Origins of the Cold War

Percentages agreement in Moscow between Stalin and Churchill

Oct 1, 1944

• British would have 90% influence in Greece
• Soviets would have 90% influence in Romania and Bulgaria

Soviets asked for a $6 billion loan

Jan 1, 1945

*DOLLAR DIPLOMACY • Americans imposed conditions
- opening of eastern European markets to US manufactured products
• Soviets not wanting to open their markets
• Led to greater distrust

Yalta Conference

Feb 1, 1945

• Polish Issue was discussed
- Give Poland free election
- inclusion of the London Poles in the Lublin Committee
• Division of Germany into 4 zones (France, US, Soviets, British)
• Reparation to be taken from Germany

Potsdam Conference

Jul 1, 1945

(change in aims) • To treat Germany as a single economy and to allow goods to move around freely
• To take reparations from each zones *changes in American policy reflected in US actions
- “Get Tough” Policy
- Iran
- Germany

Soviet Union made further request for a loan

Aug 1, 1945

*DOLLAR DIPLOMACY • Was mysteriously lost by the State Department

Deadline for membership of the IMF and World Bank

Dec 29, 1945

*reaction to the Dollar Diplomacy • Soviets did not join

Truman’s New Year Resolutions

Jan 1, 1946

• He will “stop babying the Soviets”

The Long Telegram by George F. Kennan

Feb 22, 1946

• A historical analysis of Soviet aggression

The Iron Curtain Speech by Winston Churchill

Mar 5, 1946

• Explain what the Soviets wanted to do behind the ‘Iron Curtain’

The Clifford-Elsey Report

Sep 24, 1946

• Saw the Soviets as attempting world domination

Britain unable to continue giving aid to Greece and Turkey, leaving a vacuum

Jan 1, 1947

Truman Doctrine

Mar 12, 1947

*First public declaration of containment • To gain support of the Congress in sending American money and military advisers to Greece and Turkey
• 1st act of containment to be publicly announced.
• Congress granted Truman $400 million, of which $250 million went to Greece, $150 million to Turkey

Stalin agreed to supply the Greek communist with small arms and ammunition

Jun 1, 1947

Marshall Plan

Jun 17, 1947

• To create a captive market for American goods in Western Europe (Economic Reason)
• To contain communism by giving economic support and assistance to Western Europe
• Total Marshall Aid spending amounted to $13 million between 1948 and 1952– major recipients were Britain, France and Germany
• HOWEVER, CONDITION IS:
TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC RECORDS AND OPEN UP THEIR ECONOMY TO US CAPITALIST INTEREST (IMPOSSIBLE FOR COMMUNIST STATES TO DO SO)

Cominform

Sep 1, 1947

*reaction to Truman Doctrine • To coordinate communist parties throughout Europe
• To attempt to provide unity among socialist bloc

Molotov Plan

Oct 29, 1947

*reaction to Marshall Plan

Czechoslovakian Coup

Feb 25, 1948

• Staged by Czechoslovakian communists while the Red Army amassed outside Czechoslovakian borders

Introduction of New Currency into Germany by the US

Jun 1, 1948

Berlin Blockade

Jun 24, 1948

• Severing of all roads, rails and canals with West Berlin to force the US, Britain and France to cancel their plans for a West German State (Gain territorial advantages)
• At least dive the Western powers out of Berlin (Extract concessions)
• Result of the Berlin Blockade
- Berlin Airlift (food and fuel being flown into the city)
- Acceleration of the formation for NATO

Comecon

Jan 1, 1949

*reaction to Marshall Plan

The Brussels Treaty

Mar 29, 1949

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

Apr 4, 1949

• Enlargement of the Brussels Treaty
• Make it clear to the Soviets that there would be no returning to isolationism

Splitting of Germany into Democratic West Germany and Communist East Germany

Oct 7, 1949

Rearming of West Germany

Oct 31, 1949

Warsaw Pact

May 14, 1950

• Saw the rearming of West Germany as a threat
• Seen as a reaction to NATO TO A CERTAIN EXTENT ONLY