How did the Cold War in Europe develop? 1943–56 Flashcards
Define capitalism
belief that everyone should be free to own property and businesses to make money,
Define communism
belief that all properties should belong to the state to ensure that every member of society gets a fair share
What was communism based on?
The writing of Karl Marx
Who were the big three? How long were each of their rules?
Winston Churchill 1940-45 and 1951, Josef Stalin 1928-53, Franklin D Roosevelt 1933-45
Explain the first Grand Alliance conference.
Tehran (1943)
- USA and Britain agreed to a second front by attacking Germany (Stalin was happy as this would ease pressure on Eastern Front where USSR where suffering losses. Churchill didn’t want to attack there.)
- Discussed what would happen to Germany after the war but no agreement was made
-Will set up international body to settle disputes
What is the sphere of influence?
What are satellite states?
Sphere of influence= an area of Europe that the Soviet Union influenced/controlled but not part of the USSR
Satellite state= the countries that were part of sphere of influence. Have communist governments.
Explain The long Telegram
1946
-Received by Truman from Kennan
Kennan said:
.The USSR
was heavily armed and feared the outside world
.There could be no peaceful co-existence between the USSR and the USA
-he USA was stronger than the USSR and so communism could be ‘contained
Explain The Novikov Telegram
The Soviet response to The Long Telegram
.Warned that the USA had emerged from World War Two economically strong and bent on world domination
Did the amount of countries becoming communist reflect what the people wanted?
Not always because most countries that became communist were because of corrupt voting, using violence, threats.
What were the key points of the Truman Doctrine?
.They would intervene in other countries to fight communism across the world -contrary to how USA usually didn’t get involved (isolationism)
.They would stop the spread by ‘containing’ communism
.They would give money in aid to Greece and Turkey
.
Explain the Marshall plan
In some of Europe desperate economic circumstances after WW2 meant support for communist parties was strong. The USA did not want this to happen. Marshall Aid
would be spent to help the economies of Western Europe to recover after World War Two and make them less likely to be won over by communism.
What is Cominform?
Political organisation set on Stalin’s order that included USSR and it’s satellite states. Gave a way to control the countries part of it. Spread propaganda accusing America of being no Nazi Germany.
What is Comecon?
Comecon was Stalin’s attempt at deterring countries away from Marshall Aid. Arranged trading agreements between member countries. Trade with USA and Western Europe was discouraged.
What was Trizonia?
Britain and USA joined their German zones to make Bizonia. Then when France joined theirs it became Trizonia.
What was the east of Germany like? What was the west of Germany like?
East
- communist
- low standards
- often lacked basic goods
- secret police monitored and arrested people who went against movement
West
- wealthy
- high standards of living
- skilled worker were paid well for the work they did
What was the Berlin Blockade?
West Berlin was surrounded by Soviet-occupied territory. In June 1948, Stalin cut all land access to Berlin for the Allies.
What was the Warsaw pact?
An alliance between the Soviet and the Satellite states as a response to NATO. In 1955.
Explain the brain drain
In the west of Germany, skilled workers were well paid for the jobs that they did. The East weren’t and skilled workers such as engineers, teachers and doctors fled to the West for better conditions. By 1958 over a sixth of East Germany’s population had left to the West.
What was Khrushchev’s ultimatum?
The brain drain made communism look weak. Khrushchev issued an ultimatum saying:
-Berlin should be demilitarised and Western troops withdrawn
-Berlin should become a ‘free’ country
Why were the Hungarian people unhappy?
-Hungarians had no
freedom of speech. The secret police (AVH) arrested anyone against communism
-Thousands of Soviet troops and officials were stationed in Hungary, which were a drain on the Hungarian economy
-The Russian language was being forced upon the people
Who was Khrushchev?
The new Soviet leader, (1956).
What were Nagy’s reform in Hungary?
-Free elections to choose the government
-The total withdrawal of the Soviet army from Hungary
-Hungary to leave the
Warsaw Pact
Why did Imre Nagy create these reforms?
He wanted to change how Hungary could be ruled instead of Rakoski’s rule.
What was a consequence of Comecon.
-Increased tension
-Played a significant role in USA and Western Europe created NATO
