruschev)
Completely cut off West Berlin from East Germany
It stopped the refugee problem
It allowed Khrushchev to avoid war while appearing strong
Khruschev was unable to force the Western troops out of West Berlin
Humiliating the Soviets had to build a wall to keep the people of East Germany in
West Berlin= enduring symbol of freedom, the wall was a barrier between the freedoms enjoyed by the West Berliners and those denied to East Berliners.