The Origins of the Cold War, c1945–1949: US, British and USSR relations in 1945 - Relations between Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill Flashcards
Why did Stalin desperately want to establish security in the USSR?
• WWII had devastated the Soviet Union
- Estimates suggest 26.6 millions Soviets died
- It brought mass destruction of towns and cities, agriculture and industry
• Russia had been invaded twice in first half of 20th century, through Poland
How did the USSR view the Grand Alliance?
- Stalin and Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, viewed the Grand Alliance allies as fundamentally anti-USSR
- But Stalin wanted to keep open an avenue of cooperation with the West
What were Stalin’s priorities in Europe?
- Securing Soviet security through a Soviet sphere of influence
- To turn Germany into a communist state
- Stalin didn’t want to dismember Germany, but keep it economically weak until it could be secured as a communist state
What were Roosevelt’s post-war aims?
- Roosevelt was committed to cooperation to secure a lasting-post war settlement
- Roosevelt thought the post post-war world should strongly reflect the American concept of democracy
- Secure a democratic, and therefore ‘non-communist’, future for Eastern European states
- Develop management of international affairs through an international peacekeeping organisation
Why was Roosevelt willing to cooperate with Stalin?
- Roosevelt was convinced Stalin shared the same values for a post-war world
- Roosevelt convinced Stalin would hold democratic elections and not expand Soviet power
- Roosevelt underestimated the security needs of the Soviet Union in terms of Eastern Europe
How did Churchill view Stalin and the USSR? What was his response to this?
- Churchill was convinced that it was Stalin’s intention to expand Soviet power in post-war Europe
- Churchill believed that the Soviet Union’s buffer zone could threaten Britain’s imperial interests
- Therefore it was essential that Britain establish a close alliance with the USA in order to counter
this potential threat
What did Churchill say to the British Foreign Secretary regarding the USSR?
- In April 1944, Churchill wrote to Anthony Eden
- ‘I have tried in every way to put myself in sympathy with these communist leaders. I cannot feel the slightest trust or confidence in them.’
How did Churchill and Stalin try to settle matters on spheres of influence?
- In October 1944, Churchill and Stalin met in Moscow - meeting is called ‘the Percentages Agreement’
- To establish the percentage of predominance Britain and the USSR would each have in Eastern European states
- Romania - USSR had 90%
- Greece - Britain had 90%
- Hungary - 50% each
What did the Percentages Agreement mean for Britain and the USSR?
- Meant that USSR could have buffer zone for security
- Meant that Britain could keep part of the British Empire
- Meant Britain ‘contained’ Soviet expansion at the expense of national self-determination
- Churchill quietly dropped the agreement to preserve the Anglo-US alliance
What were Churchill’s post war aims?
- To ensure Britain remained an independent Great Power still in possession of its empire
- To remain on friendly terms with both the USA and the USSR
- Establish a democratic gov. in Warsaw, Poland
Why did Churchill fear Soviet expansion?
- Churchill feared Soviet influence spreading into Central Europe and the eastern Mediterranean
- Britain had vital strategic and economic interests there
- The Suez Canal in Egypt was its main route to India
- British industry was increasingly dependent on oil from the Middle East
• Poland
- Britain had gone to war over Poland, so Churchill also wanted a democratic government in Warsaw
