The developing Cold War: 1948 - 1961

Question 1

How was Germany divided at the end of WW2?

Answer 1

Into four zones.

French, British, American and Russian.

Question 2

What was the name given to the to the sum of all three capitalist zones?

Answer 2

Trizonia

Question 3

When was trizonia created with the western zones of Germany?

Answer 3

1947

Question 4

When did the Western zones of Germany introduce a new currency called the Deutschmark?

Answer 4

June 1947

Question 5

What was the importance of the western zones of Germany introducing a new currency?

Answer 5

It made the West noticeably richer than the East. This also angered Stalin and East Germany.

Question 6

How did Stalin respond in June 1948: to the new currency being introduced?

Answer 6

He blocked off West Berlin in an attempt to force the West out of the city.

Question 7

How did the USA respond to Stalin’s blockade of West Berlin?

Answer 7

Airlifted supplies into the city on a constant flight rotation for many months.

Question 8

What was formed on the 23rd of May, three days after the end of the Blockade?

Answer 8

NATO.

Question 9

What was the importance of the Blockade for relations between the USSR and the USA? (2)

Answer 9

It showed how ‘cold’ relations had got between the USA and the USSR.
It increased tension because it made the USSR look like the bad guys for causing the blockade

Question 10

Which countries joined NATO? (1949)

Answer 10

Lots, including - USA, France, GB, Iceland, Canada

Question 11

When did West Germany join NATO?

Answer 11

1955.

Question 12

Which countries joined the Warsaw Pact ?(1955)

Answer 12

Poland, USSR, Hungary, Romania, East Germany, Czechoslovakia…

Question 13

What was the purpose of NATO and the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 13

Defence against each other.

Question 14

What had started the arms race back in 1945?

Answer 14

The USA’s development and use of an atomic bomb on Japan.

Question 15

How much more powerful was the hydrogen bomb the USA developed in 952 compared to the atomic bomb?

Answer 15

1000x

Question 16

What did the USSR develop in 1953?

Answer 16

H-bomb.

Question 17

What is an ICBM?

Answer 17

Inter-continental ballistic missile, A missile that can fly between continents.

Question 18

When was the first American ICBM developed?

Answer 18

1957

Question 19

What failed to be agreed at a summit meeting in July 1955?

Answer 19

Disarmament.

Question 20

What was the secret speech?

Answer 20

A speech Khrushchev which announced peaceful coexistence and De-Stalinization

Question 21

Why did peaceful coexistence not work out? (2)

Answer 21

It was a contradiction .
It was based on there being cooperation but at the same time there was no question that Khrushchev would do anything that would make the USSR look bad or weaker in comparison by the USSR.

Question 22

Why were the people of Hungary unhappy in 1956? (4)

Answer 22

The brutal secret police.
Poor living conditions.
Their economy was being exploited by the USSR.
Food and raw materials were being taken by the USSR.

Question 23

Who replaced Rakosi as leader of the country? (Hungary)

Answer 23

Nagy.

Question 24

What did supporters of Nagy do when they saw Soviet tanks and soldiers?

Answer 24

Fought them, often with homemade bombs.

Question 25

Why did the USA not want to get involved in the 1956 Hungarian Uprising? (3)

Answer 25

Fear of Nuclear war.
Hungary was in the Soviet ‘sphere’ of influence.
The Americans were more occupied with a crisis in Egypt over ownership of the Suez Canal.

Question 26

What problem was occuring in 1958 Berlin?

Answer 26

A refugee crisis.

Question 27

What was the standard of living like in East Germany?

Answer 27

Poor.

Question 28

Why did skilled workers particularly want to leave East Germany?

Answer 28

For better pay and greater freedoms.

Question 29

Why were older and more vulnerable people happy to stay in East Germany?

Answer 29

They were supported by the state.

They knew they would always have an apartment, etc.

Question 30

What was Khrushchev’s ultimatum over the city of Berlin , issued on the 27th November 1958?

Answer 30

That the allies should leave the city to make it a neutral /free zone.

Question 31

Due to the fact no side, the east or the west wanted a war, what took place to try and sort out this issue in Berlin?

Answer 31

The Paris and Vienna Summits.

Question 32

What major event led to a breakdown in relations during talks in Paris in Many 1960?

Answer 32

An American spy plane was shot down in the USSR.

Question 33

How did the US president Kennedy appear tough and determined over Berlin at talks with Khrushchev in Vienna in 1961?

Answer 33

He refused to withdraw western forces from Berlin and increased defence spending.