The Origins Of The Cold War (2) Flashcards
What is a satellite state?
Country that is officially independent but in reality is controlled by another country
What were the USSR’s satellite states by the end of 1948?
- East Germany
- Albania
- Romania
- Poland
- Bulgaria
- Hungary
- Czechoslovakia
- Yugoslavia
Briefly outline how Albania became a communist satellite state
- 8th Nov 1941: Communist Party of Albania (CPA) started
- 24th May 1944: ‘General Committee’ as provisional gov, replacing King Zog
- General elections held (to appear democratic to Allies) but organised by CPA to ensure they would keep power
- CPA elected into power after gaining 94% of vote
Briefly outline how Romania became a communist satellite state
- Aug 1944 - National Democratic Front (FND -the communist party) led Soviet-approved campaign for further left gov
- Red Army occupation in Romania applied pressure
- 1945 - Communist coup made king appoint FND gov
How did Stalin help the E.European satellite states fall to communism?
- Encouraged the rise of communist govs (but didn’t force - so it appeared they had risen to power democratically)
- Covertly supported communist parties by manipulating elections + using salami tactics
- When in power, ensured all communists were loyal to Moscow
What are salami tactics?
Anti-communist parties/political opponents sliced into small pieces (e.g. by killing leaders) so they could be gradually overcome
(Used by Stalin to help gain satellite states)
Why did Stalin want the E.European satellite states?
- Wanted to provide a protective ‘buffer zone’ against West
- Wanted to expand their ideology + political influence
Briefly outline how Poland became a communist satellite state
- During WW2: Lublin gov (PKWN - communist, pro-Soviet) became influential + London-exiled gov blocked out
- June 1945 - Provisional Gov of National Unity formed (parties from both ends of the spectrum, inc. Lublin gov)
- Appeared Stalin would allow free elections (agreed at Yalta)
- Communist Poles joined with socialists to become stronger + won 1947 election by 80% vote
- Stalin had been manipulative towards results + used salami tactics
- Any Communist Poles in gov disliked by Stalin were gradually replaced (E.g. Gomulka replaced by more pro-Soviet Beirut as Deputy PM in 1948)
Briefly outline how Bulgaria became a communist satellite state
- Before Red Army arrived: The Patriotic Force (alliance of left parties) formed gov
- Salami tactics used to break down other parties (E.g. Agrarian Party - strongest opposition - leader Petkov executed - absorbed into communist gov)
- Successful communist uprising supported by Soviet Union
- By April 1947: All other parties banned
Briefly outline how Hungary became a communist satellite state
- Communists allied with other political groups to gain strength
- Political opponents arrested, with Soviet help (E.g. leader of threatening Smallholders Party: Kovocsat, 1947)
- 1947 - Elections, manipulated, communists won with 60% vote
- Anti-Soviet communists removed (E.g. leader Rajk in 1949 for ‘anti-Soviet activities’)
Briefly outline how Czechoslovakia became a communist satellite state
- Post-WWII gov was a National Front coalition with 3 parties dominating (Communists - KSC, Social Democratic Party, National Socialist Party)
- KSC membership growing (1945:27,000 and 1946:over 1.1 mill) supported by peasants after war who were given land
- July 1947 gov accepted Anglo-French invite to Marshall Plan talks
- Soviets angered + persuaded CS not to join (in Moscow)
- KSC purged other non-communist gov members (12 resigned)
- PM Beneš (non-communist) resigned in June 1948 and was replaced by a Moscow-loyal communist
Briefly outline how Yugoslavia became a communist satellite state (and then stopped)
- PM Tito elected as post WWII communist leader without Soviet help
- ACC tried to incorporate some pre-war capitalist politicians, but new election laws helped the communists stay in power (‘wartime collaborators’ banned + candidates nominated by the communist People’s Front)
- Non-communists protested by boycotting + resigning
- 29th Nov 1945 Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia formed, made up of communist candidates
- Gov used some Soviet methods (e.g. almost all wealth nationalised by 1948)
- Rejected any Soviet methods they disagreed with, not wanting to become ‘puppets’
- Abandoned Marxist-Leninism in June 1948, so expelled from Cominform (no longer satellite state)
- Survival helped by Western aid through 1949
Give an example of a party that were threatening to the communist poles + could have gained power if Stalin hadn’t manipulated the 1947 elections
Peasant Party - led by Mikolajczyk
Give an example of a satellite state that started their fall to communism before any pressure from Red Army occupation
Bulgaria
What was the general procedure Stalin used when forming the E.European satellite states?
- See if there are any left wing/communist parties to support, and if not send in own communists to form parties
- Help communist party to gain power (by manipulating elections + removing opponents, largely through salami tactics)
- When communist party in power, replace any influential figures who aren’t sufficiently loyal to Moscow
Give an example of an E.European state that nearly didn’t fall into the Soviet communist sphere
Czechoslovakia - Tempted to join Marshall Plan and attended July 1947 talks - dissuaded by Soviets
Give an example of an E.European state that was expelled from the Soviet Sphere
Yugoslavia - expelled from Cominform in June 1948 after abandoning Marxist-Leninism
How was Yugoslavia able to survive when Soviets expelled them from Cominform in 1948?
Received Western aid throughout 1949 (via the Marshall Plan)
How did the West demonstrate their priority in global affairs as weakening the USSR?
Provided economic aid to Yugoslavia throughout 1949, despite Italian-Yugoslavian disputes over Trieste (alliance against USSR more important than any other political disputes)
What is the Zhdanov Doctrine and who proposed it?
Zhdanov Doctrine: world divided into 2 camps. Imperialists (USA) and Democrats (USSR)
Proposed by: Andrei Zhdanov (leading Soviet figure)
What does Cominform stand for?
Communist Informational Bureau
When was Cominform started?
Sept 1947 - Stalin’s response to the Truman Doctrine
What was the purpose of Cominform?
To unite and coordinate the communist groups in Europe under the direction of Moscow (basically formalise the Soviet sphere), since Stalin was now convinced that the USA were leading an anti-Soviet global alliance
What does Comecon stand for?
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
When was Comecon started?
1949
What was the purpose of Comecon (both overt + covert)?
Stalin’s alternative to the Marshall Plan
OVERT: Encourage economic developments in EE + prevent trade with West
COVERT: Merge EE economies with the USSR, so they lost and the USSR gained
Who wrote the Long Telegram?
George Kennan (US ambassador in Moscow)
When was the Long Telegram written?
February 1946
How long was the Long Telegram?
8000 words
Why was the Long Telegram written?
- US policymakers were divided regarding how to deal with Soviet Union + emergence of the Soviet bloc (be diplomatic or take firm stance?)
- Kennan laid out his main concerns surrounding the Soviets and advised Truman on which stance to take (2nd, firm option)
What were the main concerns outlined in the Long Telegram?
- Communism + capitalism cannot peacefully coexist
- USSR have an aggressive, ideologically driven foreign policy that is working to weaken + split the capitalist powers
- USSR have potential to cause loss of US way of life + international authority
What was the advise given by Kennan in the Long Telegram regarding how to deal with the Soviets?
- US should stop policy of isolationism + take a more active role in European affairs
- War is unnecessary, but US should be prepared to threaten use of force + use propaganda
What is isolationism + who was using it?
- Policy taken by US in Europe pre-WWII
- Having minimal interest/involvement in foreign affairs that don’t directly involve the US or its geographical neighbours
What was the effect of the Long Telegram?
- Provoked Novikov’s Telegram
- Helped confirm Truman’s views that USSR was a threat to US
- Helped inspire a harsher, more involved US foreign policy (Truman Doctrine)
Who wrote Novikov’s Telegram?
Novikov
Soviet ambassador in Washington
When was Novikov’s Telegram written?
Sept 1946
Why was Novikov’s Telegram written?
To inform Stalin of the more threatening US approach to foreign affairs (particularly as a consequence of the Long Telegram)
What were the main concerns outlined in Novikov’s Telegram?
- There is less chance of diplomatic negotiations with US after replacement of Roosevelt with Truman
- US are striving for global supremacy, largely through economic imperialism
- US are planning WWIII against communism, which they will win due to superior money + weaponry
What is economic imperialism?
A state using its economic power to make other, economically weaker states dependent on it
What was the effect of Novikov’s Telegram?
- Soviets encouraged to adopt a harsher stance towards the US (build up arms, etc)
Was the Long Telegram giving a valid message?
Yes
- Stalin was taking a threatening approach to foreign affairs, seen in his covert actions throughout E.Europe, that undermined his previous political agreements with the West (Yalta + Percentages Agreement) + threatened their international authority
Was Novikov’s Telegram giving a valid message?
No
- Overexaggerating, as US aren’t planning WWIII, they are forced to become harsher in policy in response to Soviet actions (not due to own will)
BUT
- Does predict the Marshall Plan, which arguably supports theory that they are striving for economic imperialism
When was the Iron Curtain Speech?
5th March 1946
Where was the Iron Curtain speech given?
Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri
Who gave the Iron Curtain speech?
Winston Churchill (Former British PM, still widely respected)
What were the main points in the Iron Curtain speech?
- USSR have created a Soviet sphere of control that is expanding, as they pursue the ‘fruits of war’ (influence) without wanting war
- English-speaking world must support UN in reaching ‘a good understanding on all points with Russia’
- UK + US should maintain + strengthen their ‘special relationship’
What is the famous Iron Curtain quote?
‘From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent’
What is the other name for the Iron Curtain speech?
The Sinews of Peace speech
What was the US reaction to the Iron Curtain speech?
- Agreed with strong stance towards Soviets (helped inspire Truman Doctrine)
- Less enthusiastic about ‘special relationship’ (didn’t want to prop up the crumbling British Empire)
What was the Soviet reaction to the Iron Curtain speech?
The Soviets saw it as a direct attack + criticised Churchill for trying to prevent them from peacefully defending themselves (buffer zone)
- Stalin spoke in Pravda (said Soviets were ensuring their security + asking for loyalty they deserved after help to E.Europe in WWII)
- Molotov, Foreign Minister spoke at Paris Peace Conference (called US imperialists + effectively abandoned Declaration of Liberated Europe agreed at Yalta)
When was the Paris Peace Conference + what was its purpose + what was it used for?
- Sept + Oct 1946
- Purpose: draw up peace treaties with defeated European powers + determine their future
- Used for: Molotov’s public attack on the intentions of the US
What is the famous quote from Stalin from Pravda that shows his bad reaction to the Iron Curtain speech?
‘Mr Churchill now stands as a firebrand of war’
What is Pravda?
Official newspaper of the communist party after Bolsheviks seized power in Oct 1917 (biased, despite meaning ‘truth’ in Russian)
Give some statistics to show the negative impact of WWII on the situation in Greece
- 1/14 people dead
- Over 1000 villages burned
- Infrastructure destroyed by Nazis
- Savings destroyed my inflation
- Huge unemployment (over 50% in some cities)
What conflict for power was occurring in Greece?
Conflict between the Greek communists (Nazi liberators - ‘National Liberation Front’) + Greek monarchists (current official gov)
When did the power struggle in Greece escalate into a full-scale civil war?
March 1946
Which external states were supporting which sides of the Greek civil war?
Greek gov/monarchists - supported by Britain
Greek communists - some support from surrounding communist countries, e.g. Yugoslavia
What changed in Feb 1947 in the Greek civil war?
Britain announced they could no longer afford to support the anti-communist gov (due to post-WWII financial crisis) , so asked Americans for help
What did the US do to help in Greece (+Turkey-neighbouring country at risk of communism)?
Installed Truman Doctrine
Why didn’t Britain + US go to NATO for support in helping anti-communist gov forces in Greek Civil War?
Feared Soviet veto
When was the Truman Doctrine?
12th March 1947
What were the main points of the Truman Doctrine?
- US must come to assistance of Greece (+Turkey), giving them the approx $400 mill needed to build an economy a successful capitalist democracy can flourish in
- Similar support should be given to any state threatened by ‘subjugation’ to another power (threatened by communist take over)
What are some longer term events that may be seen as causing the Truman Doctrine?
- Breakdown of the Grand Alliance
- Stalin’s expansionism to create the Soviet sphere
(Increasing threat of Soviets + communist expansion) - Kennan’s Long Telegram
- Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech
(Increasing political encouragement to take harsher stance against Soviets + communism)
What may be seen as the trigger event to cause the Truman Doctrine?
Greek Civil War
Needed protection from communism, which Britain could no longer afford
What were the effects of the Truman Doctrine?
- Marked end of US isolationism + start of communism containment policy
- Viewed as declaration of war by many communists
