the origins of the cold war Flashcards
Grand Alliance was formed
1941 - Britain, USA and the USSR teamed up to defeat Nazi Germany and after that Japan in WW2.
The Tehran Conference
1943 - Early agreements made about what influence USA and the USSR should have re-building the world after WW2.
Victory in Europe Day
may 1945 - Nazi Germany was defeated and plans begin for a “Grand Alliance” attack on Japan
The Potsdam Conference
jul to aug 1945 - Tension began to rise between the USA and USSR, previous decisions about what influence USSR should have in Europe gone back on the USA.
The President of USA does not share his decision to use atomic bombs against Japan with USSR.
The USA used atomic bombs against Japan
aug 1945 - Japan surrendered and WW2 ended.
The bomb triggered a weapons (arms) race USA and USSR, USSR felt threatened by the power the USA now had.
The USSR created satellite states out of countries in Eastern Europe
1945 to 1947 - USSR freed countries from Nazi control, they didn’t want to give up their “presence” in these countries. President Truman saw this as proof that the the USSR wanted to spread Communism.
Winston Churchill delivered his “Iron Curtain” Speech
1946 - speech, Churchill criticised Communism and the creation of satellite states. He suggested that the USSR were bad as the Nazis had been in the way they were taking over East Europe. There was a divide between Capitalism (good) and Communism (evil).
George Kennan’s Long Telegram
feb 1946 - An American diplomat; reported that Stalin (the leader of the USSR) wanted to see capitalism destroyed, also that Stalin felt, every non-Communist country wanted to see Communism destroyed. also said that USSR were not “suicidal” and would back down if faced with strength from the USA. This influenced American decision to try to “contain” Communism around the world.
Novikov’s Telegram
sept 1946 - this telegram said that President Truman’s attitude was proof that America no longer wanted to cooperate with the USSR the same way they had been (Grand Alliance in WW2) He said Truman had a very different attitude to the previous US President, Roosevelt. He warned that the USA wanted to use its military to dominate the world and that the USSR had to do everything possible to keep its influence and protect Eastern Europe.
Marshall Aid (The Marshall Plan) was announced
june 1947 - designed to stop popularity of Communism growing around Europe. Marshall Aid would help economies grow and the wealth of countries ruined by war increase. It was offered to every European country even USSR. The thinking was that if people were rich, they would be less likely to support to support the extremes of Communism.
Cominform was set-up in the East
oct 1947 - setup to increase USSR’s control over satellite states and particularly ensure no country in Eastern Europe took Marshall Aid. At the first meeting, it was agreed that Marshall Aid was no better than Nazi propaganda had been in World War Two.
Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia
feb 1948 - A pro-USSR government was supported in overthrowing the democratic government in Czechoslovakia. New leadership was set up under Klement Gottwald.
