Cold War Relations Flashcards
1
Q
when + why did Stalin create comecon
A
- 1949
- to give financial aid to communist countries
2
Q
what was the iron curtain
A
- the division between the communist countries of E Europe and capitalist countries of W Europe
3
Q
why did Stalin want E Europe countries to have communist gov + how did W Europe allies conceive this as
A
- to prevent USSR from being invaded as it had been by Nazi Germany 1941
> to W.E allies it looked like USSR had taken over the whole of E Europe
4
Q
President Harry Truman took a tough anti-communist line called the Truman Doctrine which was based on:
A
- containing the USSR within its current areas of influence + not allowing it to spread
- promising to support any nations that wished to resist communist (what Truman called totalitarian) governments being forced upon them
5
Q
when was Cominform created + what was it
A
- 1947
- co-ordinate economic policies between communist countries of E Europe
6
Q
what was the Marshall plan
A
- $13 billion given to capitalist countries to rebuild after the war
7
Q
why did Stalin introduce the Berlin Blockade
A
- his fears about the Marshall Plan + Allied decision to introduce new currency in W Zones led to his decision to blockade Berlin
7
Q
when did Stalin begin the Berlin Blockade
A
- June 1948
7
Q
what did the Berlin blockade result in the allies doing
A
- allies decided to airlift supplies for the 2.4 million W Berliners with food, fuel and other essential supplies
> known as Berlin airlift
8
Q
what did Stalin do in the Berlin Blockade
A
- began cutting of road + rail links between Berlin and west
9
Q
how long did the Berlin Airlift last
A
11 months
9
Q
how many flights happened in the Berlin Airlift + extra details abt them
A
- 278,000 flights
> every 30 seconds a flight left from Germany to Berlin - 2.4 million tons carried at a cost of more than $200 million
- new airport built at Tegel to reduce congestion at other Berlin airports
10
Q
when was the Berlin Blockade lifted + why
A
- May 1949
- because Stalin realised that the blockade was not working + didn’t want to risk a full-scale war and so called it off
11
Q
what were the results of the Berlin Blockade + airlift
A
- 2 separate German countries created
- Berlin became symbol of opposition to the spread of communism
- USA (1949) set up NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) as a military alliance to protect from Soviet Russia
> Soviets retaliated with Warsaw Pact 1955 - Cold war continues for another 40 years
11
Q
how long did the Berlin Blockade happen
A
- June 1948 - May 1949
> 11 months
11
Q
when did stalin die
A
5 Match 1953
12
Q
what was created in 1950s by E German gov to stop citizens fleeing to west + did it work
A
- ‘inner German border’
> guards ordered to shoot anyone who wasn’t supposed to be there
> however many E German citizens easily walked into W Berlin to escape into W Germany
12
Q
what factors led to the building of the Berlin Wall
A
- many E Germans fleeing to W G
> 2.5 million fled by August 1961 - concerned about W Berlin’s challenge to E German communism + W Berlin being a base for capitalist spies
- Berlin becoming issue in wider Cold War
> 1961, soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev publicly declared that all of Berlin was part of E Germany + threatened military action against W Berlin
13
Q
Describe the Berlin Wall
A
- 155km perimeter around W Berlin
- massive stone wall + barbed wire on top + gunned positions
- second barrier between the walls - nicknamed ‘Death Strip’
- specially constructed checkpoints for entry into E Berlin
> special permits required which could only be bough in E Germany with W German currency
> most famous checkpoint called ‘Checkpoint Charlie’ which only non-Germans could cross into the East
14
Q
when was the Berlin Wall built + by whom
A
- 13 August 1961
- E German gov, under instructions from USSR began to construct the wall which divided E + W Berlin
- ‘anti-fascist protective wall’
14
Q
who was Peter Fetcher
A
- he attempted to escape E Germany via the Berlin wall on 17 August 1962 to see his sister
- as he climbed the barbed wire he was shot + fell into the Death Strip to slowly bleed to death
14
Q
why was the USA powerless in removing the wall
A
- they were powerless in removing the wall without risking a nuclear war
14
Q
How was the Berlin Wall efficient for East Germany
A
- slowed exodus of people from east to west
- wages rose
- consumer items became more readily available
- more likeable careers in technical professions began to appear as industrial + agricultural production increased
15
Q
how many ppl were estimated to have been shot by trying to escape across the Berlin wall
A
- between 1961 - 1989 nearly 100 people shot
16
how long did the Berlin wall survive for + what was it a symbol of
- 28 yrs
- symbol of cold war + a divided Germany
16
who was W Germany's new army 'Bundeswehr' supervised by
- Hitler's leading general who had been imprisoned for war crimes + was let out of jail
> he advised + supervised the army
16
how many soldiers were in the Bundeswehr in 1961 + 1970s
- 1961 = 350,000
- 1970s = 500,000
> second largest army in NATO
16
when was the Hallstein Doctrine introduced + by whom
- 1955
- Chancellor Adenauer
17
what was the Hallstein Doctrine
- if any country, besides the USSR, formally recognised East Germany's existence, then W Germany would consider this to be an unfriendly act + cut of all diplomatic relations with that country
17
what was E Germany's new army + when was it created
- National People's Army
> created 1956
17
in the 1980s, USA + USSR were doing what
- USA stationed their nuclear missiles in W Germany
- USSR stationed their nuclear missiles in E Germany
18
what was the Brezhnev Doctrine
- new leader of USSR, Brezhnev
> declared that USSR wouldn't allow countries of E Europe to reject communism
> 'even if it meant a third world war'
19
who was Willy Brandt
West German:
- foreign minister from 1966
- chancellor from 1969
- also been mayor of W Berlin during building of Berlin Wall
20
why was Willy Brandt so important
- he was the most important politician to improve relations between E + W
21
what was Willy Brandt's policy called
- Ostpolitik (Eastern policy)
22
what did Ostpolitik invove
- 1970 Moscow Treaty
- 1970 Warsaw Treaty
- Brandt leaning in homage at memorial of Polish jews killed by Nazis
- 1971 Four Powers Treaty
- 1972 Basic Treaty
23
what was the 1970 Moscow Treaty
- non-aggression agreement between W Germany + USSR
24
what was the 1970 Warsaw Treaty
- agreement with Poland which recognised Poland's acquisition of territory that had once belonged to Germany
- allowed Germans remaining in Poland to return to W Germany
25
Why was Brandt kneeling in homage at the memorial to Polish Jews killed by Nazis in Warsaw ghetto criticised
- it was criticised by the Germans who had lost their homes in Poland at the end of war
26
What was the 1971 Four Powers Treaty
- with USSR
- both sides accepted the division of Berlin as permanent
27
What was the 1972 Basic Treaty
- between E + W Germany
- agreed to exchange diplomatic missions, increase cross-border contacts and trades and respect each other’s independence
> although W Germany’s constitution still committed to reunify both Germanies + was still possible for E German citizens to claim citizenship in W Germany
28
When did Brandt receive a Nobel Peace Price for recognition of his efforts
- 1971
29
What were some immediate effects of Ostpolitik
- both countries joined United Nations in 1973
- travel + communications were easier
> trade increased throughout 1970s
- allowed E Germans to participate more fully in international sporting events
30
What was one of the most successful policies in terms of improving relations between capitalist + communist worlds in 1960s and 1970s
- Ostpolitik
> Howe the Berlin Wall remained as a physical reminder of their political division
