Origin of the Cold War; Personalities/Aims Flashcards
Churchill and Stalin; Percentages Agreement, Roosevelt and Stalin; Stalin ‘bugs’, Roosevelt ‘trusts’. Churchill 1945; loss of influence. Truman and Stalin; ‘Missouri Mule Driver’ trying to make an impact, Stalin paranoid.
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Why were there tensions in the grand alliance?
The three main allies each want different outcomes
What did the USSR want? (2)
1) Security from future attacks
2) Reparations
The USSR was severely damaged with 20 million dead and 12.5% land ruined (scorch policy)
What did the US want? (2)
1) One large free trade area
2) Security
The US wants a open door market (democracies) and security (Pearl harbour left them feeling vulnerable)
What did the UK want (3)
1) To keep their empire
2) To stop communism
3) To establish a democracy in Poland - reason they went to war
Why did the UK and the USSR clash over future aims?
They were unhappy about the idea of spreading Soviet influence and a non democratic Poland
Why was the UK alarmed by the prospect of Soviet Influence spreading into central Europe & East Mediterranean?
They had vital strategies and economic interests in the area;
Suez Canal; main link to India
Need oil from the Middle East
Why did the UK and the US clash over future aims?
The UK wanted to retain their empire but the US wanted liberation - had themselves been part of the empire and also they thought it would be easier to trade with non-empire countries (want open market)
What do the UK & US agree on?
They both want to found a United Nations to represent all the nation and reorganize world powers.
Also they’re not that keen on communism
Why do the US & USSR class over future aims?
The US wants an open door market and profit which doesn’t work with the communist economies the USSR wants to set up.
What did the USSR want to set up to increase security? (future aim)
They wanted to create a ‘buffer’ zone under immediate Soviet control and then have a intermediate zone of non capitalist / communist countries
How did the USSR propose to increase security? (3
1) They wanted to place Poland, Bulgaria & Romania under direct Soviet control.
2) Reintegrate the Baltic States; Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania & reclaim territory lost to Finland in 1921
3) Keep land annexed from Poland (who’s be compensated by German land)
What did the USSR do to try & convince the US they didn’t have global ambitions anymore?
Dissolve the Comintern (1943)
What was Stalins personality / attitude to the West?
Paranoid
Give an example of Stalin’s paranoia…
Stalin believes the West delayed the Western Front to weaken the USSR
