The Conferences+Iron Curtain Speech Flashcards
What was the significance of the conferences (the term Iron Curtain was used by Winston Churchill to desrcribe the poltical and Military barrier created the Soviet Union) -
They helped to shape the post war international order and the creation of opposing aliances
The iron curtain divided Europe into two areas from the End of WW2 to the end of the cold war, the nations on the capatlists side of the iron curtains joined NATO, while the nations on the communist side joined the Warsaw Pact.
The conferences showed how the big 3 worked together in order to come into agreement over many of the decisions after the war
Why did tensions start to rise after WW2
The US and USSR had a common enemy in Nazi Germany during the war meaning they put their differences aside and fought together
However now that Nazi Germany was defeated The USA feared soviet Exapansion into Western Europe and the rest of the World
The USSR installed left wing goverments into countries of Eastern Europe that were set free by the red army (USSR military)
Marshall Plan -the uS offered aid to western European countriesto rebuild after WW2. USSR also introduced COMECON as an Eastern Equilvent
(These tension led the COLD WAR)
What did Stalin create due to him being paranoid about protecting the USSR
He created a buffer zone by forcing countries in eastern Europe to become communist
What were some decisions made at yalta potsdam and tehran
Tehran was the first conference then Yalta and then Potsdam read question 14 and 15 for the other 2 conferences
Yalta Confrence Feb- 1945 big three Churchill(English), Roosevelt (USA) and Stalin (USSR) met at Yalta Crimea regin of USSR. The aim of the meeting was to agree ona post war settlement and decide what to do with Germany once it had been defeated
Outcomes
Germany would be divided into 4 zones of occupation with USSR, Britain,France and USA each controlling a zone.
France was liberated at nazi Germany and included at thr conference due to pressure from the french leader. But Britain also needed a European ally with whom it share the cost of post-war reconstruction of Germany.
All countries freed Nazi german were to be guaranteed the right to hold free democratic elections.
Stalin committed to join the war against Japan once Germany had been defeated. This was important to the Americans who were suffering heavy losses in the pacific although they were pushing back on the Japanese
All leaders agreed to pursue and put on trial all Nazi war criminals.
The allies agreed to the setting up of the United Nations organisation decidated to international cooperation and the prevention of war.
Decisions were made about the end of the war and what happens after,nazi party banned,Russia to help USA beat Japan
What was the significance of the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945)
First use of Atomic bomb in War.
The bombing contributed to the end if world war2 with japan surrendering to the allies after 6 days of bombing Nagasaki
The bombings demonstrated the devastating power of nuclearweapons and the destruction they can cause
Many survivors later succumbed to radiation poisoning and the effects are still beung felt today. The survivors faced increased risks ofcancer and chronic diseases.
Showed how the USA werent afraid to use force to win battles
Caused the USSR to start developing a better bomb than the US
Starting the arms race,
It also made the two more reluctant to go to war due to MAD
Stalin felt more determined to make the country secure by creating a buffer zone of countries sympathetic towards communism
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What was agreed at Yalta (Feb 1945)
The allies discussed winning the war
The allies decided that after the war Germany would have to pay 20 billion in reperations and would be split into 4 zones each controlled by a superpower
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What were the problems that arose after WW2
There was tension between the allies as Stalin wanted control of eastern Europe however Truman viewed this as communist agreesion creating hostility between the two
What was the significance of the long telegram
In 1946, George Kennan an official at the US embassy in Moscow was asked to provide a sunmary of what rhe soviets were up toand their intentions in Eastern Europe. His response was what became kniwn as the long telegram it was 8,000 words.
In the telegram he said the USSR was heavily armed and feared the outside world. It was determined to spread communism and therefore there could no co-existence between the USSR and USA. He said the US was stronger than USSR and communusm could be contained.
The USSR responded with Novikiv telegram. In which the Soviet smbassador to USA warned the USA had emerged from WW2 economically stronger and bent ob world domination. As a rsult the USSR needed to secure its buffer zone in Eastern Europe.
These two telegraphs set the scene for the cold war in Europe
The USSR would commit to dominate Eastern Europe and spread communsim where possible and the USA would commit to contain commusinm and stop the spread of communism into Western Europe
It stated that Stalin wanted to see the destruction of capitalism and that he felt everybody wanted to destroy communism.This started the American Ideology of containement
What was the significance of the Novikov Telegram
Novikov’s telegram was a response to the Long telegram and stated that the Us wanted to use their power to dominate the world
The USA no longer want to co-operate with the soviets.
This meant that the soviets now focused on protecting themselves
When was the Iron Curtain Speech and who was it made by
5th March 1946,Winston Churchill
What was the Iron Curtain Speech and where was it which made it Significant
It was a speech on how the soviets were a threat to world peace and freedom
they formed an iron curtain across europe.
This was significantly done in the US as it showed Stalin that this was also the US’s thoughts
and it got the US on the side of the british which helped end the policy of isolationim
What were some decisions made at potsdam (held in Potsdam just outside Berlin Germany 17 July- 02 August 1945)
The aim was to put in action all things agreed at the post war settlement at Yalta. The meeting at Yalta was reasonably friendlly. This had disagreements due to changes that had taken place since the Yalta agreement.
Roosevelt had died, Truman now president disliked communism. Truman had succesful tested an atomic bomb in New Mexico and Stalin wasnt happy there secrets between allies( nuclear threat). Despite agreeing free elections in Eastern Europe there was little evidence of that Stalin intended to allow them.
Outcomes
Little real progress was made at Potsdam beyond agreeing to make sure they put into action what was agreed at Yalta.
What were some decisions made at Tehran conference( held in Persia in November 1943 by the big 3 churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin)
The aim was to liberated/ set free nazi occupied France
Outcomes
USA and Britain would invade France by May 1944
USSR would join the USA and Britain in the war against Japan once Nazi Germany was defeated.
