The Origins of the Cold War, c1945-1949: US, British and USSR relations in 1945 - Relations between Stalin, Truman and Attlee Flashcards
What were Truman’s post-war aims?
• Wanted a world based on national self-determination
• Wanted an open world trading system based on international economic cooperation
• Wanted world economic reconstruction
• These aims would be aided by the creation of the IMF and the
World Bank
Why did Truman have such focus on international economic cooperation?
• This was to minimise the possibility of the USA returning to the
Great Depression
• This would preserve America’s new found superpower status by maximising access to world markets
What did Truman fear about the Soviets?
• Feared the growth of Soviet power in Eastern Europe
• Feared the removal of anti-communist leaders
• Feared the rise of pro-communist provisional governments
How did Truman use nuclear weapons in his negotiations with Stalin?
• Truman tended to go for confrontation rather than cooperation for his relation with Stalin
• Truman hoped the USA’s possession of nuclear technology would ensure Stalin’s cooperation over the composition of provisional governments in Europe
• Truman believed the USSR would not agree to diplomatic solutions and thought force was the only method to secure
Stalin’s compliance
Why did Eastern Europe become so important for Stalin by Potsdam?
• Eastern Europe became the basis of the USSR’s long-term security plan
• To succeed, these states needed to have similar political and economic systems to the USSR
• Stalin feared the USA and its allies were potential rivals for dominance in Europe
What were Attlee’s aims at Potsdam?
• Germany had great geostrategic significance in Europe
• Wanted the USA to act as the main defender of Western zones of
Germany against Soviet threat
• Supported Potsdam Agreement, but conscious that it weakened
Germany
• Concerned that Potsdam offered no long-term plan for the future of Germany
