The Origins Of The Cold War 1945-1960 Flashcards
What was the Cold War?
A period of deep rivalry and hostility between the US and USSR
Instead of a direct war how did the rivals compete against each other? (5 ways)
- Each side used propaganda to say how bad its rival was
- Each side tried to influence other countries and get them to join its side
- Each side sold arms, made loans and gave aid to other countries to try to win them over
- Sometimes one side encouraged countries supporting it to attack countries supporting the other side (proxy wars)
- Each side built up its arms and military technology- arms race
What did the U.S.A think the USSR wanted to do
Spread communism throughout Europe, and so dominate Europe
What did the Soviets think that the USA and its allies wanted to do + what did it blame the western capitalist countries for?
The Soviets thought that the USA and its allies wanted to destroy Communism. They also blamed the western countries for “helping” Hitler make Germany strong again
What were the consequences of the two countries ideological differences?
Both sides were suspicious of each other’s different way of life. These fears and suspicions soon turned to policies designed to prevent the other side from getting too much strength, helping to cause the Cold War
The Americans had the Atom bomb in 1945 but the Russians did not until 1949 what were the consequences of this?
Made the Americans more confident and forceful in their dealings with the Soviets
What year was the Yalta conference?
1945
What was decided at the Yalta conference?
- Germany and Berlin what to be divided into four temporary zones
- Soviet union was to be allowed to have influence in Eastern Europe but Soviet union must allow free elections in the eastern European countries that the Soviet Army was capturing from the Germans
- Germany must pay reparations
- The UN would be set up
- Nazi war criminals would be put on trial
- Stalin would join in the war against Japan
What wasn’t decided on at Yalta and what were the consequences of this?
What should happen to Poland- USA and Britain was worried it was being taken over by the USSR
The issue of Poland would cause problems later especially at Potsdam, although Feb 1945 no one thought the allies would fall out so significantly
What year was Potsdam?
1945
What was difference at Potsdam compared to Yalta and why?
There was much more open distrust. US and Britain did not like the amount of control the Soviets had over Poland . Could see that free elections were not going to be held.
Americans also tested first atom bomb successfully. Truman told Stalin
Consequences of Potsdam conference?
Stalin and Truman grew suspicious of each other. Stalin showed he couldn’t be trusted because of the lack of free elections.
Truman did not try to negotiate with Stalin, no real attempt made to sort out the issues as thought he had the ‘trump card’ (atom bomb)- use its power to scare Stalin and give US upper hand
Which two cities in Japan were bombed in 1945?
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Throughout which years was Soviet Expansion in Europe?
1945-48
Why did the Soviets want to set up satellite states in Eastern Europe?
- Wanted communism to spread
- Defensive- wanted a buffer zone that would guard Russia against attack from the West. WW2 had inflicted large damage on Russia
- The wealth and resources of the satellite countries could be used to help rebuild Russia
- Germany must be kept weak. Dividing Germany up would make sure of this
What were the consequences of soviet expansion in eastern Europe?
Led to great suspicion about Stalin’s intentions. To the USA and Britain it appeared that Stalin was trying to spread communism across Europe and increase his power.
Stalin had broken agreements made at Yalta- further worried US and Britain who wanted people in Europe to have democracy and freedom.
USA angry and suspicious of Stalin
When was the Truman Doctrine created?
1947
What was the Truman Doctrine?
In 1947 Truman decided to protect Turkey and Greece from communism. Promised to help any country threatened by “outside pressure”- communism wasn’t publicly named.
What were the consequences of the Truman Doctrine?
Led to the policy of containment. To USSR appeared as almost a declaration of war against communism. Once Truman outlined this idea there was little chance they would solve their differences
What was the Marshall plan and when was it put into action?
A programme offering aid to the countries of Europe who were all trying to recover from the effects of WW2. June 1947
What were the consequences of the Marshall Plan?
Stalin banned communist countries from accepting Marshall aid, expelled Yugoslavia from cominform for taking it anyway.
Stalin called it dollar imperialism, claimed Truman was trying to bribe other countries- heightened suspicions
Why did the US offer Marshall aid?
- Wanted to contain communism- if they remained poor might choose communism because it promised to spread wealth evenly. France and Italy communists were doing quite well in elections. People less likely to turn to communism is their countries were recovering and getting richer
- Could spread capitalist propaganda and American influence
In what year did the Western zones merge into one?
1948
What was happening in the western zone of Germany in 1948 and what was the result of this?
It was becoming more prosperous, new German currency was introduced (Deutschmark). Angered Stalin who wanted Germany to stay weak, decided to act- Berlin Blockade
What was the Berlin Blockade? (1948-1949
The Soviets decided to force the Americans/British/French out of the western part of Berlin.
Closed road, railway and canal routes- couldn’t block air without shooting planes down which would have led to a “hot” war. Decided to only reopen routes if they left West Berlin, meanwhile West Berlin would starve
America, Britain and France decided to supply West Berlin with food and fuel by air- was successful and Stalin called off Blockade May 1949
Results of the Berlin Blockade? (4)
- Strengthening of the Truman Doctrine. US had shown they would not let Stalin get away with such acts.
- Stalin’s failure made him more hostile
- Unification of Germany and Berlin delayed
- Led the USA to begin NATO
Consequences of NATO?
To the USSR looked as if the countries of the west were ganging up on the USSR. Claimed it was created to threatens and eventually attack them.
Heightened tensions- heightened cold War
Consequences of the arms race 1945-60
Made the cold war worse because each side was building hundreds of powerful nuclear bombs to keep up with each other. This made the chance of nuclear war greater and made it possible that the USSR and USA could destroy large amounts of the world if they ever went to war.
MAD
When was the Korean war?
1950 to 1953
Where was Korea split?
The 38th parallel
How did the Korean War start? (4)
- 1949 the communist in china won the civil war they had been fighting. China became a communist country
- Kim Sung was encouraged to think he could easily get help to invade S Korea
- He asked permission from the Soviets and China to go ahead with an invasion, they both agreed
- Russian and Chinese soldiers not sent to help but NK army already equipped with Russian weapons + Russia helped train it
When did North Korean troops invade South Korea?
June 1950
Why did the US push the UN into helping South Korea?
Following the Truman Doctrine.
Americans feared a domino effect, if South Korea were communist then other neighbouring countries would come under threat
If Russia had been there could have vetoed
Where did the Americans under General MacArthur land + why was it an important place/affect on NK army?
Landed at Inchon September 1950
Inchon was an important road and rail centre, NK army’s supply lines passed through it. With its supply lines cut the North Korean army had to retreat from its position threatening Pusan and was almost destroyed
What happened after the Americans landed at Inchon? + what did China do in response? (Korean war)
The UN forces advanced north across the 38th parallel into North Korea and Hagan to get close to the Chinese border. The Chinese decided this was a threat to them and and a hug Chinese army attacked the UN forces in NK by surprise in Nov 1950
What happened to the UN forces after they were attacked by the Chinese?
- The UN forces were driven back into South Korea, and only heavy bombing by the US Airforce helped to slow down the chine advance south
- General MacArthur asked president Truman to use the atom bomb- Truman refused this as it would push America closer to a world war with the soviets. MacArthur was sacked.
What happened after massive American bombing finally stopped the Chinese just south of the 38th parallel? (3)
- A UN counter attack pushed back the frontline to just north of the 38th parallel
- From January 1951- July 1953 there was a stalemate with frequent attacks by Chinese forces but little land lost or gained
- 1953 a ceasefire was arranged
What were the consequences of the Korean War?
- UN looked strong, successfully interfered
- Communism was contained
- China emerged as a powerful country
- Showed neither side wanted a “hot war” - no direct fighting, USSR didn’t send troops
When was the thaw during the Cold War?
1953-1956
Why was Stalin’s death a reason for the easing of tension?
Americans linked Cold War strongly with his leadership
What was Krushchev’s idea of coexistence?
US and USSR should try to live together in peace- looked like Cold War might be ending
What happened in 1955 + how did it show the thaw?
The soviets cooperated with America, Britain, France to sign the Austrian state treaty making Austria a self-ruling country again
A large part was controlled by the USSR so gave up land he could have made communist
Consequences of the Geneva Summit conference 1955?
First time of such a high level meeting between the east and west since 1945. Little was agreed but showed they were talked to each other again. Khrushchev even visited USA and Britain to show he wanted peace
When was the Warsaw Pact created?
1955
What were the policies of the Warsaw Pact?
If any country attacked any of the communist countries in Europe they would all get involved
Also meant that the USSR gave modern tanks, aircrafts and guns to all the communist countries in Europe- now had more powerful armies although still largely controlled by USSR
Consequences of the Warsaw Pact?
Made USSR stronger- 7 European countries now stronger. Made sure they would always help protect the USSR in a war against NATO
Cold War worse- now any conflict between a NATO and Warsaw Pact country could turn into a huge war
Consequences of the nuclear arms race?
Made Cold War worse- each side building hundreds of powerful nuclear bombs to keep up with each other
MAD
What ended the thaw?
The Hungarian uprising in November 1956
Why did the Hungarians dislike Rakosi?
He was tightly controlled by Moscow and highly loyal to the soviets- “hardline”
What did the death of Stalin in 1953 cause the Hungarians to think?
That control from Russia would become more relaxed
Who was Rakosi replaced by before he took over once again in 1955 + what was different about him?
Imre Nagy- more moderate communist
What did Rakosi do after he took over again in 1955?
Cracked down on all forms of criticism of Soviet domination. AVH arrested many Hungarians who had been encouraged to speak out because of the thaw
What were the Hungarians impatient with?
The falling standards of living they they had under communism. There were shortages of goods and low wages
Who was Rakosi replaced by in 1956?
Erno Gero
What did the Hungarians assume after Rakosi had gone?
That they were once more free to criticise Soviet control
What happened in October 1956?
Anti-Soviet demonstrations in Budapest. Large numbers of Hungarian students protested in the streets
What happened on the 23 October 1956?
A large crowd pushed over the statue of Stalin in the centre of Budapest
What happened from the 24-25 of October
Communist government lost control, street battles in Budapest between soviet tanks and armed rebels.
Erno Gero fled to Russia and a new communist government under Imre Nagy
What had happened by the 28 of October?
New Gov controlled budapest, many towns supported it.
Russians had ordered Soviet troops to withdraw- hoped Nagy would re-establish control
Would did Nagy declare?
- intention to organise free elections
- Hungary would be leaving the Warsaw Pact alliance
At first why had Krushchev done little to stop the uprising?
He wanted to avoid the bad image that Russia would get if it used military force to destroy the rebels
What pushed Krushchev into action + why?
- The Hungarian decision to leave the Warsaw Pact
- worried other soviet satellite countries might try to leave too
How did the Soviet Union re-establish control in Hungary?
- Nov 1956 soviet troops entered again, this time to crush the uprising- Nagy asked for help from the West but they did nothing
- After two weeks of street fighting the uprising was over + Nagy was shot
- Another harsh communist called Jan Kadar was given power and Hungary was back under strict control
What were the consequences of the Hungarian uprising? (3)
- Over 200,000 refugees fled Hungary to the west- there was great sympathy from the west but no direct help- would have started WW3
- The other satellite states saw that it was pointless to try and challenge Soviet control so they didn’t try
- Idea of the thaw and peaceful coexistence was damaged- relations got worse as event showed that USSR prepared to use force against people who wanted freedom. USA strongly criticised USSR
