Origins Flashcards
Feb 1945
Yalta Conference
Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill
Concessions and agreements were made, Declaration of Liberated Europe was signed → facade of peace after WW2
Declaration of Liberated Europe signed
July-Aug 1945
Potsdam Conference [Significance: Brought out the differences in ideologies and goals]
Stalin, Truman, Attlee
*change of leadership + relationship between USSR and the western powers worsened considerably
Disagreements began to show
On the amount of reparations
Allied plans for German industry (Morgenthau plan)
To reduce and manage Germany’s industrial capacity to prevent recurrence → eliminate Germany’s ability to wage war by eliminating its arms industry and removing other key industries basic to military strength [Economic disarmament]
*However, this plan was not adopted (1947) as it is unworkable, wld result in millions of starvation
On how the occupied zones will be administered economically: USSR wanted to exploit Germany to repair its own economy, asking for many reparations + keep Germany economically weak to prevent recurrence of German aggression VS US was worried that economic devastation will turn Germany to Anarchism or Communism, instead wanting to use German resources to kickstart the post-war European recovery → strengthen democratic institutions in europe → prevent spread of communism ; Also, US do want want a economically weak Europe for stability in Europe, only with economic prosperity , political stability can be achieved → less incentives for war
Control of poland (free elections VS under Soviet control for security reasons)
6,9 Aug 1945
US Nukes Hiroshima and Nagasaki, end of World War 2
The US wanted to end the war promptly and did not want to be dependent on the USSR
Sought to gain political leverage over the USSR in post-war negotiations
Stalin believed it was a threat to the USSR → began its own nuclear project since 1942
First signs of splintering and distrust and aroused Soviet suspicions → leading to USSR rapidly catching up with military prowess → successful detonate 1st atomic bomb in 1949 → arms race
1945-1948
Sovietisation of Eastern Europe
Establishment of a ring of satellite states, such as Hungary, around the USSR.
Salami tactics (1st phase of Sovietisation)
See it as a defensive measure to strengthen its security + sphere of influence
However, the US interpreted it as USSR being aggressive, trying to expand global communist influence
9 Feb 1946
Bolshoi Theatre Speech
Stalin’s “election” speech, which was misunderstood by the West as a threat.
Stalin said that there was an inherent conflict between communism and capitalism
Increased tensions, also demonstrated mutual misunderstanding.
22 Feb 1946
Long Telegram
Private document by US diplomat in Moscow, George Kennan.
Outlining of Soviet behaviour to the US
Coined theory of Containment → Convinced the US government to approve a higher military budget and adopt a more hawkish stance towards the USSR by exaggerating the threat of the USSR + be more actively involved in Europe → shift of US foreign policy from isolationism to containment
Feb-May 1946
Iranian Crisis
Soviets remained in then-occupied Iran even after the agreed date to leave.
Under US and UK pressure, the Soviets withdrew swiftly.
Demonstrated Soviet opportunism (test waters to how the West would react to Soviet breach of agreements)
Mar 1946
Iron Curtain Speech
Churchill brought disagreements between the East and West into the open.
Called the USSR’s actions aggressive and expansionist, calling for the Western world to deal firmly with the USSR.
Increased distrust between superpowers, ending any hope of cooperation.
Aug-Oct 1946
Turkish Straits Crises
Show of Soviet military pressure demanding control over the Turkish strait that connected the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.
The USSR backed down after US warships appeared to aid Turkey.
Shows Soviet opportunism + Increased Western Suspicion.
Jan 1947
Formation of Bizonia (US & UK occupied zones)
Sought the revival of the German Economy
But against Soviet will → Soviets wanted a weak Germany for security interests.
Mar 1947
Truman Doctrine
Official Policy/marked the start of Containment
Introduced in his speech to the American congress, emphasised on US’s will to protect freedom and democracy
Provided aid to states in danger of falling to Communism in the belief that hunger and poverty would make people turn towards communism
$300M to Greece
$100M to Turkey
Jun 1947
Marshall Plan
$14B for Western European Economic Revival regardless of whether the countries were under communisr influence
Dollar Imperialism? → Establish US economic dependence + reduce the lucrativeness of Communism in Western Europe ; make communism less appealing
Targeted move as if USSR accepted the aid it would need to open itself to american influence;If it refused and disallow satellites states to take part, it would strain relations between them → either way would undermine USSR’s influence in Europe
The USSR banned Eastern European countries from accepting the aid.
Jul 1947
Mr. X Article
Kennan’s call for a policy of Containment towards the Soviet Union
Formed the bulk of post-war US foreign policy.
Jul 1947
Mr. X Article
Kennan’s call for a policy of Containment towards the Soviet Union
Formed the bulk of post-war US foreign policy.
Jun 1947-1948
2nd Phase of Sovietisation
A much more coercive form of Sovietisation, using brute force to achieve their objectives.
Demonstrated a drastic shift from appeasing the West to pursuing their agenda without heed. → Truman Doctrine was the trigger for the USSR’s shift in policy.
The USSR believed that future cooperation was no longer possible.
Sept 1947
COMINFORM established
Direct response to the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine
Aims to unite and coordinate actions of communist parties worldwide + tighten control of satellite states
Economic aid offered to satellite states
Contact with non-communist states was discouraged
Feb 1948
Czech Coup
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (with Soviet backing) overthrew the existing government.
Part of the 2nd Phase of Sovietisation.
Perceived by the west as examples of increased Soviet Aggression
1 Jun 1948
Currency Reforms in Western Zones (Trizonia was formed in April 1949)
Currency reforms in West Germany became a threat to the Soviet system and the East German economy as the new currency have successfully led to strong economic recovery in western zones
Subsequently , Stalin also introduced his own currency in the Soviet zone
24 Jun 1948 - May 1949
Berlin Blockade
Significance: 1st major CW crisis + reflected the conflicting visions they had over the future of Germany + emphasised the extent to which mutual suspicions over each other’s intentions, undermining superpower relations
Culmination/height of Soviet expansionism and tyranny.
Response to the formation of Trizonia
Aimed to force western powers to abandon their plans to unify occupation zones as Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak and divided
Berlin airlift: The West airlifted 30000 tons of food per day to the sealed-off West Berlin
Jan 1949
COMECON formed (Council of Mutual Economic Assistance)
Enforce Soviet domination over the Eastern European economy + Soothe EE dissent over the exclusion from the Marshall Plan.
However, it was unable to provide economic aid on a similar scale as the Marshall Plan
Arrangements exploited satellites states and was main benefitting itself
Apr 1949
NATO formed
Militarisation of the Cold War.
aim : to strengthen security of WE , come to each other’s defence if they were attacked
Western Military alliance to enact containment against the USSR (req use of military force)
Aug 1949
Soviets test First Atomic Bomb
Nuclear Parity between the West and the Soviets.
Oct 1949
CCP Wins Chinese Civil War
Created a more favourable international climate for USSR and an alliance was formed quickly
Spread of the Cold War beyond Europe.
1945-16 Oct 1949
Greek Civil War
Between the Monarchists and the Communists.
1955
Warsaw Pact formed
Soviets saw formation of NATO as an immediate threat to its own security , inclusion of west germany further heightened the perceived threat
Soviet-Eastern Europe defence grouping that was created as a safeguard against NATO. (Direct response to NATO)
Designed to prevent Eastern European states from breaking away from Soviet control.
Significance: Nato and Warsaw pact expanded the dimensions of cold war from political and economic to military ; concrete expression of animosity and increasingly bipolar world
