Deteriorating relaitons Flashcards
Ideological differences between the USSR and the West
West - capitalism, liberty, freedom of speech, free trade, private ownership, political pluralism - multi-party rule, individuals rights are of most value, some have more power than others - hierarchical
USSR - communism, single-party rule, workers’ rights are of utmost importance, no private ownership, everything is owned by the state, classless society
Early conflict after WW1
After the Bolshevik revolution in October 1917, Russia now controlled by the Communist Bolshevik party as it was known at the time withdrew from the war and signed a peace treaty with Germany despite the other allied countries (Britain, France etc.) still fighting in the war. Russia’s capitulation most definitely weakened the allies and prolonged the war effort. The west also disagreed with many of the beliefs of the Bolshevik party and as a result, sent forces to Russia to support those who opposed Bolshevik rule in Russia to push Russia back into WW1 and overthrow the Bolsheviks, this however failed
Further geopolitical conflict in the 1920-30s
In 1938, Britain, France and other European countries decided to give some land back to Germany, most notably areas of Czechoslovakia which contained large numbers of ethnic Germans. Czechoslovakia bordered the USSR and therefore was a potential security threat, Germany and the USSR were also bitter enemies. however, when the lands were given to Germany, Stalin and the USSR was not even consulted regarding the matter which shows the deep mistrust between the west and the USSR, and that the West did not want to promote a healthy relationship
Tensions during WW2
USSR and Nazi Germany signed a pact in August 1939 right at the outbreak of WW2 to split Poland territorially in half as both countries wanted to invade Poland. The west obviously saw this as antagonistic and became greatly distrustful of the USSR. Poland was invaded by both Nazi Germany and the USSR on both sides on September 1939, this started WW2 as the allies had no choice but to declare war on Germany. USSR contributed and gave the Nazi’s confidence to invade Polish territory despite several warnings from the West that doing so would lead to a declaration of war against Germany.
The leaders of US, UK and USSR, Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin all had their own agendas and despite their union after Germany’s attempted invasion of the USSR in the June of 1941, tension and distrust still remained between the two sides due significantly to their contrasting beliefs. Churchill and Roosevelt was afraid that Stalin was trying to spread communism into Eastern Europe and was using the war as an excuse to rapidly expand. Stalin feared that the west wanted to see mutual destruction between the USSR and Germany to abolish communism and purposely delayed opening a second front until 1944.
Tehran
November 1943, Leaders of the grand alliance met to discuss how to end the War with Germany, defeat them and the governance of Germany after the War
Relations improved as a whole between the West and the USSR, the UK and US promised to open a second front in the West which would ease the pressure the Soviets were facing in the East, the USSR were also permitted to keep the land it had seized from Poland in 1939, this greatly pleased Stalin as one of his primary aims was to secure a Western Border around the USSR to shield attacks in the future. Stalin also promised to declare war against Japan and help the US. Both sides were willing to help each other with the war effort.
Grounds and plans were also laid to create an international body that would settle disputes between countries peacefully in the future, the USSR agreed to which showed the US and UK that the USSR were willing to cooperate to bring about peace in the future.
Relations deteriorated between the UK and the US. Churchill wanted to open a second front in the Balkans and not the West, Roosevelt however did not and sided with Stalin instead creating a sense of mistrust between the long-time allies. Roosevelt also accused Churchill and the UK of aggressive colonialism and believed that Britain’s colonialism was more of a threat then Stalin.
Tehran - What were the consequences and effects on relations between the three countries.
Positive:
Stalin and the USSR were quite happy as a whole, a second front initiated by America and Britain in the west would ease the insurmountable pressure on the Eastern front (USSR), moreover, the agreement on allowing the USSR keep the land claimed from Poland was of utmost importance to Stalin’s agenda - he wanted to secure the Western border of the USSR.
Negative:
There was some tension between the US and Britain, Churchill wanted to open the second front in the Balkans, Roosevelt opposed this and sided with Stalin instead of his natural ally.
Roosevelt was also critical of Britain’s ever-expansive colonialism and believed it to be more of a threat than Stalin.
Yalta
February 1945
Relations improved between the US, UK and the USSR. The countries agreed that 20 million in reparations would be paid by Germany, half of which would go to the USSR, and the Borders of Poland would return to their state in 1921 which gave the USSR quite a significant territorial gain, this greatly pleased Stalin as one of his primary aims was to secure a Western Border around the USSR. Stalin also agreed to hold free elections in Poland, this improved relations as much of the tension between the USSR and the West was due to their contrasting political beliefs and how the USSR were very authoritarian and suppressive.
Tensions arose slightly as there were disagreements between the formation of the international body- the united nations. USSR wanted to make all 16 soviet republics individual members of the UN, the UK and France however disagreed with these ideas and in the end it was decided that only Russia, Ukraine and Belarus would be admitted, this caused tensions as it disrupted Stalin’s agenda.
Potsdam
February 1945
Relations improved between the US, UK and the USSR. The countries agreed that 20 million in reparations would be paid by Germany, half of which would go to the USSR, and the Borders of Poland would return to their state in 1921 which gave the USSR quite a significant territorial gain, this greatly pleased Stalin as one of his primary aims was to secure a Western Border around the USSR. Stalin also agreed to hold free elections in Poland, this improved relations as much of the tension between the USSR and the West was due to their contrasting political beliefs and how the USSR were very authoritarian and suppressive.
Tensions arose slightly as there were disagreements between the formation of the international body- the united nations. USSR wanted to make all 16 soviet republics individual members of the UN, the UK and France however disagreed with these ideas and in the end it was decided that only Russia, Ukraine and Belarus would be admitted, this caused tensions as it disrupted Stalin’s agenda.
Yalta - impacts on relations
Positive:
The USSR was quite pleased and relations weren’t as tense. They had the largest portion regarding the territory of Germany and the reparations due. Moreover, the settlement with Poland and its borders allowed for a significant amount of territorial gain on the side of the USSR and would be beneficial to Stalin’s agenda of securing a western border.
The US and other western countries were quite pleased with the USSR’s agreement of holding free elections in Eastern Europe - this was in the eyes of the western countries a good step to contain the authoritarianism already spreading from the USSR.
Negative:
There were some tensions between the West and the USSR regarding the memberships of USSR republics in the newly established United nations - having more representing members in the untied nations would give Stalin more power and grip on it.
Moreover, Britain’s support of the London poles in the elections in Poland would oppose that of the USSR’s belief that a pro-communist party would be elected.
Potsdam - prior changes to leadership and other factors that affected talks.
- Germany surrendered and the war in Europe had ended
- Leaders of the US and Britain changed, with Harry Truman replacing Roosevelt and Clement Atlee replacing Winston Churchill.
- The USA had developed an atomic bomb which they successfully tested a day after the conference had begun
Potsdam - agreements/important decisons
- Germany would officially be split into four zones, along with Berlin which was deep inside Soviet territory.
- The USSR was allowed to take a quarter of all industrial equipment from the other four zones after Stalin wanted Germany to pay heavier reparations (Truman objected)
- No agreement was made on the governance of Eastern Europe, Truman objected to the control USSR imposed on the countries in Eastern Europe
- Truman objected to the border arrangements of Poland and wanted a government with less communist influence.
Potsdam - effects of changing leaders
The change of leaders had a drastic impact on relations:
- Clement Atlee who had just been elected was more concerned with domestic affairs and just wanted to finish the talks as soon as possible.
- Truman was much more antagonistic to Stalin and wanted to take a ‘get tough’ approach with Stalin, he had purposely delayed the testing of the atomic bomb in alignment to the conferences and was very adverse especially to the USSR’s growing sphere of influence and communist expansionism. This worsened relations significantly as hostility sparked between the two leaders.
- Both leaders were quite new to diplomatic discussions, particularly with Stalin and lacked the experience.
Potsdam - impacts on relations
Positive:
-Agreements made regarding the separating of Germany and Berlin, the countries and their leaders were united when talks were concerning the handling of their common enemy.
Negative:
-End of war with Germany meant that there was no more enemy that the powers had to face united.
-Truman opposed the ideas of governance made and imposed by the USSR, he believed Stalin was suppressing elections and would try to expand communism. Stalin wanted to ensure security and therefore wanted somewhat of a line of defence against future attacks with the Eastern European countries. Truman, however, believed that Stalin was only trying to spread communism and saw this as an act of antagonism.
-Truman objected the previous border arrangements agreed on even by his predecessors, this broke the trust between the powers and was seen by Stalin as an act of reneging. This was very much adverse to Stalin’s ideas of securing a border around the USSR.
The atomic bomb
In the month of August 1945, the USA dropped two atomic bombs on tow Japenese countries, there was an enormous number of casualties and other damages.
Although there is no substantive evidence to support this, many historians believed that the USA could’ve won the war without the use of the atomic bombs. And that these atomic bombs were more of a political/negotiating weapon against the USSR.
Truman most likely thought that pitting the USSR against this newly developed weapon would give him an edge in talks and negotiations between the two countries particularly in Potsdam.
Impacts of the atomic bomb on relations
- With the development of the new weapon, other smaller more minor countries especially those in Western Europe were keener to side with the US and they were now more secure from threats from the USSR with the atomic bomb, this would’ve worsened relations as Stalin was very determined to secure a border between the USSR and Germany and with countries more compelled to side with the US, it made the job more difficult.
- Although the atomic bomb made it harder for Stalin to control and make in Europe countries side with him, he became even more determined to gain control of more communist sympathetic countries in Eastern Europe to establish and secure a ‘buffer zone’. This is provocative to Truman’s previous objections to soviet expansionism and his belief in the USSR’s growing control over the Eastern European countries which exacerbated tensions even further.
- Since the atomic bomb is capable of catastrophic destruction, the principle of ‘MAD” or mutually assured destruction emerged In that if there was all-out war, both countries would be completely devastated, this discouraged both countries to go to war.
