The origins of the Cold War: 1941 - 1948

Question 1

What were the 3 conferences held between 1943 and 1945 to discuss the future of the world after WW2? (3)

Answer 1

Tehran.
Yalta.
Potsdam.

Question 2

What was agreed at the Tehran Conference in 1943? (4)

Answer 2

The Grand Alliance agreed to cooperate.
The USA and GB would invade Nazi occupied France at the earliest chance.
The USSR would attack Japan.
The United Nations would be formed.

Question 3

What was agreed at the Yalta Conference in Feb 1945? (7)

Answer 3

Germany and Berlin would be split into 4 zones, Berlin was still split even though it was part of the USSR’s section in East Germany.
USSR would attack Japan.
German War criminals would be punished.
Free elections in USSR occupied countries.
Free elections in Poland.
The Nazi party would be banned and war criminals prosecuted.
Germany would pay $20 billion in reparations half of which would go to the Soviet union.

Question 4

Who replaced Roosevelt as the president of the USA at the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 4

Truman, he was suspicious of Communism and did not like Stalin.

Question 5

What created tension at the Potsdam Conference in July-Aug 1945? (3)

Answer 5

Change of leaders.
Stalin wanted influence in Poland.
The USA used the atom bomb on Japan without telling the USSR.

Question 6

When did the USA use the atomic bombs on Japan and what war ended as a result of their use? (2)

Answer 6

August 1945 during the Potsdam Conference.

WW2 came to an end.

Question 7

What were the Tehran, Yalta, Potsdam talks known as?

Answer 7

Wartime Conferences

Question 8

What were the consequences of the USA using the atomic bomb against Japan? (2)

Answer 8

The USSR began to build their own and this marked the start of the Arms Race.
The USSR tightened its control over the Eastern European countries it occupied.

Question 9

In what year did the USSR develop their own atomic bomb?

Answer 9

1949.

Question 10

What did George Kennan’s Long Telegram say about the USSR in 1946?

Answer 10

The USSR was expanding its control and was aggressively trying to take over land in Europe

Question 11

What did the USSR’s Novikov telegram say about the USA In reply?

Answer 11

The USA was aggressive and looking to dominate the world with its power.

Question 12

What Eastern European countries became satellite states of the USSR up to 1948? (5)

Answer 12

Poland.
East Germany.
Hungary.
Romania.
Bulgaria.

Question 13

How did different countries, especially Poland come to be Satellite states? (3)

Answer 13

Rigged elections.
Communists taking key roles in coalition governments,
The Red Army.

Question 14

What did Winston Churchill famously say, in 1946, was happening in Europe?

Answer 14

An ‘Iron Curtain’ was developing between free capitalist countries and communist countries.

Question 15

How did the USA view the USSR’s creation of ‘Satellite states’?

Answer 15

An aggressive move, empire building.

Question 16

What was Stalin’s justification for Satellite states? (2)

Answer 16

Communism was good for people.

It was a buffer against future invasion.

Question 17

What was the main message of the Truman Doctrine speech in 1947?

Answer 17

To contain/stop the spread of Communism.

Question 18

What was happening in Greece and Turkey that moved Truman to make the speech when he did? (2)

Answer 18

Civil war and communist uprisings.

Britain couldn’t deal with the situation so the USA had to do the ‘superpower’ thing by stepping in.

Question 19

What was the purpose of the Marshall plan?

Answer 19

The help Europe recover from the war without turning to Communism, in turn stopping the ‘spread’

Question 20

What was the importance of the Marshall plan for the world? (3)

Answer 20

It increased the USSR’s determination to secure influence of its own.
It increased the divide between Communist and Capitalist countries because the USSR pressured their satellite states to reject Marshall Aid.
It led to the USSR setting up Cominform and then later Comecon.

Question 21

Define ‘Satellite State’

Answer 21

A country that is formally independent in the world, but under heavy political, economic and military influence or control from another country.

Question 22

What was agreed at the Potsdam Conference in July-August 1945? (3)

Answer 22

The German economy would be run as a whole.
Germany would be divided into four zones administered by the Soviet Union, the USA, Britain and France.
Berlin would also be divided into four zones , controlled by different countries, even though it was based well inside soviet-controlled Germany.