Transformation of international position Flashcards
How did Soviet Union catch up with the west in terms of AT?
1) Espionage- gaining intelligence on the US atomic programme
2) Soviet atomic programme was the highest priority following the US’ deployment of nuclear bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima on 6 and 9th of August 1945
3) First nuclear reactor 1946
4) First atomic bomb successfully tested in 1949
Issues with formation of the Eastern Bloc:
Even tough Stalin had occupied various countries, what didnt this ensure?
2)Who maintained independence despite being under communist influence?
Even though Stalin had occupied countries, this didn’t ensure the creation of obedient regimes.
Yugoslavia, despite being under communist control, maintained it’s independence
Formation of the Eastern bloc(1)
what did some countries see communism as?
what was in some Eastern European countries?
how did Stalin create sympathetic regimes?
Give an example?
1) some countries saw communism as a future economic model.
2) In some Eastern European countries, the communist parties had garnered a lot of support.
3) Stalin actively trained exiles in Moscow to return to their homelands to create sympathetic regimes.
WALTER U B R I C H T and his were transported to Berlin.
Formation of the Eastern Bloc 2
1) Which countries were immediately put under Communist regimes?
2) What was the Hungarian communist leader called?
3) How did he describe communist political tactics? iS
1)Bulgaria, Estonia , Romania
2) Matyas Rakosi
3)-‘salami tactics’- isolating and defeating opponents one by one
-beginning with the centre right and moving to the moderate left
3)
Formation of the Eastern Bloc: 3:
How was Stalin able to exercise control?
By 1948 how many states were either directly added to the Soviet Union or a satellite state?
Stalin was able to exercise control by
direct political links
providing an alternate form of economic assistance
military occupation
By 1948, 12 states had either been directly added to the Soviet union or were satellite states when the USSR exerted heavy influence
Conflict with the west 1 DisAGREEMENTS BEFORE WAR ENDS
What was Stalin unhappy with?
Why had relations changed between Yalta and Potsdam?
Disagreement: Stalin and Churchill.
What were there general disagreements on?
Stalin unhappy the allies never opened up a second offensive on the Western front to lift off the pressures on the Soviets.
Roosevelt, who remained on good terms with Stalin, was replaced by hardline Truman who had successfully tested the atomic bomb one day before the Potsdam conference.
Churchill wanted to implement the ‘London Poles’ in power in Poland while Stalin wanted the Lublin Poles- communist influence- Stalin wins and Churchill backs down
General disagreements on the borders and future of Germany.
Why did Stalin want to exand?
attempted to expand to establish a buffer zone that would protect him from future potential foreign aggression
Stage 1) What were US fears of expansionism increased by?
The Long Telegram by George Kennan- an American diplomat in Moscow in 1946
describes ‘international marxism as ‘More dangerous and insidious than ever before’
Winston Churchill Speech at Missouri described Stalin as hiding behind an ‘iron curtain.
Stage 2)
What were there fears on in Europe, and in which countries specifically?
What asserted the US policy of what?
What was the Marshall plan and when was it introduced?
Why?
Fears of economic collapse and political instability especially in Spain and France, where communist parties were gaining support
The Truman Doctrine asserted the US policy of containment.-1947
Marshall Plan- provided economic assistance to European countries rebuilding after the War.- 1947
Stage 2)2
What was stalin’s reaction to the marshall plan?
what did he fear?
convinced it was fundamentally hostile to soviet interests.
he feared the US would build the German economy, leading to a build up of German power
What provoked Stalin to do what?
How did the West respond?
How long did this last until Stalin lifted the blockade?
Introduction of a West German currency into Berlin provoked Stalin to introduce a blockade on the Western sectors on 24 July 1948
they flew in aid to West Berlin
lasted 11 months until Stalin lifted the blockade.
