Cold War in Europe Flashcards
Why did the Grand Alliance between the Soviet Union, USA and Britain come to an end after WWII?
Absence of a common enemy - Nazi Germany
WWII weakened Europe (especially Britain & France) led to a power vacuum. With the defeat of Nazism, there was no ideology that dominated Europe. Which 2 countries emerged as superpowers after WWII?
USA & USSR
Why did USA and USSR increasingly view each other as a serious threat after WWII?
Each system (communism & capitalism) wanted to increase their sphere of influence in Europe and the world.
How would you describe the relationship between USA and USSR during the Cold War?
Worsened; fear & suspicion: distrust: increased tensions
What happened to Europe / Germany / Berlin as a result of Cold War in Europe?
(1) Divided - politically and economically (Increasingly bi-polar)
(2) arms race
There were Cold War tensions before WWII. Which event in 1918 convinced the West that a worldwide Communist revolution would mean the end of Capitalism and Democracy and they sent funds and troops to help the White Army.
Russian Civil War, 1918
The West helped the anti-communists (White Army) against the Red Army (communists under Lenin)
Stalin saw the policy of Appeasement, and the Allies reluctance to form an alliance with USSR against Germany, as a means to weaken & destroy USSR. Which event was Stalin not invited to in 1938 where the future of Czechoslovakia was discussed?
Munich Conference, 1938.
The West blamed this Pact for causing WWII as it allowed Hitler to attack Poland unopposed. Stalin saw it as a way to protect USSR from German attack. What is the name of the Pact signed in 1939?
Nazi-Soviet Pact or the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact
Which crucial event in 1944 during WWII increased Stalin’s suspicions that the West wanted to crushed Communism?
Delay in the Opening of the 2nd Front in France
The existence of the atomic bomb & its use on Japan in 1945 gave USA an atomic advantage over USSR. This increased USSR’s suspicion and fear. What did this prompted USSR to engage in?
USSR began to build its own atomic weapons. Both engaged in a nuclear arms race.
Which agreement made at Yalta & Potsdam Conference did Stalin fail to follow? Stalin saw this as creating a buffer to prevent future attack from Germany on USSR.
Free elections in Poland & Eastern Europe
Arrested non-communist leaders installed new communist government in Poland.
Extended communist sphere of influence & by 1944, controlled Eastern Europe.
Governments formed after WWII in Eastern Europe were largely dominated by Communists. Non-Communists were discredited and arrested. What is this tactic used by Stalin that saw communist governments installed in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia by 1948?
Salami tactic
What happed to Europe as a result of the extension of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe? Churchill will later refer to this as the ‘Iron Curtain’ has descended upon Europe.
Europe was divided - the Eastern communist bloc and the Western capitalist bloc.
Both Germany and Berlin (which was located in Soviet zone) was divided into 4 occupation zones. What were the aims of USSR and USA for Germany?
USSR - wanted to punish Germany economically to protect USSR from future attacks
USA - wanted Germany to recover to contain the spread of communism
Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech condemned Soviet policies in Europe for taking away the freedom of the people to choose their own government, resulting in the division of Europe. Churchill proposed the use of force to contain spread of communism. Stalin denounced this speech. What did he accuse the West of?
Starting a war.
Which article in 1947 proposed that USA should stop the isolationist policy and play a more active role in world affairs to contain the expansion of communism. This point of view became known as the policy of containment.
Kennan’s Long Telegram