The Cold War Flashcards
The Cold War to present
Why was the term “Cold War” Used
The USSR and USA were never in direct military conflict
proxy wars in Asia: Afghanistan. Korea, Vietnam and Africa
US and USSR were both superpowers at this time and this was a truly global war but largely concetrated in the Northern Hemisphere.
USSR and US seem very distant but they are actually direct neighbors when looking at the north pole
The 3 Means of Control by the USSR
Military, Economic, Communist party stucture
- the Warsaw Pact Alliace was a military alliance that made each state in the USSR build their army to Soviet standards - Miitary control
- COMEA (Council of Mutual Economic Assistance) economically integrated the states
- The communsit part had a head in Moscow that had control over the satellite parties.
Soviet satellite control was complex
This worked in Eastern Europe but not on China
COMEA
Council of Mutual Economic Assistance
economic integration btw the Soviet states
War between USSR and China
started in 1969 and tentions lasted til 1989
ended the friendship btw the 2
NATO formation
formed in April 1949 from the Washington Treaty
called NATO bc the North Atlantic Ocean was so important than
Formed partially in reaction to the fall of CZ to a comminist coup detat (big shock to everyone in europe - Po, Hun, Bul, Rom had already fallen but CZ was dif). Communist parties were larges in IT and FR making everyone feel wary. Revealed that the satelite communist parties were in direct contact with moscow.
Greece and Turkey joined in ‘52.
West GR was the last join in ‘54
BC OF NATO, USSR NEVER GOT ANY CONTROL IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC
The Brussels Treaty
April 1948 framework for a military alliance between Western European Countries
UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium…. elites inviting US to join
only difference btw NATO and the Brussels treaty is the scale
The Washington Treaty
April 1949 established NATO
US, Canada, Iceland, and Greenland asked to participate
US, Canada, Iceland, and Greenland asked to participate ( all about thsoe North Atlantic Sea and Airlines of communcations): Portugal invited for similar reasons
The Baghdad Pact
1955 Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, UK aligned with W Europe rather than the closer Soviet threat
UK had a bigger presence in MENA than US so thats why UK was in charge
later renamed CENTO
SEATO
Southeast Asian Treaty Organization
Pakistan, Thailand, South Vietnam, Philippines, Frnace, UK, US
SEATO + CENTO + NATO encircled the Soviet bloc
Area of Decision
Terriroties that can be reached by both US and USSR bombs
theorized by Alexander De Seversky
all of western europe, USA, and USSR’s industrial cores were now in reach of the bombs (b4 USSR and US had strategicall yunreachable industrial cores)
DEW
D of Early Warning
there were 3 lines of radar established to wan the US and Canda of bombs coming. DEW was the first one on the outskirts of the artic circle. Mid-Canda and Pine Tree lines were the other two
Current Radar System
Thule (Greenland), Flyingdales (UK), Clear + Beale + Cape Cod (US)
new one coming in Romania to add radar from threats from MENA
Thule reiterates the importance of Greenland in NATO.
Flyingdales is the most important radar station in Europe.
GIUK GAP
Greenland Iceland UK Gap
USSR had a plan to invade Iceland in case of war btw Warsaw pact & NATO
Northern fleet was the most imporant USSR naval force (Northern dimension was the most important)
Iceland was where new troops were going to come in.
USS Nautilus (SSN-571)
First sub to do a submerged transit across the north pole (1954)
proved that the north pole was only ocean
World’s first operational nuclear-power submarine.
The WWII era diesel powered subs needed to surface often to get oxygen for the motor, spent most of its time above the surface (nuclear propelled subs spend 99.8% of time underwater).
North pole is ideal place for sub bc the crashing of icebergs conceal the subs from enemy sonars
The USS Nautilus destroyed Mackinder’s idea that the North sea was of 0 strategic importance.
