Topic 1: Origins of the Cold War (1945-1949)

Question 1

When did the Yalta Conference take place?

Answer 1

February 1945

Question 2

Who attended the Yalta Conference?

Answer 2

Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Britain)
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (USA)
Josef Stalin (USSR)

Question 3

What was agreed at the Yalta Conference?

Answer 3

• Germany and Berlin would be divided into four “zones of occupation” (US; GB; French; USSR)
• When Germany was defeated, Russia would support America in the war against Japan
• When Germany was defeated, democratic elections would take place in countries in eastern Europe (the governments would be sympathetic to the USSR)
• The United Nations organisation would be set up to maintain peace between countries

Question 4

When did Germany surrender in the Second World War?

Answer 4

May 1945

Question 5

When did the Potsdam Conference take place?

Answer 5

July / August 1945

Question 6

Who attended the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 6

Prime Minister Clement Attlee (Britain)
President Harry Truman (USA)
Josef Stalin (USSR)

Question 7

What did President Truman reveal to Josef Stalin at the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 7

He revealed that America had successfully tested an atomic bomb.

Question 8

What was agreed at the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 8

• It was confirmed that Germany and Berlin would be divided into four “zones of occupation”.
• The Nazi Party was to be abolished and senior Nazi officials were to be put on trial for their crimes.
• Poland’s borders were expanded westwards, taking over some German territory and creating a buffer zone between Germany and the USSR.

Question 9

What did the leaders disagree about at the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 9

• Germany: Stalin wanted severe reparations to be imposed on Germany in order to weaken the country and protect the USSR.
• Eastern Europe: Stalin wanted pro-Soviet governments to be set up in countries in Eastern Europe in order to create a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’ and a buffer zone to protect the USSR from Germany. Western leaders did not want the USSR to expand its influence (even though this had been agreed at Yalta).

Question 10

How many Soviet people died during the Second World War?

Answer 10

20 million

Question 11

Who gave the “Iron Curtain” speech in March 1946?

Answer 11

Winston Churchill (former British PM)

Question 12

Where did Winston Churchill give the “Iron Curtain” speech?

Answer 12

Missouri, America

Question 13

What was the “Iron Curtain”?

Answer 13

The division in Europe that had developed between the communist Soviet Union and its ‘sphere of influence’ in eastern Europe, and the capitalist countries of the West.

Question 14

How did the leaders at the Yalta Conference disagree about Poland?

Answer 14

Lublin and London Poles

Question 15

How did Josef Stalin respond to the “Iron Curtain” speech?

Answer 15

He was angry and criticised Churchill’s remark.

Question 16

Which countries in eastern Europe had become communist before 1948?

Answer 16

All countries (e.g. Poland, Hungary and Romania) except Greece and Czechoslovakia.

Question 17

Identify three methods used by communists to establish governments in eastern European countries.

Answer 17

1. Rigged elections (e.g. using the Red Army to intimidate voters)
2. Imprisonment of political opponents
3. Overthrowing monarchies

Question 18

When did Czechoslovakia become a communist country?

Answer 18

March 1948

Question 19

What was the name of the pro-American Czech politician who was presumed to have been murdered by communist forces?

Answer 19

Jan Masaryk

Question 20

What policy did Harry Truman introduce in March 1947?

Answer 20

“Containment” – the USA would do all they could to prevent the spread of communism. This was known as the Truman Doctrine.

Question 21

How did Stalin respond to the introduction of the Truman Doctrine?

Answer 21

Cominform

Question 22

What was the name of the American General who visited Europe in 1947 to assess the economic situation?

Answer 22

General George Marshall

Question 23

What evidence was there that the European economy was still severely damaged from the war in 1947?

Answer 23

• There were food shortages in Europe and rationing was still in place in many countries.
• In the winter of 1947, Britain experienced a coal shortage and the use of electricity had to be restricted.

Question 24

What was the Marshall Plan?

Answer 24

America provided $17 billion of economic aid to countries in Europe over the course of four years (1948-1952).

Question 25

Why did Harry Truman propose the Marshall Plan in 1947?

Answer 25

• In order to strengthen the European economy.
• To prevent communism spreading to more countries. Truman believed that poverty and hardship was a breeding ground for communism and western countries were, therefore, vulnerable.

Question 26

How did Stalin respond to the Marshall Plan?

Answer 26

• Stalin accused America of “dollar imperialism” – trying to use American money to create a ‘sphere of influence’ in western Europe.
• Stalin ordered countries in Eastern Europe to not accept Marshall aid.
• In January 1949, he created Comecon to provide economic support to communist countries in Eastern Europe.

Question 27

Give another example of Truman directly interfering to prevent a country from becoming communist.

Answer 27

In February 1947, a civil war broke out in Greece. As Britain could not afford to fight against the communists, America funded British troops to make sure Greece did not become communist.

Question 28

Why was West Germany and Berlin a source of concern for Stalin?

Answer 28

Their economies were recovering more quickly than East Germany and Berlin, encouraging people to migrate from east to west. This made communism look weak and Stalin was worried that a strong West Germany would be a threat to the USSR.

Question 29

How did Britain and America help West Germany and Berlin to prosper?

Answer 29

• In 1947, they combined their zones into ‘Bizonia’.
• In 1948, they created a new currency called the Deutschmark.
• Marshall Aid was helping to rebuild West German industry.

Question 30

What did Stalin do in June 1948?

Answer 30

Stalin blockaded West Berlin. He cut off all transport, communication and supply lines from West Germany to the two million West Berliners.

Question 31

Why did Stalin blockade West Berlin in June 1948?

Answer 31

1. To slow down the economic recovery of / weaken West Berlin.
2. To force the Allies out of West Berlin so he could turn the city communist and end the capitalist influence in East Germany.

Question 32

How did the Allies respond to the Berlin blockade?

Answer 32

They began the Berlin Airlift.

Question 33

Give two pieces of evidence that show the scale of the airlift.

Answer 33

1. 275,000 plane trips took place

2. 2 million tons of supplies were airlifted into Berlin.

Question 34

Why did the Allies resort to the Berlin Airlift?

Answer 34

• To prevent the two million West Berliners from starving.

* To appear strong against communism.

Question 35

When did Stalin lift the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 35

May 1949

Question 36

Identify two consequences of the Berlin Blockade.

Answer 36

Countries formed military alliances and promised to protect each other in time of war:
• NATO was set up in April 1949 by capitalist countries.
• The Warsaw Pact was set up in 1955 by the USSR.