Origins and Development of the Cold War (1945-1991)

Flashcards covering the origins, major conferences, key doctrines, crises, and the eventual collapse of the Cold War based on lecture materials.

Cold War

A term first used in 1947 to describe conflict involving propaganda, deterrence, and proxy wars between the USSR and USA, where superpowers helped allies but did not become directly involved.

Orthodox (Post-glasnost) Historians

Historians who believe the USSR was to blame for the Cold War, arguing Stalin planned a worldwide communist takeover as evidenced by the 'Iron Curtain' in Eastern Europe.

Revisionist Historians

Historians who blame the USA for the Cold War, arguing Soviet actions were defensive and that the USA was a hypocrite for wanting control of its own influence while refusing the USSR the same.

Post-Revisionist Historians

Historians who believe neither superpower should be blamed, suggesting the Cold War was based on misunderstanding and guesswork.

Teheran Conference (November 1943)

The first meeting of Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt where it was agreed Poland would receive German lands east of the river Oder and Neisse in exchange for land given to the Soviet Union up to the Curzon line.

Yalta Conference (February 1945)

A summit where leaders discussed the post-war aftermath, resulting in an agreement for free elections in liberated Europe and the division of Germany and Berlin into four occupied zones.

Salami Tactics

A method used by the USSR to gain political control by taking key ministries like the Ministry of the Interior in coalition governments, eventually destroying opposition through violence and intimidation.

Potsdam Conference (July 1945)

The last wartime summit where Truman informed Stalin of the atomic bomb; agreements included banning the Nazi Party and taking reparations from individual occupation zones.

Trinity Test

The successful testing of the first atomic bomb by the USA on 16 July 1945 during the Manhattan Project.

Iron Curtain

A phrase used by Winston Churchill in 1946 to describe the post-war division of Europe into Western and Eastern blocs.

Lublin Group

The communist group that remained dominant in the Polish coalition government, which Stalin prioritized after the Yalta Conference.

Two Camps

Stalin's description of Cold War policy: the USSR leading the anti-imperialist/democratic camp, and the US leading the imperialist/anti-democratic camp.

Long Telegram

A 1946 message from George Kennan arguing the USSR was intent on destroying capitalism and advancing communism, forming the foundation of the US policy of containment.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

A US policy to protect democracy in countries threatened by communism by providing funds, aids, advisors, and weapons, effectively abandoning isolationism.

Marshall Plan (1947)

An economic scheme offering $15\,\text{billion}$ to rebuild European economies and raise living standards to reduce the appeal of communism; the USSR labeled it 'dollar imperialism'.

Cominform

The Communist Information Bureau established in 1947 to coordinate European communist parties and spread Stalin's ideas.

Comecon

The Council for Mutual Economic Aid, a 1949 trade bloc for Eastern communist countries to coordinate production, which primarily favored the USSR.

Bizonia and Trizonia

Bizonia was the combination of the British and US Allied zones (1 January 1947); Trizonia added the French zone (21 June 1948).

Berlin Blockade

Stalin's 1948 act of cutting off all road, rail, and canal links to West Berlin to starve its inhabitants into submission and annex the city.

Operation Vittles

The Berlin Airlift (1948-1949) where the Allies flew over $1.5\,\text{million}$ tons of supplies into West Berlin to bypass the Soviet blockade.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (4 April 1949); a military alliance where members agreed to defend any member that was attacked.

Warsaw Pact

A 1955 defensive military alliance of the USSR and its satellite states created in response to West Germany joining NATO.

38th Parallel

The line dividing North Korea (communist, led by Kim Il Sung) and South Korea (anti-communist, led by Syngman Rhee).

SEATO

South East Asian Treaty Organisation (1954), an Asian version of NATO aimed at containing communism in the Far East.

People's Republic of China

A communist state proclaimed by Mao Zedong on 1 October 1949 after defeating the Kuomintang (Nationalists) in the Chinese Civil War.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country in a region fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow in a chain reaction.

NSC-68

A 1950 top-secret document advising a rapid build-up of US political, economic, and military strength to deter Soviet aggression, leading to a tripled defense budget.

Rollback

An aggressive policy favored by Eisenhower to actively push back and eliminate communism from territories rather than merely containing it.

Brinkmanship

The practice of pursuing dangerous policies to the limits of active warfare to intimidate an opponent, associated with John Foster Dulles.

Peaceful Co-existence

A mid-1950s to mid-1960s thaw in relations where Khrushchev argued superpowers should compete but avoid direct confrontation.

Destalinisation

A process initiated by Khrushchev's 1956 'Secret Speech' involving renaming cities, demolishing Stalin statues, and releasing political prisoners.

Prague Spring (1968)

A period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia under Alexander Dubcek, who promised 'socialism with a human face'.

Brezhnev Doctrine

A 1968 policy stating the USSR would intervene in any communist state that appeared to be abandoning communism for capitalism.

Hydrogen Bomb

A weapon developed by the USA in 1954 and the USSR in 1955 that is $1,000$ times more explosive than an atomic bomb.

ICBM

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles; rockets stored in silos that could travel between Russia and the USA in $30$ minutes.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

A doctrine describing a situation where a nuclear war would result in the total destruction of both the attacker and the defender.

Sputnik

The first satellite launched into space by the USSR on 4 October 1957, sparking the Space Race.

Détente

The easing of tensions and development of peaceful cooperation between superpowers, occurring roughly between 1968 and 1979.

Ostpolitik

West German Chancellor Willy Brandt's 'Eastern Policy' aimed at reducing barriers between East and West Germany and recognizing post-war borders.

SALT I (1972)

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks that limited the number of ABM sites and capped ICBM and SLBM launchers; the first major arms control agreement.

Helsinki Accords (1975)

An agreement signed by $35$ countries to respect human rights and recognize the status quo of borders in Europe.

Vietnamisation

Nixon's policy to withdraw US ground troops from Vietnam and have the South Vietnamese army take over combat duties while US aid continued.

Mujahedeen

Islamic insurgents (meaning 'struggle') in Afghanistan who fought the pro-Soviet government and were later supported by the USA.

Reaganomics

A policy of lower taxes and reduced government regulations intended to revive the US economy, under the central ideal that 'Greed is Good'.

Perestroika

Mikhail Gorbachev's 1986 policy of 'Economic Restructuring' designed to allow more competition and open Soviet markets.

Glasnost

Gorbachev's policy of 'Openness' aimed at government transparency, cultural freedom, and reduced censorship.

Solidarity

The first free trade union in the Soviet system, created by Lech Walesa in Poland during the 1980s.

Minsk Agreement (1991)

The document signed by Boris Yeltsin and other leaders to dissolve the Soviet Union and create the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).