Development of the cold War Flashcards
The impact on US-Soviet relations of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan,
1947.
The Truman Doctrine promised that the USA would help any country threatened by
Communism
Marshall Plan was $17bn to help war damaged European countries to recover (also
to stop them turning to communism) Marshall Aid was offered to all the countries of
Europe but Stalin ordered E Europe to refuse it as he didn’t want to make
communism look weak
The significance of Cominform (1947), Comecon (1949) and the formation of NATO
(1949)
Stalin set up COMINFORM in 1947. Its job was to keep the activities
of the communist parties in Europe in line with the Soviet Union.
In 1949 Stalin created COMECON to control the economies of Eastern Europe
countries under Soviet influence.
In 1949 the US and Western Europe made a military alliance, the North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). NATO agreed that if one member was
attacked, all members would come to their defence
What were the key features of the Berlin blockade/ airlift
STALIN WAS DETERMINED TO FORCE THE WEST ALLIES TO LEAVE BERLIN. He set up a
military blockade around West Berlin in June 1948. He hoped to force the
allies out
How did the Berlin Blockade change relations between the superpowers?
Stalin was made to look very aggressive – the West won a big
propaganda victory
What were NATO and the Warsaw Pact?
In 1949 the US and Western Europe made a military alliance, the North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). NATO agreed that if one member
was attacked, all members would come to their defence. In 1955, W
Germany also joined.
2. In 1955 the USSR set up the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance that tied
the countries of Eastern more closely to Moscow.
What were the key features of the nuclear arms race that developed in the
years 1945-53?
The Arms Race was a race between the superpowers to build bigger and
more destructive weapons.
The USA first used a nuclear bomb in japan in 1945, by 1949 the USSR
had caught up. By 1953 both countries had the more powerful hydrogen
bomb (H Bomb) and large numbers of weapons were developed
throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
Soviet Control of Hungary
What were the key features of Soviet control in Eastern Europe?
People living in Eastern Europe were unhappy for many reasons:
- Communism had been forced upon them.
- In all communist states, there were no other political parties allowed.
- There was no freedom of speech and the state controlled the media
- The standard of life was generally low
Why did people expect improvements after Stalin died?
In the USA there was a new President, Eisenhower – more friendly.
Stalin died in 1953 - new Soviet leader Khrushchev seemed to be more
moderate.
He spoke about peaceful co-existence with the West
In 1955 Khrushchev withdrew Soviet troops from Austria.
In 1956 Khrushchev surprised many by attacking Stalin and
beginning a programme of de-Stalinisation.
However, still wanted to keep a firm grip on Europe - set up the Warsaw
Pact in 1955.
Why did protests start in Budapest?
Hungarians wanted to get rid of RAKOSI, the ‘mini-Stalin’ Prime Minister.
At first Khrushchev seemed to accept the need for change and ordered
the replacement of Rakosi for IMRE NAGY, a more moderate
communist.
But Nagy introduced reforms:
1. He set up a NEW GOVERNMENT WHICH INCLUDED NON-COMMUNISTS.
2. Called FREE ELECTIONS.
3. Announced HUNGARY’S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE WARSAW PACT.
Why and how did the Soviet’s crush the Hungarian uprising?
Khrushchev could not afford to let Hungary break free as other countries
in Eastern Europe would follow so he ordered an invasion.
There was bitter street fighting; Thousands of Hungarians and Soviet
troops were killed in the fighting and Nagy was arrested and executed.
How did the West react to the uprising and the Soviet invasion?
The Hungarians called on the West for help. Western leaders spoke
out against the Soviets, but did nothing:
1. It was afraid that military action would lead to war.
2. GB, Fr and USA were focussed on the Suez Crisis.
Why did Khrushchev wanted the western allies out of Berlin
Many thousands of people had escaped from East to West, since the end of the
Blockade in May 1949. 2.7mrefugeesleftEasternEuropebetween1949and
1961!
Most refugees were well educated; engineers, teachers, doctors, lecturers.
The Communist countries needed these people to modernise its industry &
agriculture.
All this was a propaganda disaster for communism: it proved people preferred
to live in a capitalist system rather than a communist one.
November 1958 – Khrushchev announced that the whole of Berlin belonged to East
Germany and he gave the USA a 6 month ultimatum to withdraw troops
How did Eisenhower and Kennedy deal respond the Soviets’ demand?
The US were never going to give in to Soviet pressure but they also didn’t want to
start a war so they met at 4 different summit meetings to discuss a solution
GenevaSummit meeting,May1959 – nothing agreed, but laid the grpund
work for future discussions
CampDavidSummit,Sept1959 - after frank discussions, Khrushchev agreed to
withdraw his 6 month ultimatum, and they agreed to another meeting:
ParisSummit,May1960– a disaster. Just before, an American U2 spy plane
was shot down over Soviet air space. The pilot Gary Powers was put on trial in
Moscow. Khrushchev was able to use the incident to embarrass the USA and
stormed out of the meeting when Eisenhower refused to apologise.
ViennaConferenceJune1961– Kennedy had replaced Eisenhower. Khrushchev
tried to put pressure on the new president by renewing the call on US troops
to leave Berlin.
Kennedy responded by increasing US defence spending by $3.2bn and $207m
on nuclear shelters.
By 1961, the superpowers had reached a stalemate over Berlin
Why did Khrushchev order the building of the Berlin Wall?
After the U2 incident and Kennedy’s disastrous attempt to invade Cuba (Bay of
Pigs 1961), Khrushchev thought Kennedy could be pushed around. He
decided that the time was right to cut West Berlin off from East Berlin
During the night on 12 August 1961, the East German government surrounded
Berlin with barbed wire, closed the border between East and West Berlin. On 15
August construction of the Berlin Wall began.
The Wall remained in place until November 1989, during which time more
than 300 people were killed trying to cross it.
What was the impact of the Berlin wall?
It stopped East Germans escaping to the West, and therefore ended the refugee
crisis.
Khrushchev looked strong but did not have to fight a war.
The wall became a powerful symbol of communist strength as well as a physical
symbol of the Cold War division of Europe.
