Cold War - Individuals

Question 1

Molotov

Answer 1

A loyal supporter of Stalin - Foreign Minister 1939 to 1949, and again from 1954 to 1957.

Considered a cause of increased East-West tensions, leading Soviet representative at Yalta and Potsdam.

Question 2

Wladyslaw Gomulka

Answer 2

Deputy PM of Poland,
1945 helped crush any opposition to communism in Poland, in 1947 he supported the rigged elections. But 1948 he was accused of nationalist deviation, replaced by pro-Stalinist Bierut.

Question 3

Edvard Benes

Answer 3

Led Czechoslovak government in exile during WW2.

Not communist but willing to work with Stalin.

He returned as a Czech president in 1946, he tried and failed to resist a communist dominated government, resigned in 1948 - left Czechoslovakia under pro-Moscow commie control.

Question 4

Tito

Answer 4

Communist leader of Yugoslavia, already communist without Soviet intervention after WW2, one of founding members of Cominform, but also first to reject Soviet dominance
Cold War stance was non-alignment with neither East nor West
Led to Stalin and Tito tensions, Yugoslavs refused to be Soviet puppets, June 1948 Yugoslavia expelled from Cominform, USA offered economic aid to help it survive

Question 5

George Kennan

Answer 5

In US Embassy in Moscow - often attributed with responsibility fo persuading Truman to commit the USA to the containment of communism and to controlling the international power of the USSR. Sent Long Telegram, founded containment?

Question 6

Andrei Zhdanov

Answer 6

Hardline Stalinist, responsible for developing Cominform, his passiveness with Czechoslovakia led to his dismissal from office in 1948

Zhandov Doctrine - Created the idea of two global camps, imperial USSR and democrat USSR, transferred to Soviet cultrual olicy

Question 7

Dean Acheson

Answer 7

One of Marshall Plan architects, US Secretary of State from 1949 to 1953.

Played key role in shaping US policy towards Europe, committed to concept of containment.

Also believed in containing communism in Asia, global containment.

Question 8

Andrey Vyshinsky

Answer 8

Attended Yalta and Potsdam, managed consolidation of power in Romania.

Sycophantic Stalinist.

Question 9

Lucius Clay

Answer 9

Military governor of US zone in Germany since 1947, very influential in shifting US policy towards Germany.
Advocated reconstruction of German economy other its dismemberment. Influenced Marshall Plan, contributed significantly to division of Germany by 1949.

Question 10

Konrad Adenauer

Answer 10

First chancellor of West Germany.

Committed anti-communist, firmly supported Western-orientated foreign policy aimed at strengthening West Germany and ensuring its security.
Oversaw political and economic recovery of West Germany post-war.

Question 11

Shigeru Yoshida

Answer 11

Supporter of Japanese imperialism, ‘rehabilitated’ after WW2.
Focused on Japanese economic recovery, accepted US protection for Japan - ‘Yoshida Doctrine’ - closer relationship with US.

Question 12

Mao Zedong

Answer 12

Founder of CPP, established PRC in 1949, October.
Hard-line communist, uncompromising attitude towards West.

Question 13

John Dulles

Answer 13

Brother of the head of CIA.

Saw USSR as strategically and ideologically expansionist.
Developed ‘roll back’ and ‘new look’ policy under Eisenhower.
This shift in policy was aimed at taking the offensive against communism over simply containing it.

Question 14

Jiang Jieshi

Answer 14

(also Chang Kai-Shek)
KMT leader (non communist during civil war China)
Chinese nationalist, anti-communist leader.
Exiled after CCP victory, became Republic of China leader.

Question 15

Kim Il Sung

Answer 15

Soviet-groomed North Korean leader

Exploited growing Cold War tensions surrounding Korea to help further his aim of becoming leader of entirety of Korea.

Question 16

Syngman Rhee

Answer 16

Lived in USA for 40 years, supported by USA.

Similarly to Kim il Sung, used post-war international relations to suit his needs.

Question 17

Zhou Enlai

Answer 17

First Premier of PRC
Focused on consolidating Communist Party’s power in China and restructuring economy. Following the stalemate in Korea, his thinking shifted to peaceful cooperation with the West as the most efficient way to preserve China as a powerful communist state.

Question 18

Joseph McCarthy

Answer 18

Failing senator who jumps on the opportunity of self promotion through the maximisation of the Red Scare.

Exploited anti-communist anxieties at time.

Discredited after accusing US army of being soft on communist 1954.

Question 19

Ho Chi Minh

Answer 19

Staunch communist and nationalist, North Vietnam leader, engineered Dien Bien Phu victory.

Question 20

Diem

Answer 20

First president of 1955 created South Vietnam, appeared to be strong candidate to fight communism - proved a miscalculation by 1963.

Question 21

Khrushchev

Answer 21

Swung between attitudes of cooperation and aggression and provocations.

Question 22

Imre Nagy

Answer 22

Prime Minister in Hungary, proposed a ‘new course’ of socialism, challenged oppressive control from Moscow. Led to his dismissal.

Led 1956 Hungarian Uprising, fled, executed.

Question 23

Kennedy

Answer 23

Committed anti-communist, willing to take resolute stand against USSR.
Determined to use containment as foundation for US foreign policy.

Question 24

Henry Cabot Lodge

Answer 24

experienced political player, served as US ambassador to Vietnam, viewed Diem as a liability and was eager to remove him - hence he was complicit in coup to remove Diem

Question 25

Robert McNamara

Answer 25

member of Kennedy’s close team, made significant contribution to ending mass retaliation strategy of Eisenhower and moving USA to a more flexible position based on non-nuclear warfare and expansion of conventional forces.

Question 26

Fidel Castro

Answer 26

Revolution 1959, became Prime Minister of Cuba.
Developed Cuba as a communist state after US made it clear that they were unwilling to cooperate with him.
Many regard his regime as a dictatorship.

Question 27

Che Guevara

Answer 27

Committed to social revolution and communism, joined Castro.

Question 28

Batista

Answer 28

Dictator of Cuba, overthrown by Castro in 1959. Ran country as anti-communist stronghold and ruthlessly suppressed opposition to his corrupt regime. Received economic and military aid from USA.

Question 29

Anastas Mikoyan

Answer 29

Close ally of Stalin, loved Castro’s revolution saying it reminded him of his youth.
Stayed in government under Brezhnev, influential on policy and relations between USSR and Cuba.

Question 30

Brezhnev

Answer 30

Presided over Salt 1, Nuclear Non-proliferation Pact, responsible for the Soviet Afghanistan invasion 1979

Question 31

Gerald Ford

Answer 31

After Nixon’s resignation, he became President in 1974, lost in 1976 to Jimmy Carter in election due to his complicity in Watergate scandal and Vietnam.

Question 32

Margaret Thatcher

Answer 32

Instrumental in being intermediary between Reagan and Gorbachev which allowed Cold War to come to an end.

Question 33

Pope John Paul 2

Answer 33

influenced collapse of communism in Poland

Question 34

Andropov

Answer 34

lifelong member of communist party, director of KGB, KAL 007

Question 35

Salvador Allende

Answer 35

Chile democratically elected president, overthrown by US backed coop. - brought 41 years of Chilean democracy to an end.

Question 36

Kohl

Answer 36

Chancellor of West Germany, USSR feared a resurgent Germany, through his diplomacy he gave assurances that led to USSR accepting reunification in 1990.