Origins 1945-1949 Flashcards
When was the Yalta conference ?
February 1945
What agreements were made at Yalta?
Stalin join war against Japan.
Divide Germany between USA, USSR, Britain and France.
Prosecute Nazi war criminals.
Form United Nations to ensure future cooperation.
Eastern European countries hold free elections once freed from Nazi occupation.
Agreed Eastern Europe would be a Soviet Sphere of influence.
Declaration of Liberated Europe signed agreeing to these points.
Disagreement at Yalta
Stalin wanted to move the border of USSR further into Poland. USA and GB felt they had to agree although they wanted old polish government.
How did the West react in Potsdam showing they felt tension contributing to the Cold War?
Attlee and Truman wanted Eastern European countries to be independent and hold free elections. Most of Europe was occupied by red army except Yugoslavia and Greece. Leaders couldn’t fight because of Japan war so west powers accepted communist governments in power of Eastern Europe.
What changed in Potsdam + what did leaders want to achieve?
Roosevelt and Churchill replaced by Truman and Attlee who didn’t get on well with Stalin (especially Truman) worsening relations.
Truman: unfriendly relation with Stalin + concerned about Soviet growth. Had the atom bomb. Didn’t like that there was a communist government being set up in Poland.
Attlee: concerned about USSR expansion. Recognised Britain wasn’t dominant force so stayed close to USA in face of growing Soviet power.
Stalin: wanted to ensure Soviet security. Less willing to compromise + didn’t need to because of red army in Eastern Europe. Didn’t trust Truman and USA atomic weapons strengthened distrust.
When was Potsdam?
July 1945
Disagreements in Potsdam
Truman more anti- communist than Roosevelt.
Stalins armies controlled much of Eastern Europe.
Stalin wanted to set up pro- soviet governments governments in Eastern Europe and set up communist governments in Poland.
Truman saw this as him wanting to build soviet empire.
Stalin wanted to cripple Germany + demanded $10 million to make them less of a threat. Truman disagreed because crippling Germany would make them more likely to turn to corrupt leader out of desperation (which is what happened in ww2. Leads to Marshall aid.
How did tension start to rise after Potsdam?
Stalin started to spread communism in Eastern Europe and took control of Poland.
Wanted to cripple Germany so they were no longer a threat so when USA France and Britain combine their zones of Germany so the economy would recover quicker, Stalin blockades Berlin.
When was atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
August 1945.
When did Truman make a speech to Congress saying he wanted to do the Truman doctrine?
12 March 1947
When was Marshall plan launched?
June 1947
When did Stalin create Comecon?
1949
When was Berlin Blockade and airlift?
1948
