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The Temporary Alliance
-Immediately after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, most countries refused to recognise communist government
-USSR supported communist movements around the world and the USA promoted capitalism around the world as well
-Stalin believed UK and FRA were deliberately allowing Hitler to expand (Spanish Civil War, Sudetenland)
-Grand Alliance therefore only came together because of the threat of Hitler -
What Was the Cold War?
- a period of political,economic and ideological rivalry and hostility between the United States and the USSR and their respective allies
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Period: to
Takeover of Eastern Europe
WHAT:Stalin used the following method to create his spher of influence:- Soviets liberated eastern European countires from Germany during the war -Free elections in 1945 w communists entering coalition governments -Soviets demanded control of interior ministries (police/security) which they used to intimidate opponents
- eventual rigged election=total communist control. -used this method in Czechoslovakia, Poland and Albania
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Ideological Differences and Long-Term Hostility
-USA was politically democrtatic with free elections and capitalism
-USSR was a communist dictatorship
-The Cold War did not come out of nowhere. These two visions of the world were completely INCOMPATIBLE -
Red Lines at Yalta
each power had many aims and motives but the red lines were: STALIN: security, a sphere of influence across Eastern Europe to ensure friendly neighbours, germany to be punished ROOSEVELT: free elections and democracy (self-determination) for all countries, creation of UN (new LoN) -
Period: to
Yalta Conference
took place when the war was strategically over for Germany. the main issues at the conference were:
- germany and its leaders -german occupied countries -poland -ongoing war w Japan -creating lasting peace -
Agreements at Yalta
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Changes between Yalta and Potsdam
WHAT: Roosevelt had been replaced by Truman, Churchill had been replaced by Atlee
WHY: Roosevelt died shortly after Yalta, Churchill lost election
SIGNIFICANCE: Truman was a rabid anticommunist and not as pragmatic with Stalin as Roosevelt. US successfully tested an atomic bomb in mid-July. Truman felt he no longer needed Stalin and was overly confident. Personal dynamics different
CONSEQUENCES: Potsdam was much more hostile than Yalta -
Period: to
The Potsdam Conference
WHAT: the main agreements were:
-Nazis banned, leaders to go on war crimes trials
-Division of Germany and Berlin confirmed
-Each countries would take reparations from its zone of occupation SIGNIFICANCE: tension was almost entirely private, but still publically spoke of cooperation. both sides did not see the situation as ending in inevitable conflict, and would try maintain ties for the next six months CONSEQUENCES: relationship has gone south, but not broken down completely yet -
Period: to
Conflict over Germany.
German and Berlin division was meant to be temporary and joint decisions were to be made but due to the powers breaking down, so did cooperation over Germany. Stalin was adamant on keeping Germany weak while France, USA and UK provided Marshall Aid. In 1946, UK,FRA and USA combined their zones to make Trizonia. In 1949, this became West Germany. Stalin felt these were provactive moves and felt threatend by it all. Trizonia was recovering while Stalin's sector remained poor and backwards. -
The Iron Curtain
WHAT: former PM Churchill denounces USSR . WHY:He used this as a metaphor for division between free and opressed Europe. He accused the communists of seeking to create dictatorships in Eastern Europe. S: This is the first public sign of dispute and the first ever open criticism by a major western leader of the USSR since before the war. C:Contributed to Stalin's paranoia over west's intentions but since Churchill did not speak in an official capacity, was not too important -
The Greek Civil War
SIGNIFICANCE: first major communist takeover of a country not in the Sphere of influence (however Stalin did not interfere in this war at ALL) CONSEQUENCES: led to the establishement of the Truman Doctrine -
The Truman Doctrine
WHAT: Truman announces the USA will pay for British troops to remain in Greece. WHY: The British could no longer afford to fund the monarchists against the communists SIGNIFICANCE: announces the policy of containment CONSEQUENCES: the US would now send money, equipment or soldiers with any country threatened with communist takeover BUT they had to accept that Eastern Europe was already communist. -
Period: to
The Cold War
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Impact of the Takeover of Eastern Europe
SIGNIFICANCE: actions confirmed suspicions in Iron Curtain speech; that Stalin was a dictatior determined to spread communist across Europe. CONSEQUENCES: Led to USA abandoning isolationism -
The Marshall Plan
WHAT: American General George Marshall visits Europe and suggests the US gives Europe $17B to rebuild. WHY: communism was thriving adter the war due to poverty and destruction after war. countries were in debt, had extreme shortages of food and fuels. SIGNIFICANCE:Initially, congress refused. CONSEQUENCES: congress eventually changed their mind for 4 main reasons -
Why did Congress Change their mind on the Marshall Plan?
-altruism (offered even to USSR) -scared of countries joining communism esp. France and Italy -dollar imperialism: US would gain control over some countries economies, and money would be spent buying US goods.(alleged by USSR) -takeover of Czechoslovakia by Stalin -
Period: to
The Berlin Blockade
Stalin decides to blockade Berlin by cutting off all supply lines to the west by road,canal and railway.
This would starve the 2m inhabitants of the west and force them to accept USSR authority. The USA forcing through the barricades would've been an act of war. They instead do an airlift of supplies everyfay. It was clear the blockade failed, and so Stalin lifted it almost a year later. -
Consequences of the Blockade
- confirmed division of Germany -Berlin had become a symbol of the cold war -Creation of Nato/Warsaw pact: war seemed a real possibility therefore they signed collective security pacts.
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HOW FAR: Stalin was/wasn't to blame for the Cold War
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HOW FAR: USA was/wasn't to blame for the Cold War
