The development of the Cold War 1945-1951

Question 1

Truman’s attitude towards Stalin

Answer 1

1) Critical
2) The USSR was seeking not just to protect its borders from any future invasion, but rather to control the whole of Europe.

Question 2

Example of Soviet influence

• Poland

Answer 2

By invading Eastern Europe countries such as Poland in the latter stages of the war, it demonstrated that the USSR would maintain a considerable influence on them in the future.

Question 3

Example of Soviet influence

• Romania

Answer 3

Stalin imposed Communist regimes on many of the countries ‘liberated’ from Nazi influence or occupied by the Soviets.

Question 4

Example of Soviet influence

• Czechoslovakia

Answer 4

The Soviets forced Czechoslovakia to adopt Communism in 1948

Question 5

Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe

Answer 5

Countries such as Romania, Poland, Hungry, Bulgaria were governed by Communists.

Question 6

Define ‘Cold War’

Answer 6

Confrontation without directly fighting each other

Question 7

What was the Iron Curtain in 1946

Answer 7

An imaginary border between Communist and non-Communist countries

The political, military and ideological barrier erected by the Soviet Union after WW2.

Question 8

What was the Marshall Aid in 1948

Answer 8

Offered a $13 billion package to help European countries to recover from the effects of WW2

Question 9

What was the intention of the Marshall Aid in 1948?

Answer 9

To help countries to recover their prosperity so that Communism would lose any appeal.

Question 10

Success of the Marshall Aid in 1948

• Communism

Answer 10

The aid helped Western European countries to recover economically and fears of Communism in countries such as Italy and France receded.

Question 11

Berlin blockade 1948

• What happened?

Answer 11

Stalin ordered to cut all transport links with the West after the introduction of a new common currency, the Deutschmark in 1948.

Question 12

NATO 1949

Answer 12

Western European states joined together asking for formal support of the USA.

It served to prevent Soviet expansion.

Question 13

Korean War 1950-1953

• What happened

Answer 13

The UN sent forces to stop the invasion of South Korea by the North in 1950, in which the vast majority were American under an American Commander.

• Stalemate for three years

Question 14

Berlin Airlift 1948-1949

• Success

Answer 14

By 1949, 8,000 tons of supplies per day were being delivered despite Soviet threats to the aircraft, which were flying through Communist-controlled airspace.

Question 15

Berlin Airlift 1948-1949

• Implication

Answer 15

Confirmed Truman’s commitment to containment in Europe and highlighted the Soviet threat to Western Europe.

Question 16

Korean War 1950-1953

• Implications

Answer 16

1) Sino-American hostility was greatly increased, and the US gave increased support to Taiwan.
2) It helped to sustain McCarthyism and worsened the Cold War antagonism.