The Emergence of USSR into a Superpower

Question 1

Build up of a military-industry war machine?

Answer 1

Armed forced consisted of 7.5 million well equipped troops
USSR had increased its territory- absorbed Baltic states and Eastern Poland
Red Army maintained control in areas of Europe that had been liberated as well as Berlin

Question 2

How can USSR be compared to USA as a superpower?

Answer 2

Before isolated before war, but were forced into the war by sudden aggression, then both built up a war machine- exploiting previously untapped potential, then being drawn into the heart of Europe to defeat Nazism

Question 3

What agreement reflected the USSR superpower status?

Answer 3

Grand Alliance

Question 4

Why was Britain not a super power?

Answer 4

By 1945 it had been exhausted and bankrupted by war, where the empire was also in decline

Question 5

How did USA undermine USSR status as superpower?

Answer 5

They developed the atomic bomb which was used to defeat Japan in the war

Question 6

Stalin’s plans to develop the atomic bomb?

Answer 6

Placed Beria in charge as he committed a huge number of resources to the project with the first successful test being in August 1949- this confirmed the super power status

Question 7

Important of United Nations?

Answer 7

In 1945 the USSR was one of 5 permanent members of UN security council

Question 8

After the war what did the Soviet form regarding territory?

Answer 8

Soviet Bloc- Soviet empire

Military and Political influence encouraged governments in neighbouring states to USSR that were friendly

Question 9

What were satellite states?

Answer 9

Countries that retained their national identity but had pro- Soviet governments

Question 10

What was a zone of buffer states?

Answer 10

A term used to describe the satellite states of Eastern Europe that would provide security for USSR borders- protect them from future invasion

Question 11

Deep roots of Soviet bloc?

Answer 11

1939 under terms of Nazi-Soviet pact USSR invaded eastern Poland and forces occupied Baltic States

Question 12

Katyn Forest Massacre?

Answer 12

22000 captured Polish army officers were killed by the NKVD to eliminate Polish nationalist elements that might oppose communism

Question 13

Warsaw uprising?

Answer 13

On 1 August the Red Army approached Warsaw fighter of the home army launched an uprising to liberate the city from German occupation and to support Polish nationalist underground state- Soviets halted advance and over 63 days the uprising was crushed

Question 14

Impact of Warsaw uprising?

Answer 14

The motives behind red army inaction were apparently ‘operational difficulties’ but were potentially more politically motivated

Question 15

Why was the establishment of the Soviet Bloc slower than expected?

Answer 15

In countries where democratic national governments were elected, communists parties were instructed by Moscow to join with non communist parties e.g. socialists and bourgeois liberals in order to gain a political foothold

Question 16

What were Salami tactics?

Answer 16

Subverting bourgeois parties to gain power from within by small incremental steps. Stalin’s ‘game plan’ to push communism into the heart of Europe

Question 17

Victim of Salami tactics?

Answer 17

Foreign minister of Czechoslovakia died from a fall from a high window in 1948

Question 18

Which two places did Salami tactics look to increase the power of the Soviet in?

Answer 18

Czechoslovakia and Hungary

Question 19

Impact of Salami tactics?

Answer 19

Growing tensions between USSR and capitalist west

Question 20

Agreement at Tehran?

Answer 20

Allies agreed to demand unconditional surrender from Germany in 1943 to prevent any power making separate peace with Hitler

Question 21

How did ideological influences impact on Tehran?

Answer 21

Stalin was very critical of his western powers not opening up the Second Front in the European War to relieve the pressure on Red Army
Disagreements about future of Poland

Question 22

Yalta conference?

Answer 22

Dominated by conflicting ideas about the post war borders of Germany and Poland

Question 23

Stalin’s dominance amongst Allies?

Answer 23

During conferences Roosevelt had died and Churchill had lost power after Labour party won general elections

Question 24

What was the Long telegram?

Answer 24

Fear of Soviet expansionism was exacerbated by a telegram sent to Washington from Moscow in Feb 1946 by the American Diplomat George Kennan- expert on Soviet affairs

Question 25

Purpose of Long telegram?

Answer 25

Contain Communism

Question 26

Iron curtain speech?

Answer 26

Churchill speech of 1946 warning of an Iron Curtain division- the extent of Soviet power and influence in east central Europe

Question 27

State of Europe by 1947?

Answer 27

Was in crisis- fears of complete economic collapse and political instability

Question 28

Truman Doctrine?

Answer 28

1947- asserted US policy of containment and the ‘rolling back of communism’

Question 29

Marshal plan?

Answer 29

A massive injection of aid to rebuild Europe- supposedly a generous offer of assistance to all European countries but many historians believe it was a political weapon used to extend US influence

Question 30

Stalin’s reaction to Marshal plan?

Answer 30

Saw it as a hostile act to Soviet interests- expressed fears in the concern that US wanted to rebuild Germany’s economy which would lead to a resurgence of German power
Soviet Bloc powers urged to resist Marshal plan

Question 31

What was Victorious February?

Answer 31

Legitimate success of anti fascists policies- leader of communists in Czechoslovakia took full control of government

Question 32

Catalyst for Berlin Blockade?

Answer 32

Soviet’s slipping control of Berlin since 1945

Introduction of new currency in Western Zones in June 1948

Question 33

What was the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 33

Stalin cut off all road and rail links between Berlin and the West- believed West were not willing to risk war and that the economic squeeze would force them to negotiate Berlin on Russia’s terms

Question 34

Defeat of Berlin Blockade?

Answer 34

Defeated by Berlin Airlift- coordinated by US military governor Lucius Clay- Allied aircraft flew essential supplies into West Berlin in winter 1948- calculated that Stalin would not risk war by shooting planes out of sky- west Berlin resisted Soviet inducements

Question 35

In how many days was blockade called off?

Answer 35

318

Question 36

Impact of Berlin Blockade?

Answer 36

Confirmed division of Germany and Berlin- established cold war

Question 37

What was formed to defend West against Soviet pressure?

Answer 37

NATO

Question 38

Who did Stalin look to ally with?

Answer 38

After victorious Chinese communist revolution- Stalin met with Communist chinese leader Zedong in Moscow to try and agree an alliance

Question 39

How to describe conflict up until 1989?

Answer 39

Not quite war, not quite peace