Emergence of the Cold War

Question 1

Yalta and Potsdam Conferences (1945)

Answer 1

• Yalta — disagreed over Poland/its govt; Stalin agreed return of exiled London-based govt to current govt
• Potsdam — Br/USA refused to recognise USSR est. govt in areas liberated in E. EU; were unelected.
  
  • West worried of USSR taking reparations from liberated countries
    
    • feared would stifle econ. recovery in E. EU
    • leave E. EU countries econ. dependent on USSR.
• Moscow Council (1945) agreed that each major power should have a ‘sphere of influence’:
  
  • USSR — Eastern EU
  • US — S. America, parts of E/S.E Asia
  • Br — Mediterranean, Middle East
• Despite issues, working relationship b/w superpowers still existed; Big Three willing to work together <3

Question 2

War of words:

Supreme Soviet

Long Telegram

Answer 2

• Supreme Soviet (1946):
  
  • Stalin claimed in long run, capitalism/communist peace was impossible
  • capitalist competition inevitably led to war
    
    • alarmed West - saw speech as ideological attack
• Kennan’s ‘Long Telegram:’
  
  • argued USSR was building up military power to spread communism across EU
  • USA should pursue policy of containment

Question 3

Iran Crisis (1946)

Answer 3

• Iran occupied by Br/USSR during WWII
• USSR agreed to w/d troops, hand over territory to Br - failed to do this
• As a result, Br/US united in condemnation of USSR’s ‘aggressive imperialist policy’
• Led to clear division within G. Alliance
  
  • indicated that West fears were correct!

Question 4

Iron Curtain (1946)

Answer 4

• Represented call for firmer action against threat of communism
• Called for West alliance
• Stalin called Churchill a ‘warmonger’

Question 5

Truman Doctrine and Marshall Aid (1947)

Cominform (1947) and Comecon (1949)

Answer 5

• Truman Doctrine (1947):
  
  • US would aid country/govt under attack from armed minorities
  • aimed to prevent spread of communism
• Marshall Plan (1947) sent economic aid to countries exposed to communism
  
  • intended to revive capitalism in EU, preventing Western Europe from coming under communist influence
  • $13 billion used to rebuild EU following WWII.
  • USSR unable to offer this; MP implicitly implied weakness of Soviet econ
• Demonstrated USA’s priority to rebuild W. EU, not co-op w/ USSR
• This led to tightening of Soviet control over Eastern EU.
• Stalin replied w/ Cominform (1947) and Comecon (1949)
  
  • ​organisations coordinated communist parties and economics.

Question 6

Stalinisation of Eastern Europe (1945-49)

Answer 6

• Policy towards E. EU emerged after USA offer of MA
• Stalin regarded MA as attempt to build a ‘Western Bloc’ in EU; felt need to tighten his control over E. EU
  
  • 1947 Rigged elections** led to formation of a communist govt in **Hungary
  • 1948 Communist coup in Czechoslovakia ousted elected govt, replaced w/ communist govt
• By end of 1949, majority of E. EU became series of Russian satellite states
• Confirmed fears Stalin was pursuing expansionist policy designed to advance communism; Stalin achieved this through local Communist Parties, rather than military action
• CW deepened due to Truman’s conviction that Stalin sought EU domination.

Question 7

Berlin Blockade (1948-9)

Answer 7

• Br/Fr/US united zones, formed W. Germany, working as co-ordinated unit (1948)
  
  • introduced a new currency to help trade — Stalin saw this as ‘dollar imperialism’
• Stalin cut off all rail/road links to W. Berlin (blockade)
• West saw attempt to starve Berlin into surrender - supplied W. Berlin by air
• Resulted in est. of NATO - military alliance of USA, Canada and most of Western Europe.
• Demonstrated US commitment to fighting communism
• Showed Stalin as unwilling to engage US in military conflict - refused to shoot down US planes flying over Soviet-controlled airspace — cautious?

Question 8

Korean War (1950-53)

Answer 8

• 1949 USSR successfully detonated first a-bomb
• Mao proclaimed creation of People’s Republic of China, marking successful communist takeover of most populous country
• 1950 US refused to give aid/military assistance to SK - convinced Kim Il-Sung that US won’t stop communist invasion of SK
• W/ Stalin’s backing, Kim Il-Sung ordered troops to invade SK in 1950
• Marked shift of focus in CW fr EU –> Asia.
• Armistice signed after Stalin’s death (1953):
  
  • Though USSR didn’t pp in war, NK/China were fighting w/ Stalin’s explicit approval

Impact of Korean War:

• USA contained communism, failed roll back
• US govt used communist aggression in SK to justify military spending, one of major policy initiatives
  
  • military spending inc. threefold b/w 1950-55

Question 9

NSC-68

Answer 9

• Outlined Truman new policy towards USSR
• USSR aiming at world domination, starting campaign in EU/Asia
• Had responsibility to provide alt. political/ econ. model to that of communism
• Prepared to engage in limited wars to resist communism
• Inc. military spending, develop h-bomb to regain initiative in arms race
• US power used to contain, and where possible, ‘roll back’ communism
• NSC-68 showed US as determined to be more aggressive in approach towards USSR