Early Developments In The Cold War, 1945-49 Flashcards
1
Q
Soviet Expansion
A
- Baltic states 1940
- yugoslavia and Albania were communist but not part of Soviet Union
- 6 countries into satellite states
- 1944-45 soviet red army freed Eastern European countries from nazis but did not leave
- 1944 poles rebelled, 1947 invaded by red army
- 1944-45 ‘free elections’ with pressure for communist in Bulgaria, Romania, east Germany
- 1919 Czechoslovakia only democracy in Eastern Europe, overthrown by soviet in feb 1948
- 1947, Hungarians were threatened to vote for communists, by 1949: one-party state
2
Q
Reasons for Changing Policies Superpowers (1946)
A
- Kennan’s Long Telegram: George Kennan (USA’s ambassador in Moscow)… USA introduced ‘containment’ policy
- Novikov’s Soviet Telegram: Nikolai Novikov (Soviet diplomat in Washington) need protection from west
- Iron Curtaim: march 1946, Churchill delivered speech in Missouri: soviet as threat to freedom
3
Q
The Truman Doctrine
A
- British government couldn’t support Greece in 1947 for fight against communist
- truman delivered speech to congress - economic package ($40 million) to Greece and turkey
- actually a speech about oppression: from isolation to preapering to send troops and economic aid to resisting communism
4
Q
The Marshall Plan
A
- three month after doctrine: providing economic aid to help war-torn countries in order to stop communism from taking over in Western Europe
- between 1948 and 52, USA gave $13.7 billion of aid plus the $13 billion from before to help Austria Belgium Denmark France Greece Ireland Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Portugal Sweden Switzerland Turkey West Germany Britain
- huge economic impact, called ‘a lifeline to sinking man’
- None give into satellite state because Stalin wouldn’t allow it so Eastern Europe didn’t benefit
5
Q
The Soviet Response to Truman Doctrine
A
- Stalin believed Truman doctrine showed USA asserting influence over Europe - economic empire ‘dollar imperialism’ , weakening international rôle of UN because western countries now support USA, grand alliance gone, suspicions increases
- Cominform 22 September 1947: association of all communist governments, ended opposition to Moscow, propogranda, Stalin control
- Comecon 25 January 1949: support economic development in member states, discouraged trade with west
6
Q
Gradual Germany Division (Before Berlin Airlift)
A
- December 1947, talks between foreign ministers broke down and Soviet stormed out
- bizonia 1947, trizonia march 1948, Deutschmark June 1948 - separate economy
- west ‘ganging up’ on Soviet Union
7
Q
The Berlin Airlift
A
- June 1948, Stalin shut off land routes across soviet controlled Germany into Berlin
- wanted to show divided Germany wouldn’t work to allies through blockade, direct challenge to allies
- June 26, operation vittles: food coal and essentials flown in to new airport in Tegel
- 1000 tonnes supplied every day by both America and Britain - January 1949: 170000 tonnes were supplied to Berlin through western aircraft
- 9 May 1949, soviets gave in - Stalin didn’t win propaganda victory - looked foolish and aggressive
8
Q
Consequences of the Berlin Airlift
A
- 8 May 1949: federal republic of Germany, 14 august 1949: Budenstag parliament
- October 1949: Stalin created German Democratic Republic
- April 1949: NATO with 12 countries because of Czechoslovakia communist takeover
- NATO: if any member was attacked, they would assist so Americans kept bases in Europe - changed international method
