K21 - The Origins Of The Cold War, 1941-58

What were Stalins key beliefs around 1941?

The soviet union should build up its strength, and that the USSR could become a successful communist state on its own.

External capitalist enemies and internal opponents were constant threats. to protect against this, the state should become more powerful and centralized.

What were Roosevelt’s key beliefs around 1941?

The 4 fundamental freedoms for people everywhere: Freedom of speech, religion, and freedom from want and fear.

The US economy required extensive government intervention to create stability, jobs and a social safety net.

What were Churchill’s key beliefs around 1941?

Nazi Germany and other totalitarian forces threatened global democracy.

The British empire and its allies, like the US, must fight to preserve freedom.

What period of time was Truman president for?

1945-52

What period of time was Eisenhower president for?

1952-60

What period of time was Kennedy president for?

1960-63

What period of time was Johnson president for?

1963-68

What period of time was Nixon president for?

1968-74

What period of time was Ford president for?

1974-76

What period of time was Carter president for?

1976-80

What period of time was Reagan president for?

1980-88

What period of time was Bush, G.H.W president for?

1988-92

When was the Grand alliance? Who was it between?

1941

It was the joining of the USA, Soviet Union and Britain based on the common enemy of Germany and their wish to defeat Hitler.

What is the Grand Alliance?

The joining of the USA, Soviet Union and Britain, during 1941.

Roosevelt and Churchill met in August 1941 and outlined their post - war aims in signing the Atlantic Charter in 1941

The USA joined the war in 1941, however Britain had been at war with Germany since 1939.

The Soviet Union and Stalin were forced into the war, and the Grand alliance, due to Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union.

Termed a ‘marriage of convenience’ due to nations banding together purely for their common goal (defeating Hitler).

What were the main agreements of the Tehran Conference, 1943?

Meeting was mainly successful for Stalin. For example, Churchill’s idea of an allied invasion through the Balkans thereby preventing the red army taking over all of easter europe was rejected. Main agreements were:

Britain and USA agreed to open up a 2nd front by invading France in may 1944.

The USSR was to wage war against Japan once Germany was defeated.

A United nations organization was to be set up after the war

An area of eastern poland would be added to the Soviet Union.

What is the context of the Tehran conference?

1943

First time the Grand alliance met, to discuss the defeat of Germany and Japan and how they would be treated after WW2.

When was the Tehran Conference?

1943

What problems arose at the Tehran conference, 1943?

Stalin believed Britain and the USA took too long to open up the second front to fight Germany. He suspected this was on purpose to weaken Russia by fighting, and weaker when the war was over.

Churchill extremely anti-communist and suspicious of Stalin.

WW2 started when Germany invaded poland in 1939. Britain had been trying to protect Poland’s independence. Stalin was claiming it for Russia.

What were the main events of the Yalta Conference, February 1945?

The 3 allied leaders met to consider what to do with Germany and Europe once victory was achieved. They agreed that:

The USSR would enter the war against Japan once Germany surrendered.

Eastern Europe would be a ‘soviet sphere’ of influence.

They would divide germany into 4 zones: US, British, French, and Soviet. They would also divide Berlin this way.

To allow countries liberated from the occupation of Germany to have free elections to choose the government they wanted.

To join the new UN organisation to maintain peace once the war ended.

How was increased tension a consequence of the Yalta conference (February 1945)?

It lead to a clash between the three leaders: Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill, which lead to an increase in tension.

They disagreed on how much money Germany should pay in reparations for war damages after WW2.

Stalin wanted a much higher figure than both Roosevelt and Churchill.

Although the meeting intended to provide clarification, a disagreement occured, consequenting in the decision of the sum of Germany's reparations being delayed, and tensions evolving due to the opposing views.

How was Churchill becoming suspicious of Stalin a consequence of the Yalta conference (February 1945)?

He became suspicious of Stalin due to his plans about what to do with Poland.

Stalin declared he wanted a ‘friendly’ Polish government so the USSR would have an ally and be more protected from Germany.

Churchill believed Stalin’s true motive was to create a Soviet-controlled Polish government, and as a result of distrusting him. Further strained the relationship between Britain and the USSR.

How is increased tension a consequence of the Potsdam conference?

Tension increased between ruman and Stalin due to differing opinions on free elections in Eastern Europe.

Truman wanted free elections in countries occupied by Soviet troops (the red army).

Stalin refused to submit to US pressure, believing it was an unwelcome interference from the USA and he should be allowed to run the countries how he pleased.

So despite them being allies, they were becoming suspicious of eachothers motives.

Ideological differences were becoming apparent and would lead to the start of the cold war.

How was the division of Germany and Berlin a consequence of the Potsdam conference?

Due to the agreement of their division in the Yalta conference, February 1945.

Each of the 4 zones of Germany and 4 sectors of Berlin were occupied and administered by one of the allies (Soviet in East Germany, and the French, British and American zones in the West.)

This would inevitably lead to increased tensions between the USA and USSR as their 2 competing ideologies of capitalism and communism would have to co-exist side by side.

What were the main agreements of the Potsdam conference, July 1945?

Germany and Berlin were to be divided as previously agreed.

Germany was to be demilitarized

Democracy to be re-established in Germany, including free elections, free press, and freedom of speech.

Germany to pay reparations to allies in equipment and materals. Most of this was to go to the USSR, which had suffered the most.The USSR would be given ¼ of the industrial goods in western zones in return for food and coal from the Soviet zone.

Full participation in the UN organisation.

What occured in the 5 months between the Yalta conference in February and Potsdam conference in July 1945?

Soviet troops liberated countries in eastern Europe but didn't move their military presence

Stalin set up a communist government in Poland, ignoring the majority of the poles, agreements made at Yalta, and protests made by Britain and the USA. He insisted his control of eastern Europe was a defensive measure against possible future attacks.

The red army (Soviet army) was the biggest in the world but Stalin refused to cut down his armed forces after the war.

Roosevelt died in April 1945 and was replaced by Truman.

16 July 1945, Americans successfully tested the atomic bomb. Truman informed Stalin of this at the start of Potsdam. Stalin was furious not to have been consulted.

What period of time was Stalin Russia's leader?

1922-53

What period of time was Khrushchev Russia's leader?

1953-64

What period of time was Brezhnev Russia's leader?

1964-82

What period of time was Gorbachev Russia's leader?

1985-91

How did the atomic bomb developent impact US-Soviet relationships?

On 16 July, 1945, the Americans successfully tested an an atomic bomb at a desert site in the USA.

At the start of the Potsdam conference, Truman informed Stalin of this whoo was furious at not having been consulted beforehand.

What is the long telegram?

George Kennan was the USA’s Deputy Chief of Mission at the US embassy in Moscow in 1946. He saw the Soviet Union as aggressive and suspicious and recommended firm action by the USA as what he viewed as Soviet expansion in eastern Europe.

His telegram ‘the long telegram’ greatly influenced Truman’s policies in the cold war, especially his policy of containment.

His key points, articulated in the telegram included:

USA cannot expect to be close to UUSR

USSR is a rival, not a partner

USSR is trying to destroy all rival ideologies.

What is the novikov telegram?

The soviet’s retaliation to the long telegram in september, 1946, sent to Stalin by Nikolai Novikov, the Soviet ambassador to the USA at the time.

The telegram hardened Stalin’s attitudes towards the USA and worsened the superpowers’ relationships. Key point included:

USA is aiming for ‘world dominance’

USA are building up their army/navy/air force

Their army is now too large to be a ‘peacetime’ army.

What were ‘satellite states’?

Having freed much of eastern Europe from the nazis, the red army remained in occupation and the Soviet Union established communist governments in countries that were closely controlled from Moscow.

These became known as satellite states.

How did Stalin set up satellite states across eastern Europe?

The same pattern followed in each country:

Coalition governments were set up where communists shared power with other political parties.

Backed by Stalin, communists tok over the devil service, media, security and defence.

Opposition leaders were arrested or forced to flee.

Elections were held, but were fixed to ensure support for the communists.

‘People’s democracies’ were set up.