Early Years of Cold War in Europe

Question 1

What was Stalin’s post-WW2 foreign policy based on?

Answer 1

Aim of taking advantage of military situation in Europe to strengthen Soviet influence

Question 2

What was Stalin trying to prevent with his post-WW2 foreign policy?

Answer 2

Another invasion from the West

Question 3

What did Stalin’s post-WW2 foreign policy result in?

Answer 3

Establishing pro-soviet governments in as much of Eastern Europe as possible

Question 4

How many times were Germany invaded from the West in the 20th century?

Answer 4

3 times

Question 5

How many Soviet citizens were killed during the war?

Answer 5

Over 20 million

Question 6

What did Churchill fear about America after WW2?

Answer 6

They would return to a policy of isolationism

Question 7

How did Churchill feel about threats to Eastern Europe after WW2?

Answer 7

There was little the West could do to prevent Stalin doing as he wished

Question 8

What personal agreement occurred between Churchill and Stalin in 1944?

Answer 8

Percentages Agreement

Question 9

What agreements were made at the Percentages Agreement?

Answer 9

-USSR have 90% influence in Romania and 75% in Bulgaria
-Britain have 90% influence in Greece
-USSR and Britain share 50%-50% influence in Hungary and Yugoslavia

Question 10

What stance did both Attlee and Truman take towards USSR when gaining leadership?

Answer 10

Hostility towards Stalin and USSR

Question 11

What did Roosevelt see as the solution with Stalin in regards to post-war Eastern Europe?

Answer 11

-Had to reach some sort of working relationship with USSR
-Accommodation with Stalin was essential

Question 12

What misinterpretation added to USA’s hostility towards the Soviet Union?

Answer 12

Soviet demand for security from further attack led them to interpret every action as part of USSR’s desire to dominate Europe and spread communism

Question 13

What agreement promised that people of Europe could create democratic institutions of their own choice?

Answer 13

Declaration on Liberated Europe

Question 14

Where was the Declaration of Liberated Europe created?

Answer 14

Yalta Conference

Question 15

What did the Declaration on Liberated Europe promise?

Answer 15

People of Europe could created democratic institutions of their own choice

Question 16

What sources of tension were there/ what was discussed at Yalta in relation to Europe?

Answer 16

-The Polish Question
-The German and Berlin Question
-Declaration on Liberated Europe

Question 17

How far was the Polish Question resolved at Yalta?

Answer 17

-Oder-Neisse line new Western border of Poland after Yalta
-Curzon line new Eastern border
-Free elections in Poland

Question 18

How far was the German and Berlin Question resolved at Yalta?

Answer 18

-Temporarily divide Berlin and Germany into 4 zones
-4 zones of occupation treated as single economic unit
-Each power able to take reparations from their own zone in terms of resources

Question 19

What success was there at Potsdam in relation to Europe?

Answer 19

Some limited agreement in Germany
-Denazified, demilitarised

Question 20

What failures were there at Potsdam?

Answer 20

Large disagreement over reparations
-USSR demanded $10b, ended up with less than 1% of request
High tensions over power vacuums
-Poland - London Poles (West) vs Lublin Committee (USSR)

Question 21

What was Stalin’s primary motivation in Eastern Europe?

Answer 21

Safeguard Soviet international interests and Soviet territory

Question 22

How did Stalin ensure Communist victory in Eastern European elections?

Answer 22

Manipulation of election results to ensure a communist victory

Question 23

How did Stalin typically maintain control in Eastern Europe?

Answer 23

Pro-Stalinist puppet leaders

Question 24

What were the aims of the Truman Doctrine?

Answer 24

-Prevent USSR from aiding Greek communists
-Protect democracy and freedom
-Demonise USSR and communism to American public
-Provoke USSR
-Develop global economic power
-Containment

Question 25

What was the purpose of Cominform?

Answer 25

To unite and coordinate the role and actions of communist groups throughout Europe

Question 26

When was Bizonia?

Answer 26

January 1947

Question 27

What was USA’s initial approach to Europe?

Answer 27

Intention to work towards the reconstruction of a democratic region, whose members would be committed to mutual cooperation

Question 28

What prompted the Marshall Plan?

Answer 28

Clayton argued that without a substantial increase in aid from the USA, Europe would experience social, economic and political disintegration on a regional scale

Question 29

What was USA’s route into Europe?

Answer 29

Their ‘special relationship’ with Britain

Question 30

What were the conditions of receiving Marshall Aid?

Answer 30

-Some had to be spent on importing goods from the USA
-Required to share economic information with the USA

Question 31

How did the USSR view the Marshall Plan?

Answer 31

An undermining of their sphere of influence and their security

Question 32

What was the lasting impact of the Marshall Plan in Europe?

Answer 32

Accelerated the division of Europe and further undermined the possibility of cooperative international relations

Question 33

Who benefitted from the Marshall Plan?

Answer 33

Greece
-Nearly $700m of economic assistance
France
-$2.7b of economic assistance for keeping Communist threat under control
Yugoslavia
-More than $150m of aid

Question 34

When did the Berlin Blockade occur?

Answer 34

June 1948-May 1949

Question 35

What was the creation of the Berlin Blockade trying to prevent?

Answer 35

The creation of a separate West German state

Question 36

Why was NATO formed?

Answer 36

To reassure Western European states in the face of possible Soviet military aggression

Question 37

What was the Soviet response to NATO?

Answer 37

Argued that NATO was an aggressive organisation designed to pressurise states into complying with the West