Origins of the Cold War

By Geethanjali
  • Period: to

    Origins of the Cold War

  • Yalta Conference

    Decided to divide Germany into 4 zones, each zone taken care of by each superpower. Extract reparations from each zone.

  • Potsdam conference

    Each superpower took reparations and transfered it to Soviets in exchange for raw materials and food. However, Soviets did not do as promised.

  • The Long telegram

    By George Kennan
    Explained Soviet mindset as to why they want to expand their territory - history of invasion from the West
    It gave Americans a cleare and tougher policy towards the Soviets
    Shaped future policies

  • Iron Curtain Speech

    Winston Churchill
    Explained what the Soviets wanted to do and that they need to learn from the mistakes of appeasement - needed to be firmer in negotiations

  • Truman Doctrine

    Britain withdrawing from Greece - US feared that Soviets will fill the gap.
    Truman gave a speech insisting that US must supply assistance
    This shaped US participation in the future - $400 million given to Greece and Turkey
    A clear policy that saw Soviets as threats - shaped public perception

  • Marshall Plan

    George Marshall announced an economic assistance programme for western Europe - grants to purchase food, raw materials and machinery from the US.
    Aims : contain communism
    Economic motives - captive market or American goods

  • Czech Coup

    Example of Stalin's tightening grip on the Soviet Bloc
    Czech communists seized power and murdered pro-Western Czech foreign minister, Jan Masaryk when he pursued interests in the Marshall Plan

  • Marshal Plan implemented

    Opposition to financial aid crumbled after Czech Coup.
    Congress granted the President $17 billion

  • Deutschmark introduced in Berlin

    The old currency in Berlin lost its value and US introduced Deutschmark in Berlin.
    Soviets were angry as they wanted Germany to be weak

  • Berlin Blockade

    Soviets cut off all roads, rail and inland waterway routes to Berlin.
    Aim: Cancel US, France and Britain's plans for a west German state. In the very least, drive western powers out of Berlin.

  • Berlin Airlift

    Marshall - " we are in Berlin and we intend to stay "
    American and British planes flew more than 200,000 flights to Berlin in 320 days to drop off supplies.
    US did not want to appear weak, wanted to contain communism

  • NATO

    NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
    principle of collective security where an attack on one or more member state is considered as attack on all and could be met with armed force.
    American commitment to contain and repel communism - shift from isolation
    Aclear military strategy to counter Soviets on the ground in Europe.
    Lacked military strength on the ground and initially relied on US threat of nuclear retaliation against Soviet's much larger ground forces.

  • Berlin Blockade ended

    Berlin Blockade ended in a major victory for Americans.

  • Warsaw Pact