Unit 1: the origins of the cold war 1941-58 Flashcards
1
Q
What was the cold war?
A
A period of time when two countries do not fight directly against each other, however there is a huge amount of tension between two countries.
2
Q
What is the grand alliance?
A
The alliance formed between Britain, USA and the soviet union to bring about the defeat of germany and japan in the second world war.
3
Q
What was NATO?
A
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation- created in 1949 following the Berlin crisis, it exists to protect the freedom and security of its members.
4
Q
what was the warsaw pact?
A
Organisation of USSR and Eastern European countries set up in 1955 to oppose the USA and NATO.
5
Q
what was the MAD theory?
A
the theory of “mutually assured destruction” this meant that both sides have enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other
6
Q
Why might the grand alliance relationship break down after the war?
A
The different sides have very different ideologies and they don’t have a common enemy anymore.
7
Q
Why was there tension in the grand alliance?
A
Because the west wanted to contain communism and the east wanted to create buffer states and spread communism
8
Q
How did the USA and USSR use spies?
A
Spies were sent into neighbouring or each others countries to find out more about what each country was doing
9
Q
How did USA and the USSR use the news
A
Both sides published and broadcast negative stories about each other to win the support of their public
10
Q
How did USA and the USSR use nuclear weapons?
A
Both sides competed to develop nuclear and long range weapons, the bigger and more powerful the better
11
Q
How did USA and the USSR use space?
A
Both sides competed to put the first man in space on the moon and into orbit all to prove who was the most technologically advanced
12
Q
how did USA and the USSR use money?
A
Both sides gave money to other states/groups who were willing to support them to get them on side and adopt their beliefs
13
Q
What is the definition between a cold war and hot war?
A
A cold war has no fighting “a war of words” and a hot war is a war with genuine fighting and death
14
Q
When did the cold war start and end?
A
the cold war started in 1945 and ended in 1991
15
Q
Why were both USA and USSR called “superpowers” after the second world war?
A
because of their physical size, population, military and economy
16
Q
Where and when was the first conference between the grand alliance?
A
It was held in Tehran -capital of iran- in november 1943
17
Q
When and where was the second conference between the grand alliance?
A
Held in yalta in february 1945
18
Q
What was the buffer zone?
A
the area between two countries which acts as a shield
19
Q
What was the soviets army called?
A
The red army
20
Q
What was the united nations?
A
International body set up in 1945 to promote peace and international cooperation and security
21
Q
What were reparations?
A
compensation to be pain by germany to other counties after their defeat in the second world war
22
Q
where and when was the third conference between the grand alliance?
A
Held in potsdam in july 1945
23
Q
What did the grand alliance discuss in the conferences?
A
How to win the war, how germany will be punished and how allies will be rewarded
24
Q
Why did they meet in Tehran?
A
To discuss what should happen to germany and the land in Eastern europe after the war
25
Who attended the conference in Tehran?
Winston churchill of Britain
Joseph stalin of the USSR
franklin roosevelt of the USA
26
What were the main agreements at the Tehran conference?
-agreed to open a second front by invading france in may 1944
-The soviet union was to wage war against japan once germany was defeated
-United nations organisation to be set up after the war
-Germany was to give land back to poland
-stalin was allowed to keep latvia, lithuania and estonia
27
What could they not agree on at the Tehran conference?
They couldn’t agree on what would definitely happen to the rest of the countries occupied by germany once the war was over
28
Why was the Tehran conference important?
-had an impact on international relations
-stalin thought USA and britain were delaying fighting a second front to weaken USSR
-britain feared that russia would be more powerful
29
Why did they meet in Yalta?
To finalise plans for post war europe and germany now that germany was close to defeat
30
Who attended yalta?
Winston churchill -britain-
Joseph stalin -ussr-
Franklin roosevelt -usa-
31
Why did stalin have an advantage going into yalta?
because they are mainly responsible for defeating the nazis
32
What did stalin want going into yalta?
he was determined to control most of the central and eastern european countries he had liberated, to keep the territory he had won
33
consequences of the yalta conference?
-they divided germany into 4
-they agreed on free elections in poland
- stalin wanted more money
-stalin wanted poland and germany
34
between yalta and potsdam what happened?
-Germany had surrendered
- The atomic bomb was created by usa
-The united nations created in june 1945
35
Who attended the conference in Potsdam?
Harry truman from USA
Clement attlee from britain
Joseph stalin from USSR
36
Why did they meet in Potsdam?
The pacific war was still not fully over so the grand alliance continued to work together to defeat japan. had to make final decisions about europe now nazis were defeated
37
What did they agree on at Potsdam?
-confirmed decision to split germany
-agreed berlin would be split also
-Germany would pay 20 million
-Germany would be demilitarised
-Democracy would be installed in germany
-agreed to ban the nazi party
38
What did they not agree on at potsdam?
-stalin wanted compensation
-stalin wanted germany permanently crippled where as truman didnt want to punish them like that
-truman objected stalins control
-stalin refused to cut the size of his military
39
What happened on the 8th may 1945?
Germany surrendered from the war
40
What was the manhattan project?
The atomic bomb development project
41
Who led the manhattan project?
J robert oppenheimer
42
Why were people keen to develop atomic bomb?
They thought it would end all war
43
Where did they target with the atomic bomb?
They first targeted Hiroshima and Nagasaki
44
Consequences of the dropping of the atomic bomb?
- Caused tension and mistrust because stalin felt the US was trying to intimidate him, US had a military advantage
-both countries tried to create better weapons (The arms race)
45
What was the ‘long’ telegram?
It was a telegram written by George Kennan, telling the US that the soviet union want to spread communism.
(feb 1946)
46
what were the effects of the ‘long’ telegram?
It worried the USA and led to a policy known as ‘containment’ which meant that the US would stop the spread of communism.
47
What was the ‘Novikov’ telegram?
Written by Nikolai Novikov, it said that the USA was a threat to stalin, they wanted to spread capitalism and they were increasing there army.
(sept 1946)
48
What were the effects of the Novikov telegram?
-stalin was now convinced he had to protect himself
-he wanted to increase weapons spending
49
What were the satellite states?
Towards the end of the war the red army freed many countries from the nazis, now these countries had no leadership so stalin turned them into satellite states
50
What did stalin do with the Satellite states?
-gave then coalition governments which the communists shared power with other political parties
-communists took over the civil service, media, security, and defence
-elections held but were fixed
51
List 4 countries that became satellite states
Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary
52
what was the iron curtain speech?
Churchill made a speech about a metaphorical wall between Eastern and Western Europe, this created an ideological battle
53
When was the iron curtain speech?
March 1946
54
Consequences of the iron curtain speech
-created more tension
-made the divide between communism and capatalism a real idea
55
When was the civil war in Greece?
In 1946
56
What caused civil war in Greece 1946?
The defeat of the Nazis meant that they needed a new government. It ended in Britain withdrawing due to bankruptcy
57
When was the Truman doctrine?
12th March 1947
58
What was the Truman doctrine?
Truman offered 400 million dollars of economic aid to Greece and turkey to prevent them turning to communism
59
What was the impact of the Truman doctrine?
-America went from ‘isolation’ where they don’t interfere with other peoples affairs to ‘containment’ which was not to destroy the ussr but to stop the spread of communism.
-Truman compared capatalism and communism to ‘good and evil’
60
Consequences of the Truman doctrine?
-Greek government was able to defeat communists
-rivalry between USA and soviets increased
-USA was committed to containment policy
61
What was the Marshall plan?
A plan to give money to countries in Europe that needed help after the war, it gave economic aid to countries. 12.7 billion was given
62
When was the Marshall plan set up?
Proposed in December 1947 and became law on the 3rd April 1948
63
What was the impact of the Marshall plan?
-Stalin thought America wanted to be more powerful and have an empire by offering ‘free money’
-money was offered to satellite states but Stalin refused
-successfully united European countries
-provided huge economic growth for European markets and recovery
64
What was the reaction to the Marshall plan?
-European leaders met in Paris in 1948
-many wanted to except Marshall aid
-Soviet Union walked out the conference claiming America was trying to create an alliance
-Stalin refused to allow countries in his ‘sphere of influence’ to accept
65
Soviet reaction to the US policy of containment?
The Soviet Union set up two organisations -Cominform and Comecon in order to extend political and economical control over Eastern Europe and to retaliate against containment policy
66
What was cominform?
-communist information bureau- was set up in 1947 to enable the Soviet Union to coordinate communist parties throughout Europe
67
What was cominform in response to?
The Truman doctrine
68
What did cominform ensure?
That Eastern European countries followed Soviet aims in foreign policy, introduced Soviet style economic policies
69
What was Comecon?
-the council for mutual assistance- was founded in 1949, it was supposed to be means by which the Soviet Union could financially support countries in Eastern Europe
70
What was Comecon in response to?
It was in response to the Marshall plan
71
What was Comecon used for by the Soviets?
-to control the economies of these states
-give the Soviet Union access to Eastern European resources
-encourage economic specialisation within the Soviet bloc
72
The division of Germany 1945
After Potsdam Berlin was located within the USSR’s sector of war Germany
73
The division of Germany 1947
-there had been an informal agreement that goods would go through eat Germany to West Berlin
74
What had the USA and UK done in January 1947?
They joined together their zones creating the Bizones, this made the USSR unhappy
75
Why did the west decide to run their part of Germany separately?
The USSR stopped cooperating over Berlin, this led to the west taking two actions in 1948
76
What was Trizonia?
In March 1948 The British and USA’s Bizonia was joined by the French zone to make ‘Trizonia’ this essentially created the west Germany
77
What was the Deutschmark?
In June 1948 Trizonia was to have a single currency called the Deutschmark this would apply to West Berlin. The allies now recognised there was two germanys
78
What was the Soviet reaction to the western zones uniting?
Stalin was upset because it looked like the west was ‘ganging up’ on eat Germany, the agreements were done in secret and west looked like it was developing and recovering
79
What did Stalin do in response to the west zones uniting?
Stalin decided to try to remove the west from Berlin completely
80
What was the Berlin crisis?
It was from 1948-1949 when the Berlin blockade and airlift happened
81
What the the Berlin blockade?
It was the result of Trizonia, when Stalin felt ganged up on and there was a divide between west and east. Stalin responded by sending troops to block the rail and road routes that brought supplies to West Berlin. Stalin also cut off electricity
82
When did the Berlin blockade take place?
12th June 1948
83
What were Stalin’s reasons for the blockade?
-he needed a way to show his anger
-he believed the best way to remove the west was to starve the people so he could control all of Berlin
- test the wests and show his strength (huge propaganda)
84
What was Truman’s response to the Berlin blockade?
-Truman needed a plan to get supplies to the west
-he needed to contain communism
-he used aircraft because even though Stalin could shoot them down he wouldn’t risk it
This was known as the Berlin airlift
85
What was the Berlin airlift?
Known as the Berlin airlift or ‘operation vittles’. It was between June 1948 and may 1949. 1,000 tonnes of food and supplies were flown everyday to keep the western Berliners alive
86
What happened on 12th may 1949?
Stalin called off the blockade
87
What were the consequences of the Berlin airlift?
-made Stalin look weak and was criticised by communist leaders
-made western powers worry about the future threat of Soviet Union
-officially united Trizonia (FDR)
-NATO was formed
88
What was FRG?
-Federal Republic of Germany- created in place of Trizonia on 23rd may 1949, in August west Germans selected their first parliament,
89
What was GDR?
-German democratic republic- stalins response to FRG in October 1949, only communist countries recognised it as a country and it would be ruled by a communist party
90
What were the result of FRG & GDR?
-Germany would be divided for the next 40 years
-Each side regarded themselves as the ‘real’ Germany
91
What was the e eastern bloc?
Communist countries that were apart of the Warsaw pact
92
What was the arms race?
Both sides competing to have dominant armed forces in particular nuclear weapons
93
The arms race origins
-the USSR had a massive amounts of weapons, tanks, aircraft, soldiers
-the USA had fewer of these ‘conventional’ forces but had developed the atom bomb
94
What was the aim of the arms race?
The race was initially to develop technology to be ahead of the enemy or match the enemy’s power, instead for both sides it was about trying to stop the other side from starting a war
95
Who became the new leader of the USSR?
In 1953 after Stalin died, Nikita Krushchev became the new leader of the Soviet Union.
96
What did Nikita Khrushchev talk about doing?
-reducing expenditure on weapons
-peaceful relations with America
-improving the lives of ordinary citizens
97
Who became the new leader of the USA?
In 1953 Truman was defeated in the US elections and replaced by Dwight Eisenhower
98
What did Dwight Eisenhower want?
He was determined to block communist expansion but was willing to open talks with their communist opponents
99
When was the Hungarian uprising?
The Hungarian uprising started in 1956
100
What is an uprising?
An act of resistance or rebellion
101
What was Stalinism?
Stalins style of rule which was oppressive and cruel
102
Why was Hungarys position in Europe significant?
It was significant because it borders other satellite states and it might have an effect on the other states and make the USSR loose their empire
103
What happened at the election in Hungary in 1947?
The communists rigged the election and became the largest party. Matyas Rakosi became the leader, he used terror and brutality to control calling himself ‘follower of Stalin’
104
What were the religious problems in Hungary?
Rakosi removed religious teachings in schools, the leader of Catholic Church was imprisoned
105
What were political problems in Hungary?
Rakosi wanted to be a ‘follower of Stalin’- Hungary were forced to give up raw materials riots broke out
106
What were the social problems in Hungary?
Living standards started falling, lowest ever farming output, fuel and bread shortage.
107
Why did riots break out in Hungary?
People starting protesting for their lack of political rights, shortages in fuel and bread
108
Who was Rakosi replaced by?
He was replaced by Gero in July 1956 in attempt to control the riot situation
109
Who did krushchev allowed to become the new leader after Gero?
Nagy became the new leader,
In hopes that Hungarian people would take the changes and become peaceful
110
What reforms did Nagy put in place?
-allowed non communists into the government
-Soviet forces removed
-personal freedoms
-released some political prisoners
-announces Hungary would leave the Warsaw pact
111
What did krushchev do on November 4th 1956?
He ordered a Soviet invasion of Hungary, 1,000 tanks drove into Budapest. Hungarian people fought back and begged USA for help, 20,000 died and 200,000 fled
112
What was americas response to thre Hungarian invasion?
Eisenhower said ‘I feel with the Hungarian people’ and encouraged them to resist and promised their support
113
Why did Western Europe and America not help Hungary?
-Hungary was surrounded by communist nations so it would cause war
-the Truman doctrine aimed to stop spread of communism but Hungary was already communist
-Britain and France had began war with Egypt (suez crisis)
114
What happened to Nagy after the invasion?
He was arrested and executed in 1958
115
What was the impact on krushchev after the invasion?
He looked strong, he was respected, strong position in the Warsaw pact and communism looked strong
