Reasons for the cold war Flashcards
1
Q
Why was there deteriorating relations between 1920-30?
A
- USA and Soviet union had v different ideological beliefs- capitalism v communism
- Western powers left Stalin out of discussions such as the agreement to let Hitler to take over parts of Czechoslovakia
- Hitler and Stalin signed the Nazi-soviet pact= agreed to split Poland between them. West felt betrayed
2
Q
Why were tensions increased during WW2?
A
- Western allies bombed Japan and only told Stalin in the last moment. Stalin thought this was because they were planning to bomb the Soviets
- feared Stalin would want to install communism in the countries they’d conquered
3
Q
What was agreed at the Tehran conference?
A
- US + Britain would open a 2nd front by launching an attack on Germany which would ease the pressure at the Eastern front
- Stalin would agree war against Japan but only once the war in Europe was over
- bring the complete surrender of Germany + Poland should receive land from Germany
- Soviet gets to keep its land in Poland
- international body should be set up, led to future United nations
4
Q
When was the Tehran conference?
A
-November 1943
5
Q
What were the impacts of the Tehran conference on relations?
A
- Stalin arrived thinking that the US and Britain were deliberately delaying the 2nd front against Germany=pleased when they agreed to open the front on the West
- Churchill less pleased because he wanted to open the 2nd front on the Balkans
- some tension between US and Britain as Roosevelt viewed colonialism as a threat to world peace
6
Q
When was the Yalta conference?
A
-February, 1945
7
Q
What agreements were made at the Yalta conference?
A
- after war, Germany would be split into 4 zones + each controlled by different power
- Germany would pay $20 billion in reparations + Nazi party banned + war criminals persecuted
- UN would be set up
- Stalin agreed future governments of countries in Eastern Europe would be decided in free elections
- borders of Poland would be returned to there position + there would be free elections- Stalin expected them to bring communism
8
Q
When was the Potsdam conference?
A
-July-August 1945
9
Q
Which crucial events happened before the Potsdam conference?
A
- Roosevelt died in April, replaced by Truman
- Churchill lost the 1945 British election + new prime minister was Clement Attlee
- Germany surrendered in May 1945
- Scientists in US developed atomic bomb
10
Q
How were Truman and Attlee different to Roosevelt and Churchill?
A
- they were new to diplomatic discussions
- Truman wanted to ‘get tough’ with Stalin, aware he wanted to spread communism
11
Q
What agreements were made at Potsdam?
A
- Germany divided into 4 zones, ADMINISTERED by Soviet union, German economy run same
- Berlin divided into 4 zones
- each administrating country would take reparations from their own zone
- Truman objected to the arrangements for Poland + borders that been agreed
- Truman thought as the Soviet forces remained in the occupied countries, Stalin was using them as an army of occupation
12
Q
What were the impacts on relations of the atomic bomb?
A
- Stalin’s aim was to create a buffer zone between Germany and Soviet union
- Soviet scientists worked on their own atomic bomb=arms race
- bomb increased cold war tensions
