Early Developments in the Cold War 1945 - 1949 Flashcards
Why was the Marshall Plan a thing?
- Europe’s economy was devastated due to WWII - owed USA $11.5 billion
- US secretary of state George Marshall believed that countries suffering from poverty and unemployment were more likely to turn to communism
Basically it was a diplomatic way of halting the spread of communism
What were the aims of Marshall aid?
Raise living standards in Western Europe to reduce the appeal of communism
•rebuild Germany
• weaken Soviet control over EE
• help the US economy by increasing US exports to Europe
It was a fund of $15 billion open to any nation who applied for it
What on earth does Czechoslovakia have to do with Marshall aid?
- US govt. unsure about providing so much aid - events in Czechoslovakia removed all doubts
- In 1948 Czechoslovakia still not communist and considering accepting Marshall Aid - communist uprising - freaked US into going ahead with the fund :)
What was Stalin’s reaction to the Marshall Plan?
Basically he’s not stupid and saw through the guise
• Called it dollar imperialism
• believed USA to be trying to control industry and trade in Europe
• believed it sought to undermine communism and spread capitalism
•refused to accept economic aid and stopped members of the Eastern Bloc from applying for it
What was the Cominform and the Comecon?
Cominform: communist information bureau, formed 1947, alliance of European Communist parties to help them plan and work together to spread Stalin’s ideas
Comecon: Council for Mutual Economic Aid, formed 1949, coordinates the production and trade of the EE Communist countries. Expected not to trade with the West
Why were the Cominfom and the Comecon set up?
To try and prevent EE countries from applying for Marshall aid + to strengthen his grip on these countries//expand/consolidate his sphere of influence
•Limits their independence
• Favours USSR over other member countries
What was the Berlin Crisis?
June 1948 - called off May 1949 - Stalin isolated West Berlin by cutting off all road, rail and canal line. The city only had 6 weeks supplies of food and fuel
• Stalin aimed to starve them into submission
•West responded with the Berlin Airlift - 10 months
What were the causes of the Berlin Crisis?
- Stalin wanted the ‘cancer’ of West Berlin to be removed from Eastern Berlin
- Merging of the 3 western zones of Germany in March 1948 without consulting USSR
- Introduction of a new currency in West Germany without consulting USSR
- Capitalism bleeding people from East Berlin
- Stalin felt threatened
What were the outcomes of the Berlin crisis?
- Propaganda victory for the West
- Stalin humiliated
- division of Germany into 2 states - may 1949 the New Federal Republic of Germany - October eastern zone became the German democratic Republic
- Formation of NATO
- Deepened hostility between East and West
What was NATO?
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
• Formed April 1949 by Western Powers
• Military alliance that committed all members to the defence of all the others
•Seen as a threat by Stalin
• Large number of troops placed in West Germany - by 1995 5 divisions of US troops permanently based there
Why does she want us to know about China going Communist?
1949 China became Communist
• USA took this as evidence that communism was a major threat and that it was spreading
• renewed fear of the domino effect
•one of the prominent reasons for US involvement in the Korean War
When did the Soviet Union go nuclear and what effect did it have on the Cold War?
1949 - USA no longer had the monopoly - led to arms race
• 1952 USSR exploded it’s own H Bomb
