DEVELOPMENT OF COLD WAR Flashcards
Features of iron curtain speech
- establishes communism as common enemy -> division between communism and capitalism (iron curtain)
- alleviating fear of another war
- draws line between east and west - calling on harshness to ussr, shouldn’t be given atomic bomb secrets
- fear/lack of support fir ussr - threatens peace in Europe
- yet still has sympathy for ussr and expresses gratitude
How did the ussr takeover Poland and how far is control established?
Takeover methods
- march 1945 - representatives of London poles arrested tortured and confessed to working with Germany in show trials
- polish communist leader ensured peasant party was intimidated (arrests and executions)
- January 1947 - rigged elections, communist led bloc gets 80% vote
Control
- Stalin gains control in country where communism isnt popular (fear, intimidation and infiltration of left wing parties)
- repeated this over Eastern Europe
How did the ussr takeover Romania and how far is control established?
Takeover methods
- November 1946 elections - increased popularity of communist led coalition by making decision to redistribute land to peasantry
- ballot rigging and intimidation of other parties led to winning of communist party
- Red army arrests opposition members and imprisons them
- king abdicates and country becomes one party state
Control
- by 1952 control is firm
How did the ussr takeover Bulgaria and how far is control established?
Takeover methods
- October 1944 - invaded by Red army
- 1945 - rigged elections
- 1946 - monarchy abolished
- 1947 - petkov executed, leaders of opposition parties
Control
- tight control - order directly from ussr
How did the ussr takeover Hungary and how far is control established?
Takeover methods
- 1944 - Churchill and Stalin decided 50/50 split in percentages agreement
- 1945 - coalition govt established with communist minority (in charge of trade and agriculture) - Stalin more cautious
- gain popularity with land redistribution
- November 1945 - communists win 17% parliamentary seats in free elections
- communist leader Nagy is head of police - intimidates non communists/leaders of opposition parties
- august 1947 - rigged elections
Control
- complete control by 1948
List key points about Novikov (ussr) telegram and its impact on international relations
Key points
- usa foreign policy has changed - expected to join war last minuted for minimal effort
- europe leaves war with terrible economy -> USA capitalises from this exporting to countries
- ussr stronger than pre war period -> independent foreign policy and economic aid to neighbouring countries
- USA military growing - many bases abroad and enormous budget
- usa views uk as greatest competitor but uk views as allies (conflicting relationship)
- discuss a third war - against ussr, atomic bomb
Impact on international relations
- decrease in trust, causing suspicion
- believe usa want world supremacy - power hungry
- paranoia over atomic bomb - unfounded fear of usa
List key points about long (usa) telegram and its impact on international relations
Key points
- warning Truman of ussr intentions - destabilising capitalism/west
- soviet sphere no longer has individual rights
- Stalin attacks ideas of coexistence of usa and ussr
- communist propaganda machines in motion
Impact on international relations
- encourages Truman to take harsher approach on ussr to contain communism
Explain Truman’s part in the war on words 1946
Key points
- USA receives request from Greece for financial aid against communism
- $400 million to Greece and turkey
- uk fails to provide aid - weakening country
- early fear of domino effect
Impact on international relations
- uk becomign weaker - shift in global power
- system of superpowers emerging
- Truman calls Greek communists terrorists
Explain Stalins part in the war on words 1946
Key points
- iron curtain speech - deliberate provocation
- usa aiming for world domination
- exaggeration of control ussr has
- compared to Churchill to hitler
- English speaking countries saw themselves as superior
Impact on international relations
- war of words - direct attacks, more countries involved
What was the Truman doctrine 1947
- 12 march 1947 - Truman promises to support countries resisting communism
- send military and financial aid (first done with Greece) -> Greek civil war communism v monarchy
- poverty seen as breeding ground for communism
- policy of containment
What was Marshall plan/aid 1947
- over $17 billion provided to Europe (1/4 goes to west Germany) -> protect against communism
- action intended in Truman doctrine
- countries that want financial aid will need to go to Paris conference to make case -> check where money is going (element of control)
What was Cominform 1947
- set up September 1947 to oppose Truman doctrine
- controlled by ussr to coordinate communist parties across Europe and disseminate anti usa propaganda
- members of Cominform banned from attending Paris talks (where they request aid)
What was Comecon 1949
- set up in 1949
- opposition to Marshall aid
- coordinate economies of communist countries - created one big economic zone
- limited aid offered but ensured that state owned economies were imposed on Eastern Europe
- money to repair themselves
list the consequences of the berlin blockade
- stalins threat to berlin and takeover of czechoslovakia meant 12 countries started nato in april 1949
- german federal republic joined nato in may 1955 - ussr forms an equivalent
east & west germany - 23rd may 1949 - trizonia becomes federal republic of germany
- october 1949 - german democrat republic formed
what was operation vittles
11 months food and supplies were flown into berlin
1 1/2 million tonnes were carried
