Green Flashcards
When was the Yalta conference?
February 1945
What were the west objectives at Yalta?
- reconstruction and re-education of Germany
- no spheres of influence
- cooperation with USSR
What were the east objectives at Yalta?
- increased communism in Eastern Europe
- soviet sphere of influence
- Germany to remain weak (would allow USSR to takeover)
What decisions were made at Yalta?
- UN made valid
- USSR gained land from Poland
- Germany and Berlin were divided into 4 zones
When was the Potsdam conference?
July 1945
What happened the day before the Potsdam conference?
The US successfully detonated an atomic bomb for the first time which increase tensions and sat the conference up for failure
What agreements were made at Potsdam?
- denazification to be carried out
- Germany to be disarmed and demilitarised
- war reparations from all zones in Germany given to USSR
- Lublin-poles were to be recognised by all 3 powers
Why were there tensions at Potsdam?
- US wanted a new government in Poland as the elections were not free (because of USSR)
- change in British and US leaders
- US were not happy about Red Army spreading across Europe
- Atomic bomb successfully tested by the US the day before
When was Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech?
1946
What did Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech discuss?
- “special relationship” between Britain and USA
- Britain’s and the USA should work together to keep peace and stability against communism
- “an iron curtain has descended across the continent”
When was the Truman Doctrine produced?
1947
What was the Truman Doctrine?
- a document that stated that the US would provide assistance to all democratic nations under threat from authoritarian forces
- step towards containment
When was the Greek Civil War?
1944
What was the Greek Civil War?
Between communists and monarchists - monarchists won
Significance of Greek Civil War
Britain could no longer afford to aid anti-communists in Greece so the US had to take on the responsibility which brought about the idea for the Marshall Plan.
When was the Marshall Plan implemented ?
1948
What was the Marshall Plan?
Aid offered to all European states including the USSR to help contain communism
How much was spent on the Marshall Plan in total?
$13.5 billion (both goods and money)
How many states took advantage of the Marshall Plan?
16
What were the USA’s motives for the Marshall Plan?
- trying to prevent poorer counties from falling to communism
- benevolence; they felt as though it was their duty to help after the war
- to eventually be able to open up markets in Europe and boost US economy
What were the conditions for the Marshall Plan?
- agree to develop trade in Europe
- some of the money had to be spent on US goods
What was the Soviet view of the Marshall Plan?
They saw it as a threat - the US influence May spread into Eastern Europe and threaten the security/break sphere of influence of USSR
Did the Marshall Plan succeed or fail?
It failed.
It only sped up the division of Europe and got rid of the possibility of any cooperation between the USA and the USSR.
