Cominform, NATO, Berlin crisis

when and why was Cominform established?

In 1947, Cominform was established to ensure that members retained their communist governments and removed any opposition. Members were also discouraged from communicating with Western countries.

when and why was Comecon established

1949, Comecon was Stalin’s attempt at deterring countries away from Marshall Aid. Members were encouraged to trade with each other and introduce communist policies like the collectivisation of land and the nationalisation of industries.

What was Cominform?

• Cominform was set up on 22nd September 1947 in response to the Truman Doctrine

• It allowed Stalin to direct and control the governments of the satellite states as well as the communist parties of other countries in Europe

when was Yugoslavia removed from Cominform?

1948

aims of Cominform

members of Cominform

What was Comecon? when was Comecon set up?

• Stalin did not allow communist states to accept Marshall Aid 

• However, it was clear these states needed financial aid to ensure they remained communist

• Comecon was set up on 25th January 1949 in response to the Marshall Plan

• It allowed Stalin to provide an alternative to the Marshall Plan and improve the economies of the satellite states

how did Bulgarias trade with other countries increase after Comecon ?

• from 10% in 1931 to 90% by 1951

aims of Comecon:

• keep economic control of europe

• built up trade links between members

• discourage trade with the USA and west

members of Comecon:

how did the west respond to the creation of Cominform and Comecon?

• this created extra tensions and a divide between cap west and comm east

• they established NATO in 1949

when was nato formed ?

April 1949

Why was NATO Formed in 1949?

• NATO was created in April 1949 in response to the growing tension between East and West following the end of the Second World War

• The Berlin Crisis in 1948, followed by the communist takeover in Czechoslovakia, was the tipping point that convinced the Western powers to take a stand against the Soviet Union

What did NATO Promise?

• NATO was a military alliance based on collective security

  • If one member was attacked, all members would defend it

• It was created to counter the presence of the huge Red Army in Eastern Europe and send a message to Stalin that the West was united and prepared for future war

aims of nato ?

members of NATO?

how did creation of nato further increase tensions between east and west?

• In August 1949, the Soviet Union successfully tested their first atomic bomb

• In 1955, the Soviet Union created its own military alliance, known as the Warsaw Pact

When was bizonia and trizonia formed

• In 1947, the USA and Britain merged their zones to create ‘Bizonia’

• in March 1948, France merged their zone with the USA and Britain to create ‘Trizonia’

when was the new currency formed and what was the reaction to it

• In June 1948, the three Western countries created a new currency for Trizonia known as the Deutschmark

  • This decision infuriated Stalin and further increased tensions between the West and East

why did the Deutschmark increase tensions?

what were causes of the Berlin blockade?

• bizonia 1947

• truman doctrine march 1947

• marshall plan april 1947

• trizonia march 1948

• Deutschmark June 1948

when did the Berlin Blockade happen ?

June 1948

why did the ussr choose to blockade Berlin?

how did the USSR blockade Berlin

• In June 1948, the Soviet Union closed road, rail and canal links across Soviet-controlled Germany 

• Without access to West Berlin, the USA, Britain and France would not be able to send supplies:

  • West Berlin only had enough food for 36 days

  • West Berlin lacked important resources like fuel and medicine

what did Stalin hope to achieve from this ?

• Stalin hoped that the Western powers would give up their control of West Berlin, which would allow the Soviet Union to control the whole capital

• It would also allow him to spread propaganda about the triumph of communism over capitalism

how could the west react to Berlin blockade

• 1) withdraw from Berlin

• 2) supply Berlin by land

• 3) supply Berlin by air

withdrawing from Berlin Ad+Disad

• + prevent war with USSR

• - lose control of capital

• - containing communism will fail

Supply Berlin by land Ad/DisAD

+could provide West Berlin with supplies and necessities

-would make the west look like aggressors

-would lead to war

supply Berlin by air Ad/Disad

+could provide West Berlin with supplies

+would not be entering by land

+USSR would be aggressors if they shot down any planes

-could lead to war if USSR were violent

what was the Berlin airlift?

• The West decided to fly supplies into Berlin, knowing that the Soviet Union themselves would be risking war if they shot any planes down

• From June 1948 to May 1949, the West flew supplies into West Berlin in what was known as the Berlin Airlift

when did the Berlin airlift occur?

June 1948 to May 1949

how many supplies were transported in Jan 1949

170,000 tonnes

when did the USSR lift the berlin blockade

12th May 1949

when and who was west Germany created by?

• The USA Britain France joined together to create the federal Republic of Germany on the 23rd of May 1949 send

• The West German elected their new parliament on the 14th of August 1949

• They elected the first democratic chancellor on the 15th of September 1949

when and who was =east Germany created by?

• The Soviet Union created the German democratic Republic on the 7th of October 1949

Why was the Warsaw Pact Formed in 1955?

• The Warsaw Pact was created in May 1955 in response to the (West Germany) joining NATO:

  • The Soviet Union were worried about a strong West Germany being part of a military alliance with the USA

what caused the Warsaw pact

• truman doctrine 1947

• berlin airlift 1948-49

• nato 1949

• west Germany joining nato 1955

aims of the Warsaw pact 1955

• protect against a possible attack from the west

• agree to assist another member if they were attacked

• strengthen relation between eastern countries

members of Warsaw pact 1955

• USSR

• poland

• czechoslovakia

• hungary

• romaNIA

• bulgaria

• albania

• east Germany