Topic 1: Origins of the Cold War to 1945 Flashcards
When was the Bolshevik Revolution?
October 1917
What did Marx view capitalism as?
A system of exploitation
Identify 4 reasons why hostility between the USSR and the West had been established by 1941.
- Deep ideological differences. 2.The West feared Russian influence. 3.The USSR resented its exclusion from the diplomacy of the 1930s. 3. The West despised the Nazi-Soviet Pact and Russian expansion in Eastern Europe
What was believed would happen after the revolution in the USSR?
There would be a dictatorship of the proletariat before all class boundaries disappeared and it would be perfect equal society
Who did US, French and British troops fight alongside in the Russian Civil War?
Tsarist ‘White’ forces
What did the fact that the West fought along side the White Army during the civil war do?
Created lasting distrust of the West in the USSR
When did Stalin realize that he needed to take a more active role with the West?
When Hitler came to power who threatened to annihilate Communism
What did Stalin do in order to try and take a more active role in the West?
He joined the League of Nations in 1934, signed agreements with France and Czechoslovakia in 1935 and intervened to try and prevent fascism in the Spanish Civil War in 1936
When did Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
August 1939
What was the result of Stalin signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
It shocked the world and allowed Hitler to invade Poland and start WWII
What did the USSR do when Hitler invaded Poland?
They took the half they had lost in the 1920 (a secret agreement between Stalin and Hitler) and expanded their territory by 1941 by taking the Baltic states and parts of Finland
?How was the USSR brought into the Second World War ?
By the Nazi invasion of June 1941
What did the three attacked powers (Britain, USA and the USSR) become known as?
The ‘Grand Alliance’
What were the USSR’s specific aims for the war in terms of land and security?
The complete defeat of Germany and an area of direct Soviet control in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Soviet occupied Germany, as well as a ‘intermediate zone’ of neither capitalist or Communist countries such as Austria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia
What did the US want in terms of trade after the war?
World free trade
What did Britain want after the war in terms of land and allies?
It want to keep its empire and be on friendly terms with both the US and USSR and wanted to prevent the advance of Communism in the Suez Canal and Middle East as an advancement here would damage Britain’s economy
When was the Atlantic Charter?
1943
What was the Atlantic Charter?
It committed Britain and the USA to the complete defeat of Germany and the setting up of a democratic world order- Stalin and the USSR were not present
What was Stalin suspicious about concerning the Normandy landings?
Stalin was suspicious that the delay until 1944 was an attempt to weaken the USSR, who had been fighting for longer
When did Roosevelt die and who replaced him?
April 1945 and Truman
What was different about Truman compared with Roosevelt?
Truman was much more hostile towards Communism
Who was Churchill replaced by?
Clement Atlee
What was the USSR’s response to the dropping of the atomic bomb?
The USSR was determined to make an atomic bomb of its own and Stalin was more distrustful of the West
Why did Britain and the USA not open the second front until 1944?
Too risky- especially after the failure at French port Dieppe in 1942 and instead concentrated their efforts first on North Africa, then invasion of Sicily and Italy in 1943.
Why was the Polish Warsaw Uprising significant in 1944?
Stalin did not support it allowing Germany to destroy resistance before Russia moved in to take the city. This alarmed the West. It seemed Stalin was happy to see German forces destroy Polish troops as it would make future Soviet control easier.
When was Tehran and what leaders were present?
November-December 1943 and Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt.
Main agreements at Tehran?
- New United Nations would have 4 ‘policemen’ (Britain, USA, USSR and China) to ensure peace.
- Post-war Poland would be redrawn to the boundary Oder-Neisse River, giving the USSR more territory
- Stalin would join war against Japan after Germany was defeated
- Invasion of France for May 1944 agreed to open second front
- Discussed future partition of Germany
How did USA feel after Tehran?
Roosevelt established good relations with Stalin due support with Japan
How did the USSR feel after Tehran?
Gained Allies acceptance of expansion into Eastern Europe and agreement for second front. USSR would play a larger role in future international affairs due to their role in UN and Stalin had divided Roosevelt and Churchill.
How did Britain feel after Tehran?
Churchill not too happy about Roosevelt
and Stalin’s private meetings in the conference and Britain lost prestige due to the agreements on Polish territory considering they had gone to war in 1939 specifically to defend Polish independence.
When was the Yalta conference?
February 1945
Why were there growing tensions at Yalta?
Churchill was concerned over growing power of USSR and Stalin wanted the West to accept the future of Soviet security needed a barrier against invasion.
Key agreements at Yalta?
- Germany divided into four zones
- USSR would annex polish territory they had in 1939
- Stalin agreed free elections in countries occupied by Red Army
- Stalin agreed to Untied Nations
- Soviet Union would receive reparations from Germany ($20 bill)
When was Potsdam?
July-August 1945
What was agreed at Potsdam?
4 zones of occupation in Germany
Reparations agreed on
No firm agreement on Western Frontier
West supported elections in Soviet-held territory but there was no means of enforcing this.
Why was leadership a problem at Potsdam?
Truman had replaced Roosevelt and made no secret of his dislike for Stalin or Communism- they also now did not need Soviet support in war.
Attlee replaced Churchill and was hostile to communism and lacked Churchill’s rapport with Stalin.
Aside from leadership, what other problems emerged at Potsdam?
1.The USA had been sending the USSR economic aid under the Lend-Lease scheme which they stopped.
2.It was clear Stalin did not intend to share power in Poland- 16 non-communists who had hoped to take part in the elections had been arrested.
3. The atomic bomb- Truman mentioned to Stalin the US had a new weapon of ‘Destructive force’, but the Russians were already aware.
Which areas had annexation of territory under Eastern liberation after the war?
Poland, Finland, the Baltic states, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Romania.
How did Russia get involved in the politics of countries of Eastern liberation?
Supported a communist coup in Romania, installed a coalition in Hungary, Soviet forces controlled Bulgaria, military presence in Czechoslovakia, SED set up in Germany and National Liberation Committee in Poland.
Identify 2 events which increased tensions between the West and USSR in the period of 1945?
Delays over the opening of the second front, liberation of Eastern Europe, change of leadership
