Early Tentions Between East And West Flashcards
What was the alliance which was made between the USSR, USA a Britian called?
The Grand Alliance
What reason may have causes increased tention in the grand alliance in WW2?
The allies may have delayed the D-Day landings so that the Russians spent more time fighting the Germans and therefore becoming weaker.
Who were the “Big Three”
FDR
Churchill
Stalin
After WW2 what were the differences of how the west and east wanted post war Europe to be run
The East wanted single party rule in the european states whilst the west wanted free elections with multiple political partys
(Politics)
The east wanted everyone to be equal (communism) however the west wanted some people to have more powers to others (captalism)
(Communism Vs Captalism)
The east wanted all property to be owned by the state and not the people whislt the west wanted private ownership of land and a competitive workplace
(Economy)
The east wanted rights of a workers as a group however the west wanted individual rights for everyone
(Rights)
Explain FDR’s views?
President of the USA 1933-1945
He belived in democracy. However Churchill wanted FDR to be more hard in negotiations with Stalin (could be because he wanted Soviet help to deffeat Japan)
He joined WW2 after the Pearl Harbour attacks of 7 December 1941
He belived that long term co-existance would only be achived if the USSR was accepted as a global superpower
Explain Chruchill’s views?
Prime minister of Britian 1940-45 and 1951-55. He was a conservative and belived strongly in the British Empire (however this was a time where many people (including FDR thought colonies should be given freedom.
He was deeply suspicious of Stalin. He would always try and stop Soviet expansion
Explain Stalin’s views?
He was leader of the Soviet Union 1920s-1953.
He strengthened the 1 party rule in the USSR and he reduced the people’s rights in the USSR.
He was convinced that the west wanted to destory the Soviet Union and communism.
Stalin was very firm in negotiations with the USA and Britian
How many German troops invaded Russia?
When?
4 million
In June 1941
What were the 3 war time conferences in order?
Tehran (November 1943)
Yalta (Febuary 1945)
Potsdam (July 1945)
What happened at the Tehran Conference?
In November 1943
They discussed a plan to win WW2
USA and Britian would open a second front (D-Day) to ease pressure on the Russian troops
After the war in Europe was over Stalin would declear war on Japan
No formal agreements were made over Germany’s land however it was discussed and decided that the USSR would keep the land it took from Poland
Agreements were made that lead to the creation of the United Nations
How did Tehran influence the realtions between the Grand Alliance?
Stalin was happy as he got to sure up his boarder with the west and he got the west to agree to open up a second front.
Churchill wanted to open the second front in the Balkans not in France however FDR agreed with Stalin and overrode Churchill
It seemed like FDR saw Britians colonialism as more of a threat to world peace than the USSR.
How did WW2 effect the superpowers?
The superpowers before WW2 were Britian and France.
After WW2 ending in 1945 the 2 superpowers were the USA and the USSR
What happened at Yalta
Febuary 1945
Agreements: Germany would be split into 4 zones each controlled be either the USSR, USA, France or Britian. Germany would play $20 billion to pay for war damages (half of which would go to the USSR).
The nazi party would be banned and war criminals would be prosecuted.
United Nations set up and Stalin agreed to join the war against Japan
Stalin agreed to let the satalite states hold free elections
How were relations between the superpowers develope in Yalta?
It was agreed that Polands boarders would be returned to there original positions in 1921. (This benifited the USSR) and that they would hold free elections. However Stalin wanted Poland to have a communist government however the British wanted a non-communist government
However ultimately the other agreements made relations better with the exception of Poland
What tentions were created with the United Nations
It’s first meeting was on the 25th April 1945
All nations could join but the USA and France denied Stalins suggestion that all 16 Soviet republics should be given individual memberships (votes).
In the end only the republic of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus were given memberships
Who was at the Potsdam conference?
Stalin
Clement Attlee was the new labour British Prime Minister (as Churchill lost the 1945 general election)
Harry S Truman replaced FDR as he died in April 1945
What world events had happened between the Yalta and Potsdam conferences?
Germany had surrendered
USA had developed the atomic bomb through the Manhatten project
The United Nations had been created in the Treaty of San Francisco in June 1945 with 51 members joining it
How did changes in persenal and world events effect relations with the superpowers?
Attlee and Truman were new to polotics and wanted to have a tough aproach with Stalin although they found it had to get him to agree to things
The development of the atomic bomb made Truman more confident
What agreements were made in Potsdam?
It was again agreed that Germany would be split into 4 zones however the economy wouod be run as one.
Berlin would also be divided into 4 zones even though it was bases inside the Soviet part of Germany
How did Potsdam effect superpower realtions?
Made them worse as Attlee and Truman were harsher on Truman
Stalin wanted Germany to pay reperations for the war however Truman thought this would lead to another WW. It was decided that each country could take reperations from there quater of Germany. Because the Soviet Union controlled the poorest parts they were alloud to take 1/4 of industry from themother 3 zones
Agreements on the future of eastern Europe were not decided. Truman was starting to see the “red army” (USSR’s army) as an army of occupation but without risking war there was little Truman could do
Truman tryed to change Polands boarders however this didn’t happen
