masterdeck Flashcards
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Hostility between the USSR and the West - 1941
There were deep ideological differences
The West feared Russian influence
The USSR resented its exclusion from the diplomacy of the 1930s
The West despised that Nazi Soviet Pact and Russian expansion in Eastern Europe
Capitalism
All industry, business and agriculture should be by private people or by a firm competing between rival factories, shops and farms will cause prices to fall and make firms more efficient. (This is the free market. This ideology is all about materialism and choice.)
Communism
Everything belongs to the state and should be run by the government on behalf of society. A classless society achieved by overthrowing capitalism by revolution. (This ideology is all about having only what you need.)
Karl Marx
Invented communism, he believed that life was unfair because rich people made poorer people work for hardly any money - the exploitation of the poor. He thought communism was inevitable. He published he Communist Manifesto in 1848. He said that conflict between communism and capitalism was unavoidable. It provided a framework of political and economic principles that opposed those held in the west. He believed modern industrial society was divided between workers (proletariat) and the wealthy factory owners (capitalists). He was convinced capitalism would be overthrown by the workers in a revolution which would seize control of factories and banks. It would be replaced by Communist society.
1917 - Russian Communist Revolution
When the USA entered WWI, it was an ally of the Russians
After the revolution in 1917, they made peace with Germany, angering USA due to a civil war
The civil war lasted four years and eventually the whites lost, and the reds won
The whites were supported by Britain, France, USA and Japan because they wonted to prevent the spread of communism into the rest of Europe
US Presidents
George Bush, Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Lyndon B Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Harry Truman
USSR Leaders
Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Konstantin Chernenko, Mikhail Gorbachev
Nazi-Soviet Pact
A secret agreement between the Germans and the Russians that said that they would not attack each other
Stalin stunned the West by signing a non-aggression treaty with Germany in August 1939. The two countries agreed not to attack each other and als to divide Poland between them. In theory, Fascism and Communism were polar opposites and implacable enemies. Stalin was concerned about the British coming to an agreement with the Nazis and not helping the USSR in the event of a Nazi invasion. He was also buying time because he knew that the USSR was well short of being able to fight. He had killed many army officials.
The Second Front 1941
The second front is the idea that Britain would re-enter Europe splitting the German forces, ultimately leading to the German defeat. This would take some of the pressure of the Russian attack because the German forces would need to regroup and attack Britain.
The second front increases tensions because the British delayed re-entering Europe until 1943. The Russians wanted to attack in 1941 so that they would have some relief from the German attackers. The Russians believed that the British didn’t want to move on the second front but instead sit back and led Russia and Germany fight until they both collapse.
The Katyn Massacre 1940
Over twenty thousand of Polish POWs killed by order of Joseph Stalin in April and May 1940 after Soviet Union troops had invaded eastern Poland. There was a starvation of Pole deported in a mass ethnic cleansing program imposed on over one million polish citizen carried out by the Soviet occupying authorities who sent them in cattle trucks to Siberia.
The Grand Alliance
Britain, America and USSR (Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin)
Atlantic Charter
During WWII, the US and Great Britain issued a joint declaration in August 1941 that set out a vision for the post-war world. In January 1942, a group 26 Allied nations pledged their support for this declaration known the Atlantic Charter. The document is considered one of the first key steps towards the establishment of the United Nations in 1945.
US aims - Grand Alliance
The four freedoms: speech, worship, want and fear.
GB aims - Grand Alliance
Churchill did not trust Stalin, he was fearful of Soviet expansion and concerned that Soviet influence would spread in central Europe/eastern Mediterranean where Britain had strategic/economic interests. He tried to secure US commitment to post war Europe.
USSR aims - Grand Alliance
Stalin was obsessed with safeguarding Soviet security
Tehran Conference
First major meeting between the Big Three (United States, Britain, Russia) at which they planned the 1944 assault on France and agreed to divide Germany into zones of occupation after the war
Liberation
The act of setting someone free from imprisonment, slavery or oppression; release
Poland’s significance
Britain had officially gone to war against Germany to uphold Polish independence, therefore its fate was of utmost significance to Britain. Due to its geographical position, Poland was of immense importance for the security of the USSR.
The Home Front Army
The HFA had been with the Soviets recapturing territory but were often arrested later by the NKVD.
Tensions really reached a head when the Soviets reached the outskirts of Warsaw and called on the populace to revolt.
The Germans were now retreating, and the HFA saw an opportunity to seize the city and then later give the London Poles a better chance of control.
They took Warsaw in three days. However, Stalin halted the advance of the Red Army, refused to allow the western allies to supply aide and disarmed Polish untied on their way to help.
Britain and the USA tried to offer aid via Italy, but the Nazis regrouped and crushed the rising.
In October 1944, the Nazis destroyed Warsaw while the Red Army watched on from the River Vistula.
Percentage Agreement
Churchill proposed dividing up South East Europe into distinct spheres of influence. His gave the USSR 90% predominance in Romania and 75% in Bulgaria, whilst Britain would have 90% in Greece. Yugoslavia and Hungary were to be divided equally between the British and Soviet zones of interest.
Yalta Conference - February 1945
Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meet
Winston Churchill - wants free elections and democratic governments in Eastern Europe
Josef Stalin - wants Soviet influence in Eastern Europe
Franklin Roosevelt - wants Soviet support in war against Japan
Agreements at the Yalta Conference
- Agree that there must be free elections
- Agree to split Germany and Berlin into four zones for the Soviet Union, France, Britain, and the U.S.
The Atomic Bomb
Heat generated by explosion was hotter than the sun
On the 6th August, the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima causing 92,233 death within two weeks
On the 9th August, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Over 40,000 people were killed and 5,000 died within the following three months
On the 14th August, the Japanese agreed unconditional surrender
‘The greatest thing in history’ - Truman
The nuclear bomb gave America a lead which was expected to last at least 5 years. The rapid Russian development of nuclear technology, helped by the work of the ‘atom spies’ was a shock
Potsdam Conference - July 1945
Germany had been defeated, Roosevelt had died and Churchill had lost the 1945 election - so there were open disagreements. Truman came away angry about the size of reparations and the fact that a communist government was being set up in Poland. Truman did not tell Stalin that he had the atomic bomb.
Arguments about the boundaries between the zones continued.
Disagreements about the amount of reparations Russia wanted to take. It was agreed that Russia could take whatever it wanted from the Soviet Zone and 10% of the industrial equipment of the western zones, but Britain and the US thought this was too much.
Soviet Liberation of Eastern Europe
Stalin starts to take over countries he liberates (Salami tactics) and increases force the Eastern Europe. It reflects his desires to have a buffer zone. USA and Britain was fearful of what might happen next.
Communist government in Poland
Britain is seen as hypocritical as Poland is still not liberated. It breaks Yalta and Stalin is manipulating it for his gain. There are no free elections which were promised.
The Red Army
Stalin has more power compared to Britain. GB has a no army compared to the USSR’s huge army which is being used to occupy Europe. Great Britain are impotent to help Europe against the USSR.
Roosevelt’s death
Roosevelt had a good relationship with Stalin and was a political figurehead, successfully ruling for three terms. Truman hates communism and therefore Stalin. They have no relationship and it would take time to build one. The change in the leadership meant that there was unrest.
The Atomic Bomb Secret
Stalin is being left out of ‘The Big Three’ which creates huge amounts of mistrust. Truman shows off to the USSR. They have no bomb and therefore are the weaker ally. It negates Stalin’s plan to build a wall of defence because it won’t protect him.
Churchill loses the election
The leadership of two nations has shifted and therefore there is a change in the dynamic. Attlee doesn’t have the same big presence as Churchill.
Impact of the Atomic Bomb Secret
Bomb Secret
Damages relationship - Stalin is weary of the USA
Increase in nuclear funding
Imbalance of power
The failure of Truman to inform him about the bomb increased his suspicions and distrust of US motives
The atomic bomb had little impact on the Stalin’s policies. He was determined that the USSR would become a nuclear power
Stalin was a wartime ally and felt that he had the right to be informed. Truman decided not to tell Stalin of his decision to drop the bomb on Japan even though it was four days after Potsdam
Conflict between the East and West was very unlikely after WWII
Initially, at the end of WWII Stalin was pragmatic. Communists in Eastern Europe formed coalitions with other left wing parties. Stalin though it was more acceptable to the West.
Conflict between the East and West was unlikely after WWII
HISTORIANS
Historians such as Donnelly have highlighted Roosevelt failure to stand firm against Stalin at Yalta as a crucial mistake that allowed Stalin to play ‘on the gullibility of the West.’
Conflict between the East and West was neither likely nor unlikely after WWII
The position of Germany in the post war world. The division of Germany into zones of occupation had been agreed at Yalta and Potsdam but this was only a temporary measure. The west saw the economic recovery of Germany as vital to general European recovery and an important market for US goods. Stalin saw a future threat.
Conflict between the East and West was likely after WWII
The long term political problems between capitalism and communism were temporarily disguised by WWII. Cooperation between the US and the USSR had focused on the practical issue of ensuring the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Conflict between the East and West was very likely after WWII
Stalin’s ruthless treatment in Poland did much to alienate the West. At the Yalta Conference Stalin demanded parts of eastern Poland to be governed to the USSR and it was clear that Stalin was trying to establish a communist government in Poland.
The Iron Curtain Speech
Churchill argues that there has been a clear division made across Europe between the West and the Soviet Union influenced countries. He believes that there is a clear line between the capitalist nations and the communist. He believes that the Soviet Union view is seeping across Europe and there has been such influence from the communist USSR that a line has been drawn between them.
Soviet Response to the Iron Curtain Speech
Stalin argued that they are trying to prevent another invasion. He had been attacked by Germany through countries surrounding them. They wanted to make these countries allies so that they would have protection.
Eastern Takeovers - Greece
Both Britain and the USA supported the royalist parties in order to dispel any communist opposition.
Eastern Takeovers - Italy and France
Italy and France
They were liberated by the Western allies rather than the Soviet Union so the Communist institutes did have as much support as countries which were liberated by the USSR.
Truman Doctrine - 1947
President Truman’s policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology, mainly helped Greece and Turkey
Marshall Plan - 1947
A plan that the US came up with to revive war-torn economies of Europe. This plan offered $17 billion in aid to western and Southern Europe on condition they wouldn’t go communist. Helped contain communism in Europe and helped our economy as Europe bought from US businesses to rebuild.
Motives behind the Marshall Plan
Economic motive: There was a danger of financial recession. Without financial assistance, Europe would not be able to act as a market for US goods. So there was an element of American self-interest to prevent another depression in USA.
Political motive: American saw poverty as an ideal breeding ground for Communism. A prosperous Europe was more likely to resist communism.
Division of Germany
The USA and the USSR could not allow the other side to dominate because Germany was strategically placed in the middle of Europe and therefore have a power of capitalism would be a threat to any communists especially the countries in the Soviet sphere of influence as would a communism power be a threat to the USA and the Western allies.
The Berlin Blockade
The Soviet Union believed they could force Western allies to abandon plans for a West German State by applying pressure to West Berlin
West Berlin were totally dependent on rail and road links through the Soviet links for its supplies and materials
March 1948 - Soviet began to restrict the movement of people and goods between West Berlin and Western Germany
Reaction to the Deutschmark by blockading West Berlin - argued that it was a defensive measure to stop the Soviet zone being swamped with the devalued Reichsmark
Rail and road links to the west as well as electricity which came from East Berlin were cut
The Berlin Airlift
The French were convinced that Western Berlin could only last for a couple of weeks
Bevin provided initial leadership - suggested forceful countermeasures - he was determined to maintain Western position in Berlin and continue setting up a West German State whilst avoiding war
Rejected suggestion by General Clay - that an armed convoy should force its way through West Berlin, easily would have provoked a clash with Soviets
He convinced US that an airlift would supply West Berlin with what they needed - flying aircraft along three ‘corridors’ allocated to the Western Allies by the Soviets in 1945
He was enthusiastic to US requests to transfer 60 B-29 bombers to East Anglia - assumed to carry atomic bombs, it was a bluff - this was possibly the reason Soviet forces didn’t interfere but they also wanted to avoid war
Consequences of the Berlin Blockade and the Berlin Airlift
The blockage lasted 318 days (11 months)
In the winter of 1948-49 Berliners lived on dried potatoes, powered eggs and cans of meat. They had four hours of electricity
The airlift was codenamed ‘operation Vittles’, the first flight was on 26 June 1948
The Soviet authorities offered to provide West Berlin with essential supplies - this offer was rejected. 275,000 flights carried in 1½ million tons of supplies. A plane landed every three minutes.
On 16 April 1949, 1400 flights brought in 13,000 tons of supplies in one day - Berlin only needed 6000 tons a day to survive
Some pilots dropped chocolate and sweets
The airlift continued until 30 September 1949, in order to build up a reserve of supplies
The USA stationed B-29 bombers (which could carry an atomic bomb) in Britain
The American airmen were regarded as heroes
