Origins Of The Cold War Flashcards
What was the aim and ambitions of Churchill at Yalta
Ensure survival of the British Empire (best Empire in history 25 percent of the world)
wanted to curb power of USSR. feared communism and thought USSR was a threat to west- wanted to stop spread of communism
When was Yalta
February 1945
What was the aim and ambitions of Roosevelt at Yalta
Wanted Empires to be broken up and free world to be created
A new peace keeping body (UN) would protect free world
Wanted USSR to join the UN as well and was willing to work with Stalin.
What was the aim and ambitions of Stalin at Yalta
Sought creation of buffer zone between western Europe and Russia
Wanted these countries to be controlled by communist governments to ensure loyalty wanted this due to USSR devastated in WW2 having 20 million deaths wanting friendly states around them so never happens again.
What were the key agreements at Yalta?
Germany and Berlin divided into four zones occupied by Britain, France, USA and the USSR
USSR would declare war on Japan three months after defeat of Germany
Eastern Europe would come under influence of USSR but there would be democratic elections in these countries to choose own governments
When was Potsdam
July 1945
What is two key differences between Potsdam and Yalta and why were they important?
Hitler had died and the war in Germany had ended in May 1945
This means that Russia and the West had no common enemy
Roosevelt died in April 1945 and was replaced by Harry Truman
Truman didn’t trust Stalin and wasn’t willing to work with him as Roosevelt had been
What were the Key agreements at Potsdam
Potsdam agreed each power could take reparations from their own zone in Germany instead of Yalta Germany would have to pay reparations thus not so many German lives were endangered
How Austria was going to be divided and occupied
New borders drawn up for Poland
What was the USA’s motivation for the use of the atomic bomb
War against Japan was dragging on and proving difficult for US. Fears that a land invasion of Japan by American soldiers could cost as many as a million US lives.
President Truman alarmed that USSR may try to take control of Japan and spread communism there.
What was the effect of the bomb
Everything within a 2 mile radius of the bomb blast was flattened
Around 250,000 people died.
How the use of the bomb created further tension
Stalin furious Americans hadn’t shared bomb technology with USSR
Stalin believed US dropped it to send intimidatory message to soviets
Added to Stalin’s belief that USA let USSR fight on against Nazi Germany longer than they needed to.
