The transformation of the Soviet Union's international position Flashcards
the emergence of a 'superpower'; the formation of a soviet bloc; conflict with USA and the capitalist West; death of Stalin and Stalin's legacy at home and abroad
How did the soviet union become a superpower militarily
by May 1945 the armed forces of the USSR consisted of 7.5 million well-equipped troops
how did the USSR become a superpower territorially
absorbed Baltic States and large areas of Eastern Poland
The red army remained in control of the nation states in East Central Europe it had liberated
occupied Eastern Germany, including Berlin
What was the Grand Alliance
Alliance between the USSR, Britain and the USA
once it was clear by the summer of 1943 that the war would eventually be won a series of wartime summit meetings took place to decide what would happen after the war was won
What was the first summit to include Stalin
Tehran in November 1943
When was the Potsdam conference and what happened
July 1945 after the defeat of Germany but the war in the Far East was still continuing
became clear that Britain had been exhausted and bankrupt by the war and its empire would decline so the USA and USSR would become the two superpowers
what placed the USSR at a disadvantage to the USA
1945 the US revealed it had developed an atomic bomb and used it to end the war against Japan
the USSR had less power if they did not have one too
How did the Soviet atomic bomb come about
Beria was placed in charge of accelerating the development of a soviet atomic bomb after the US revealed they had one
huge resources were committed to the project
first successful test was in August 1949
When was the United Nations formed and how did this confirm the superpower status of the USSR
1945
the USSR was one of the 5 permanent members of the UN security council
What were satellite states
countries that remained their national identity but had pro-soviet governments
from 1949 these came increasingly under Soviet control
How were the satellite states formed
the USSR used its military presence and political influence over local communist parties to encourage the formation of governments that were friendly to the Soviet Union
by 1948 most had become satellite states
what did the satellite states become and what did this do
buffer states
Stalin hoped they would protect the USSR from an invasion from the West
How did pre-war factors help the formation of the soviet bloc
under the 1939 Nazi-Soviet pact the USSR invaded and occupied Eastern Poland
In 1940 by the secret protocols of the pact Soviet forces occupied the Baltic States
When was the Katyn forest massacre and what happened
April to May 1940
22,000 captured Polish army officers were killed by the NKVD to eliminate Polish nationalist elements who might oppose communism
How did the USSR ensure friendly communist regimes were quickly established in the satellite states
from the 1930s exiled communist part groups from European countries had been trained in Moscow, ready to infiltrate post-war governments after liberation
How was a pro-soviet government established in Poland
as soon as the red army entered Poland a provisional government was set up in Lublin dominated by pro-Moscow communists
what were salami tactics
in countries where democratic national governments were elected communist parties were instructed by Moscow to join with non-communists especially socialist and bourgeois liberal in order to gain a political foothold which could be built upon
used to get pro-soviet governments in Hungary in 1947 and Czechoslovakia in 1948
why did the allies agree to demand unconditional surrender from Germany
to prevent any of them making separate peace with Hitler
How did Stalin use diplomacy to get what he wanted at the Yalta conference in February 1945
arrangements were agreed for Germany to be placed under zones of occupation
Stalin pushed hard for recognition of Soviet interests in Poland and new Polish German borders which recognised Soviet gains
Played on division between Roosevelt and Churchill to get what he wanted
How was Stalin able to become the senior partner of the three allies
Roosevelt died in April 1945 and replaced by Truman
Churchill lot power after a labour government was elected and Attlee took over midway through the Potsdam conference
What was the long telegram and what did it do
telegram sent from Moscow to Washington in 1946 urging the US to take action to contain the spread of communism
exacerbated fear of Soviet expansionism
When was the Truman doctrine and what did this do
March 1947
asserted the new US policy of containment and rolling back of communism
When was the marshal plan and what did this do
June 1947
injection of aid from the US to rebuild Europe
Stalin was convinced the plan was hostile to soviet interest and part of a drive towards US economic and political dominance
soviet bloc countries pressured to reject it
When was the communist take-over of Czechoslovakia and what did this do
February 1948
intensified splits between East and West
Why did Stalin launch the Berlin blockade
Stalin saw berlin as a single city where Soviet interest should be paramount
frustrated with how Soviet control of Berlin had slipped since 1945
introduction of a separate currency in the Western Zones in June 1948
when was the Berlin blockade launched and how
June 1948
all road and rail links were cut off between Berlin and the West
When was the blockade called off and why
May 1949
the Berlin airdrift
allied aircraft flew essential supplies into West Berlin throughout the winter of 1948-49 and Stalin did not want to risk war by shooting
The population of West Berlin resisted soviet inducements and pressure
When was NATO formed and what did this signify
April 1949
cold war had fully formed as NATO was formed to defend Western Europe against Soviet aggression
How did China harden anti-communist attitudes
long civil war ended with the victory of the Chinese communist revolution
Stalin and the Chinese leader agreed a treaty of alliance
what was the political climate on the time of Stalin’s death
atmosphere of fear
clear since the 1952 party congress that Stalin was planning a purge of the old guard with Molotov and Beria at risk
backlash against the doctors plot in full flow
when and how did Stalin die
5th March 1953
28th February Stalin found in the room of his dacha after having a massive stroke died shortly after
How did Stalin’s funeral manifest the Stalin cult
body was embalmed and placed in an open coffin to be viewed by crowds
eulogies from the ruling elite
How did Stalin’s death impact leadership
he had not nominated any successor and deliberately made it difficult for any potential contenders for the leadership
after an intense power struggle Khrushchev emerged as the new soviet leader
Why was Stalin’s legacy problematic
production of consumer goods underfunded
agriculture failing to keep pace with industrial developments
relations with the West were poor
repression within the USSR
the Stalin cult decree that all Stalin had done was so perfect it did not need changing
What was Stalin’s legacy abroad
cold war tensions
nuclear arms race
pressure for reform in satellite states e.g. Yugoslavia broke with Stalin in 1948
unrests in East Germany Poland and Hungary where reform of the communist system turned into violent revolution
