Early development in the cold war, 1945-49

Question 1

Soviet expansion - what happened

Answer 1

• Creation of satellite states to consolidate the buffer zone.
• Despite agreements to keep free elections (which they did superficially), many elections became suppressed and people became afraid to vote in non-communist governments.
• Bordering countries such as Lithuania were conquered by the USSR before or during ww2 (1940) and had already been placed under heavy Soviet influence.
• In Poland after the establishment of a pro-communist government via free elections in 1947, many of the London poles were subsequently imprisoned and forced to flee.
• In Czechoslovakia, one of the few remaining democracies in Eastern Europe after the second world war saw its government was overthrown by communists supported by the Soviet Union in the February of 1948, in which Eduard Benes (the Czech president) was overthrown and replaced by Klement Gautwalld

Question 2

Soviet expansion - impacts

Answer 2

Worsened relation:

• Truman saw this as a confirmation of his suspicions that Stalin was trying to spread communism worldwide and soviet expansion later induced policies of containment.
• Free elections were suppressed which went back on Stalin’s promises made in previous talks, worsening tensions and creating mistrust.
• Suppression of free elections and free speech went against the democratic doctrines of the west and increased tensions even further.

Question 3

Long telegram - effects

Answer 3

• In 1946, George Kenning reported that Stalin wanted to see the destruction of capitalism and felt the world outside the Soviet Union was looking to destroy communism and that there was no room for compromise. This deepened tensions between the two powers as Stalin’s seems inclined to destroy capitalism which is represented by that of the USA and his dubious, sceptical sentiment regarding other countries creates the impression that there’s no more room for peaceful compromise and negotiation, creating more tensions and evoking a sense of hopelessness in terms of ending this cold war peacefully
• George Kenning also reported that the soviet union, if faced with strong resistance, would soften its hawkish position. This induces the USA’s later policy of containment which would differ from their policy of isolationism, which leads to the US becoming more involved in Europe and the USSR feeling more threatened thus increasing tensions

Question 4

Iron curtain speech by Winston Churchill

Answer 4

• The speech was spoken in the US and this held enormous symbolic significance. It made Stalin believed that Churchill’s sentiment which was that of the USSR being a threat to world peace, reflected that of the US’ since this was conducted on US soil and therefore would’ve required Truman’s permission. This is also may have led Stalin to believe that the western powers were ‘ganging up’ on him and isolating the Soviet Union. This speech led to Stalin strengthening his control over the satellite states in USSR and made him more determined in expanding his buffer zone.
• The iron curtain speech created a physical divide between East and West, a dichotomy of opposing ideologies and ways of living, it increased tensions as it made the divide more physical and therefore conspicuous to the public eye and meant that governments of both countries would be more compelled to act or oppose the other.

Question 5

Truman doctrine - what was it

Answer 5

• Truman announced that aid packages would be sent to poorer countries such as Greece and Turkey (400million) trying to resist communism and Soviet influence.
• Announced new policy of containment to stop the spread of communism, the US previously had followed a policy of isolationism (staying part not getting involved in affairs involving other countries.
• Also spoke very critically of communism, and that countries especially those in Europe have a choice to between democracy - majority rule and freedom from political oppression, and communism. He compared the two to good and evil.

Question 6

Truman doctrine - effects

Answer 6

• Aid packages to poorer countries would deter them from defecting to communism. Communism and the idea of equality are much more appealing to poorer countries. Would oppose Stalin’s ideas of spreading communism and expanding his ‘buffer zone’
• The policy of containment, suggests that the US is going to be more actively involved in the affairs of other countries, opposite to that of isolationism and as a result may be viewed as more of a threat from the USSR, worsened relations as Stalin would see this as a policy of aggression
• Much like the iron curtain speech, Truman makes the divide in Europe even more manifest and again emphasises the ideological differences and differences in way of life, even denouncing communism as an ‘evil’, this will most likely antagonise the USSR as their principle system is communism.

Question 7

The Marshall plan - what was it

Answer 7

• The practical outcome of the Truman doctrine, providing economic aid to poorer countries to stop the expansion of communism. 13.7 billion in aid to almost all European countries, in addition to 13 billion already given from the US.
• Marshall aid offered to Eastern European countries but was not allowed to accept per orders from Stalin.

Question 8

The marshall plan - impacts and effects

Answer 8

• Stalin saw this as the US trying to extend its influence throughout Europe and that the US was abusing its economic might to divide Europe and establish an economic Empire called “Dollar Imperialism”, he also thought the US was weakening the international role of the united nations. He became more inclined to expand his buffer zone.
• Successfully bounded western European countries into supporting the US and Eastern European countries to oppose it as Stalin denied the aid. Divide between east and west became more apparent and relations exacerbated
• Also led to the establishment of Cominform and Comecon

Question 9

Cominform

Answer 9

• The communist information bureau gave Stalin a way of controlling the Eastern European satellite states
• Stalin used this establishment to force the governments in Soviet satellite states to reject the marshall aid presented by America.
• Cominform also spread propaganda, disparaging the American efforts and accusing America of being no different from Nazi Germany- they ere trying to control and take over Europe and establish an economic empire (dollar imperialism)
• Also responsible for ending opposition to Moscow and ensuring loyalty in satellite states and other Eastern European countries

Question 10

Comecon

Answer 10

• Aid package that directly counteracted and opposed Marshall aid. Provided aid for most of the countries, satellite states in Eastern Europe which gave Stalin a firm grip on those countries.
• Discouraging trade with western countries and acted as a compensation for the denial of Marshall aid.

Question 11

The Berlin crisis - Germany divided

Answer 11

• Berlin was divided into four zones as per agreed in the Potsdam conference.
• However, there emerged disagreements between the occupying powers on how they wanted to govern Germany and Berlin.
• The USSR wanted Germany to produce as much material as possible to help rebuild the Soviet Union.
• The western countries wanted Germany to build up its economy so it can be a successful trading partner in the future, but also to make it more resistible to communism.

In December 1947, talks between the Soviet Union and the Western countries fell apart.

IN 1948, the three allied countries created Trizonia - a combination of the French, British and USA zones to form a single united zone against the one zone of the USSR. And in June 1948, the three allies created a single currency, the Deutschmark, to give Trizonia economic unity. The new single currency in Trizonia created a separate economic unit from the East.

Stalin was angered by this as he wanted a united journey under communist ideology and control/

Question 12

The Berlin crisis - what happened

Answer 12

• The US, Britain and France united their German zones to form Trizonia, Berlin was now divided into two parts: Trizonia and eastern Soviet-controlled Germany.
• Stalin wanted Germany to be united under a single country and communist ideology, seeing the West combine their zones and single out the Soviet Union, in June of 1948 he established a Blockade in the divided Berlin which was deep inside USSR territory.
• In light of this, On the 26th of June the US and the other western countries flown in food, commodities and other essential supplies via planes and made no direct concessions in response to the blockade. (The Berlin airlift or operation vittles)
• A year later the blockade was lifted

Question 13

The Berlin crisis - consequences, effects

Answer 13

• Consolidated divide in Germany and the West (US) with the Soviet Union. Trizonia was now united into a state known as the Federal Republic of Germany in which they were allowed to elect their own democratic parliament. Stalin responded by creating the German democratic republic. This solidified the dichotomy of the US and the USSR and exacerbated tensions significantly.
• In April 1949 NATO (North Atlantic treaty organisation) was established as a result. A formal military alliance to oppose the USSR and their organisation cominform. This amplified the effects of the Truman doctrine as if one member of NATO were to be attacked, all other members of NATO would have to come to its assistance and the US became directly involved in the defence and arming of Western Europe. Again made Stalin feel the West were targeting him and were now showing extreme hostility towards the USSR, deepening the rift of tension.