Core CO Flashcards
Reasons for Tension between the USA and the USSR?
Staling frustrated at appeasement in the 1930’s
(He thought that the allies were purposely allowing the Nazis to get closer to him)
Led to the Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939
Fear of Communism - Britain scared after 1917 bloody revolution
Britian + USA provide arms to Russian groups trying to overthrow the communists in Russian Civil War
Different Motives -Stalin wanted to kill the Nazis whereas Winston believed in the Nuremburg Trials
USA and USSR emerged as “two superpowers” from war
What where the aims of the Yalta conference, when was it, who led it?
February 1945
It was clear Germany was losing the war, so the Big 3 allied leaders, met at Yalta to plan what happened after Germany’s defeat
Agreements at the Yalta conference?
Stalin agreed to enter war against Japan and would gain territory lost to Japan during the 1904-5 Russo-Japanese War, and Outer Mongolia and Manchuria would become “Soviet spheres of influence”
Germany would be divided into 4 zones as well as Berlin
Reperations of 20 Billion for Germany with half going to the USSR
What was the agreement on Elections by the Big 3 at the Yalta Conference?
Countries liberated from occupation by the German army, would be allowed to hold free elections to choose the government they wanted
What was the agreement on UN by the Big 3 at the Yalta Conference?
All agreed to join the UN organisation.
Consisted of all the countries that were at war with Germany
What were the agreements on War Criminals by the Big 3 at the Yalta Conferene?
Agreed to hunt down and punish war criminals who were responsible for the genocide by trying them in an international court of justice
What were the agreements on Eastern Europe by the Big 3 at the Yalta Conference?
“Soviet Sphere of Influence” as 20 million soviets were killed so they were concerned about their security
What were the agreements on Poland by the Big 3 at the Yalta Conference?
Soviet’s border of Poland would move westwards as long as they didn’t intervene in Greece as Britian were attempting a communist takeover
Why wasn’t the Yalta agreement formally written down?
So they don’t have to comply
So nobody can twist their words
When was the Potsdam Conference?
July-August 1945
What were the 4 things that affected the Potsdam Conference?
Stalin’s armies were occupying most of eastern Europe
America had a new president
On 12 April 1945 Roosevelt died. He was replaced with V-President, Harry Truman who was previously a farmer in Missouri.
.He was much more Anti-Communist
.Inexperienced at dealing with international affairs
. Writing to his secretary state “Unless Russia is forced with an iron fist”
The Allies had tested an atomic bomb
.Stalin felt threatened and betrayed
.Less likely to agree
.Feels more confident, has one up over Truman
Britain had a new prime minister
.USSR may try and take the advantage over Clement Ately
.Produces Britain as weaker as Ately is less interested in Foreign affairs
Disagreements at Potsdam?
Germany- Stalin wanted it crippled but Truman didn’t want to repeat the mistake of T.of.V
-Rejected the USSR’s desire to gain access to Germany’s industrial heartland in the Ruhr
Reparations- Stalin wanted compensation but Truman disagreed but Truman didn’t want to repeat T.of.V and saw a revived Germany as a barrier to future Soviet expansion
Eastern Europe- Truman wanted free elections whereas Stalin wanted a “soviet sphere of influence” as previously mentioned in the Yalta Conference
Poland
Japan- Stalin wanted to gain a foothold in Japan, but Truman rejected this
Agreements on the Potsdam Conference?
- Polish/German border was to be moved westwards and settled at the Oder-Neisse Line
- Germany would be denazified, War crime trials would also be held in Japan and Germany
- Democracy would be re-established in Germany, with free elections, a free press, and freedom of speech
- Germany would be governed by an Allied Control Council in Berlin where ach decision requires a unanimous verdict and the country would be treated as a single economic unit
- Each Country was allowed to take reperations from its own zone of occupation
The USSR could also take some equipment from the industrialised western zones
Post-Potsdam Problems?
- Soveits focused on collecting reperations whereas Britain and the USA believed that production from the factories in their zones should be traded for agricultural produce in the Soviet Zone. The Soviets disagreed, the Americans had to pay for food imports themselves
- In may 1946, the commander of the US zone, General Clay, stopped delivering reperations to the Soviets , and 2 months later merged the US and British zones into a single economic unit called “Bizonia”
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Why did the Soviet Union Expand in 1946?
Memories of what happened 1918-39 - most Eastern European countries had been hostile to the USSR. (Poland signed a non-agression pact with France)
Percentage Deals -
Strategic Importance of Poland
Security
Soviet Expansionism
How did the Soviet Union Expand?
Soviets freed up most of Europe from Nazi control. The Red army remained in occupation and the USSR established communist governments that were closely controlled from Moscow
.Communists took over Civil Service, Media, Security and Defence
.Opposition Leaders forced to flee or arrested
.Fixed Elections were held to ensure support for communists
. “People’s democracies” were set up
What were the effects of Soviet expansion?
Britain and the US were alarmed at Soviet expansion
-They thought that it would be a “sphere of influence” and not complete dominance.
There was a major different in outlook between Stalin and the USA
What was the “Iron Curtain” Speech?
Churchill goes on Holiday and boards train with Truman and tells him he wants to give a speech on the USSR.
He also told Ately but made it seem like a minor speech
He intended it to be broadcasted live
Truman had read the speech beforehand
Evidence for Churchill’s speech starting the Cold War?
Soviets saw it as a direct attack
It polarized the world
No diplomacy beforehand –> essentially frames the west against the east
Churchill in particular valued the special relationship with America –> US + Britain Vs USSR
Evidence against Churchill’s speech starting the Cold War?
Threat of Atomic Bomb more significant
Truman’s attitude more significant
The actions of the USSR in E-Europe post Potsdam was the key to the start of the Cold War –> Went against the agreement for free elections
