The end of the Second World War: Why did a Cold War Develop? (3) Flashcards
Why did the Cold War start?
It started because of the mistrust which had developed between the West and the USSR after a communist government came to power in Russia in 1917. Over the years, the suspicions and tensions between them increased.
When did the USSR and USA ‘set aside their differences’?
During the WW2 (1939-1945), they temporarily set aside their differences because of the threat posed by Hitler and Nazi Germany.
What was formed in 1941?
The USA, the USSR, and Britain formed a Grand Alliance to defeat Germany. However it was an uneasy alliance and beneath the surface, the suspicions between them remained.
What happened in February 1945?
The leaders of the Grand Alliance - Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill- met at Yalta in the USSR.
What was the main purpose of the Yalta conference?
The main purpose of the meeting was to decide what to do about Germany, and the countries controlled by the Germans in Eastern Europe, once the Nazis had been defeated in the war.
What was agreed at the Yalta conference? (2)
- They agreed that Germany would be divided into zones of occupation, each to be administered by one of the Big Three Allied powers until they were ready for independent government.
- They also agreed that the countries in Eastern Europe should be allowed to hold free elections to determine the type of government they wanted
What happened after Germany was defeated in 1945?
There was no more need for the Grand Alliance.
Where did the distrust between the USSR and the West become apparent?
The distrust and suspicions which had been building up between the USSR and the West became more evident at a second conference of Allied leaders held at Potsdam, in Germany, in July 1945.
By the Potsdam conference what what changes had taken place which affected relationships between the three leaders? (5)
- The Soviet Army was in control of much of Eastern Europe
- Stalin had set up a communist government in Poland, ignoring the wishes of majority of the Soviet people
- Roosevelt had died and been replaced by Truman, who was much more anti-communist and suspicious of Stalin than Roosevelt had ever been
- The Americans had successfully tested the first atomic bomb and planned to use it to end the war against Japan
- Shortly after the conference , Churchill was defeated in a general election in Britain, and was replaced by the new Labour prime minister, Attlee.
What effect did the atomic bomb, the Americans designed have on relations?
Although the USA and the USSR had been wartime allies, the Americans did not inform Stalin about the development of this new weapon until the Potsdam Conference, which fostered tensions and created a sense of mistrusted.
What did the absence of Churchill lead to?
It led the conflict between Stalin and Truman dominating the agenda at the conference.
Define reparations.
Payment for damages caused during a war.
What was the disagreement between the leaders about at Yalta?
A key disagreement between the leaders was what to do about Germany.
What did Stalin want to do with Germany?
Stalin wanted Germany to pay reparations for the extensive damage that the German army had caused in the USSR during the war. He wanted to cripple Germany completely so that it would not be strong enough in the future to invade the USSR again.
What did Truman want to do with Germany?
He did not want to create a bitter and hostile Germany, which is what happened after the First World War. This had helped Hitler and the Nazi Party come to power in Germany.
What did the Allied leaders decide in the end? (3)
- They decided that there would be four zones of occupation in Germany. The Soviet Union would administer the Eastern Zone, while the USA, Britain and France would administer the three western zones.
- The city of Berlin, which was situated in the Soviet Zone, would also be divided in four sectors.
- They also agreed that, although Germany was to administered in four zones, it was to remain united and that economically they should work in co-operation with the long-term of keeping Germany one country.
