cold war - origins (1945-1949)

Question 1

Yalta

• When and what?
• Why?
• Tension?
• How did the West react?

Answer 1

• February 1945, allies Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met in Yalta to discuss separation of post WW2 Europe. They agreed the division of Germany, liberated Eastern European countries could hold their own elections, UN was formed, declaration of liberated Europe was signed. Percentages agreement October 1944
• They were trying to achieve settlement of Europe, and future alliance and cooperation.
• Declaration of liberated Europe was interpreted by East and West regarding Poland; Germany: Stalin wanted them to remain weak but the others didn’t, so DE was to be divided in 4 power control with 2 competing ideologies; Reparations: USSR suffered a lot of damage in WW2
• Truman didn’t tell USSR about the atomic bomb because he wanted to show his power and Stalin politically took control over Poland.

Question 2

Potsdam

• What?
• Why?
• Tension?
• Reaction?

Answer 2

• July 1945, Truman, Atlee and Stalin met. They confirmed the division of Germany, Nazi party was banned and leaders on trial, Poland was to loos some territory to the SU, decided reparations which were lower than what Stalin originally wanted.
• Atlee was worried about Soviet Expansion; Truman wanted self determination for Eastern European countries; Stalin wanted Soviet security; they were trying to finish post WW2 Europe.
• Division of Germany: Stalin didn’t like spilt of Berlin; Poland: it had been taken over by SU; Atomic bomb: Truman didn’t tell Stalin about bomb until now so USSR was now distrustful; Red Army occupation: USSR army in East Europe meant Stalin had an advantage in the negotiations.
• Stalin started to tighten his control in Eastern Europe, C + R became coalition, H,P+B became full communist. Shows he was distrusting and wanted a buffer zone, and to spread communism

Question 3

Dropping of Atomic Bomb

• what?
• why?
• tensions?
• retaliation?

Answer 3

• 6th August 1945 on Hiroshima and 9th August on Nagasaki. Truman dropped 2 atomic bombs to quickly end WW2 in Japan. In Hiroshima, 78,000 killed instantly, 140,000 died by the end of the year. It cost the USA $2000 million to develop
• USA wanted revenge on pearl harbour in 1941; to save resources; to have power over the SU and to swiftly end the war in Japan because SU were preparing a land invasion so it could a foothold in Asia but USA didn’t want this as it expands SU influence and communism
• it worried the SU as they saw USA had lots of power and a powerful weapon they didn’t own. This meant USA had the upper hand and it betrayed Stalins trust as they didn’t tell him before
• the SU developed nuclear weapons in summer 1949 to keep up and strengthened their control in east Europe and sphere of influence.

Question 4

Spread of Soviet influence 
What
Why 
Why did it worry the west
What was USA reaction

Answer 4

• End of WW2 in Europe between 1945-50; Stalin took control of most of east Europe (BCHRYP); he turned these countries communist, e.g Poland, Bulgaria and hungry 1945, and Czechoslovakia and Romania had coalition in 1945 but in 1948 Czech and in 1947 Romania became communist
• Stalin was invaded 3 times through Poland in the 21st century so he wanted a buffer zone to protect the USRR and want countries to be loyal to him; after atomic bomb he was very distrustful of non-communist countries
• The west saw this as an aggressive move to spread communism across Europe. The west were annoyed as he took over Poland without telling anyone which suggested he just wanted the power. In the end Stalin didn’t allow free elections
• In retaliation, USA created the Truman doctrine (1947) which said USA would support containment of communism and the Marshall plan shortly followed and action this

Question 5

Truman doctrine
What
Why
Why was SU worried 
What was their reaction

Answer 5

• in 1947, Truman created a policy that said USA would support any country that supported the containment of communism
• in February 1947, it was very likely that communion would take hold in Turkey and Greece and USA didn’t like this as they saw it as a serious threat to the world; RED SCARE- didn’t want it spreading to USA
• SU saw it as an aggressive attack on communism, called it ‘dollar imperialism’ and felt USA were trying to dominate and weaken his hold on Europe
• Stalin created Cominform in 1948 to coordinate communist governments in East-Europe to tighten his control for communism and east Europe

Question 6

Marshall plan 
What
Why
Why was SU worried 
What was their reaction

Answer 6

• April 1948-Dec 1951, by George C Marshall. It provided economic aid from USA to East and West Europe to help them after WW2. Supplied 13.15bn in form of resources and money. Helped countries like UK, Greece, West Germany and Yugoslavia
• USA wanted to ensure political and economic unity, promote capitalism as they offered help to countries increasing GDPs as much as 25%, to demote communism as they didn’t offer help and gave capitalism popularity, and to have a strong trading partner in west Europe
• SU were worried as it made communism less popular, it prevented communism spreading as much and USA was now involved in European affairs.
• They forbade countries from applying, but Yugoslavia did and were removed from behind the iron curtain. Started blockading the west from entering West Berlin via trains and roads. Formed Comecon in 1947 which was where trade was coordinated in east Europe so avoided need for countries to apply for Marshall aid

Question 7

Berlin blockade

• what
• why
• problems for west
• reaction

Answer 7

• 21st June 1948- 12th May 1949 SU launched a full scale blockade, transport links like trains and roads were blocked into West Berlin. No fuel, food or medical supplies could reach non soviet part and 2.5 million inhabitants were affected.
• western allies wanted Germany to rebuild so they wouldn’t have to support its economy but the SU wanted them to stay weak. March 1948 west united sectors to form Bizonia then Trizonia and introduced a new currency called the Deutschmark. They didn’t consult Stalin first at an allied council meeting. Stalin wanted total removal of western officials in Berlin so he’d have greater control over the country.
• The west now couldn’t supply their 2.5 million inhabitants with resources and made them look weak against Stalin and communism
• Truman and Atlee refused to give in; they counter blockaded, stopped trains travelling out of West Berlin into the soviet zone but this had little impact. 26th June 1948 they began the Berlin airlift which lasted until 12th May 1949

Question 8

Berlin Airlift

• what
• why
• tensions for SU
• actions of both sides

Answer 8

• 26th June 1948-12th May 1949. Military operation that brought food and other supplies to the West Berliners. At its peak they were delivering 4600 tonnes per day and a plane was arriving every 3 minutes. Easter parade: 15th April; 12,000 tonnes of supplies in 24hrs
• Because SU had blockaded travel routes into Berlin which was on 24th June. They needed to supply West Berlin otherwise they might be forced out of Berlin which would be a major victory for the SU and communism
• lasted until 12th may 1949 and it made the SU looked weak as their plan had failed. He had hoped for a bad winter as it would ground planes but this didn’t occur. Tensions rose and a hot war seemed a possibility but USA were the only ones with nuclear weapons so SU felt threatened.
• 23rd may 1949, the west formed the German Federal Republic and October 1949 SU formed German Democratic Republic. Which means Germany was clearly divided by two competing political ideologies. April 1949; west forms NATO which includes UK, USA and 10 other countries.