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Tehran Conference
Churchill proposed that USSR abosrb part of eastern Poland while the US would gain part of eastern Germany. Roosevelt did not object but said he could not publicly agree so as to not alienate Polish-American votes. -
Percentages Agreement
According to the proposed agreement, it stated that Britain would have 90% influence in Greece.
USSR to have 90% influence in Romania and 75% in Bulgaria. Roosevelt was not present during the meeting but was briefed on it. He did not openly oppose it.
As a result, Stalin thought the US and Britain understood his needs for sphere of influence in Eastern Bloc. -
The Yalta Agreement
During this conference, the US and Britain rejected revision of Polish border. It also included the London pole inside the Lublin Commitee. Stalin signed the Declaration of Liberated Europe which pledged free elections and democratic institutions. However, Stalin regarded the Declaration as only for public relations purposes. During the final implementation, Poland's new borders with USSR remain, free elections were not held and only 2 London Poles were added to the Lublin Committee. -
Truman Doctrine
British informed the US that they could no longer afford to keep their troops in Greece and wanted to withdraw their troops. Soviets demanded that Turkey give them access to their Straits in order to fulfil their wish for a warm water port. In view of these events, President Truman created the Truman Doctrine, which established that the US was wiling to provide political, military and economic assistance to any democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces. -
Marshall Plan
In 1947, George Marshall launched the idea of Marshall Plan to restore economic and political stability to Western Europe. Primary movite was to contain communism. Secondary motive was to create a captive European market for American goods. However, this meant that Soviets had to givev up exclusie control of their own economy, which was unacceptable to USSR. Marshall Plan cemented the economic schism in Europe. Soviets ensured that eastern European countries did not participate in it. -
Berlin Blockade
In 1946, US and British merged their zones into one zone called 'Bizone'. In 1947, it was decided that only Western zones will receive Marshall aid.
In early 1948, US and Britain sought agreement to introduce a single new currrency that would circulate freely in all 4 zones. Stalin objected as he rightly interpreted it as the signal for the establishment of New Germany in the West.
Hence, in June 1948, Soviets blocked all roads and rail routes to Berlin.
It came close to the first armed clash.
