20th Century International Relations & Germany 1919-1945

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from lecture notes on 20th-century international relations, focusing on the Cold War, Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War, and Soviet control in Eastern Europe, as well as German history from 1919-1945.

Yalta Conference

A meeting in February 1945 between Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt to discuss postwar reorganization.

Beliefs/Ideologies

The Capitalist US and UK, and the Communist USSR had very different ideas about how countries should be run.

Churchill - Agreements

Churchill wanted this group in London Polish Government in Exile (anti-communist) to govern Poland.

Potsdam Conference

A meeting in July 1945 between Atlee, Stalin, and Truman to discuss postwar issues.

Truman

American president, anti -Communist. He wanted free elections in Eastern Europe.

Poland

Communist government was established in Poland, Breaking the agreement reached at Yalta regarding free elections.

Eastern Europe

Stalin refused to hold free elections in Eastern Europe as he wanted friendly governments to provide a buffer zone.

"Get Tough" policy

Truman started this policy to counter Stalin's refusal to hold free elections in Eastern Europe.

Insecurity

Stalin concerned that the USSR had been invaded from the west twice in the early 20th century, 1914 and 1941.

Yugoslavian

This Communist Leader Tito was ejected from the COMINFORM for receiving Marshall Aid and refusing to follow Stalin’s line.

Iron Curtain

The term coined by Churchill in March 1946, referring to the divide between communist and capitalist countries in Europe.

Truman Doctrine, 1947

A policy developed by Truman to explain that the world was dividing into two “ways of life”: capitalist and free, communist and unfree.

Containment

A policy established to attempt to halt further communist expansion.

Marshall Aid, 1947

The financial aid to rebuild European economies.

Differing treatment of Germany - USSR

USSR wanted to punish Germany and keep it as a buffer zone. Industry stripped no investment in the economy.

Berlin Blockade

Stalin cut all road, rail and canal links to West Berlin, Attempt to force the Allies to pull out.

NATO

This was a defensive alliance set up in 1949.

Establishing a new currency in Berlin triggered the Berlin Blockade

The introduction of a new currency to the Western zones. Plans to create Bizonia went against agreements with the Soviets.

Establish Soviet empire and expansion of ideology

The Red army remained in Eastern Europe after the war, imposing Communism on the occupied countries

Why did North Korea invade South Korea in 1950?

Communist support by, Stalin and Mao Zedong supported North Korea Supplied tanks, artillery and planes that the South didn’t have.

Containment

The USA was determined to stop Communism spreading due to its policy of Containment.

Cuban Revolution (1959)

Cuba was ruled by General Batista, a corrupt and unpopular dictator. USA supported him because he was an􀆟 –Communist

Naval Base

The Americans had a large naval base on the island at Guantanamo Bay. Concern that it might be seized.

Bay of Pigs Invasion, 1961

President Kennedy gave arms, equipment and transport to support an invasion of Cuba by 1,400 Cuban exiles.

How did Kennedy resolve the CMC?

Kennedy decided to impose a naval blockade of Cuba and called upon the USSR to withdraw its missiles.

Success Castro

Although the missiles were removed, the USSR continued to supply Cuba’s army with modern equipment. Cuba’s security was assured and America never attempted to invade again

Domino Effect

US policymakers thought that allowing one country to fall to Communism would lead to neighbouring countries falling too.

US politics

During the 1960 election, Kennedy promised to continue the foreign policies of President Eisenhower

VC tactics

The VC used guerrilla tactics No uniforms. The VC blended into the local peasant population.

Hit and run ambush tactics

They attacked and disappeared into the jungle or tunnel networks. 51% of American casualties were to small arms fire in ambushes

US tactics - Aerial bombing

Military targets in North Vietnam, cities in North and South Vietnam and supply routes were all very heavily bombed

Neighbouring countries

Cambodia and Laos supported the Viet Cong, allowing supplies to travel through their territory and sheltering fugitives

‘Hearts and Minds’

American success relied upon getting support from the people of South Vietnam - winning over their hearts and minds

Cost

$20-$30 billion a year. $400,000 per Viet Cong member killed.

The Tet Offensive, 1968

During the Tet New Year celebrations, Viet Cong fighters launched a surprise attack against 100 South Vietnamese cities and US bases

USSR and China

Nixon built stronger relations with the USSR and China.

‘Vietnamisation’

South Vietnamese armed forces were built up to allow US troops to return home. 400,000 left between April 1969 and 1971

Repression

The AVH (secret police) restricted freedoms and kept people in fear. An estimated 2,000 people were executed and 100,000 imprisoned under Russian control

Religion

The Communists banned religion Church leaders, such as Cardinal Mindszenty, were arrested, tortured and imprisoned

How did the USSR react?

Police opened fire on a student demonstration. A huge statue of Stalin was pulled down

Why was there opposition to Soviet control in Czechoslovakia in 1968?

Economy suffered a recession. Living conditions deteriorated Communist restrictions on businesses, wages and prices were relaxed

Dubcek

Dubcek, the new Communist leader of Czechoslovakia promised reforms, he referred to this as ‘Communism with a human face’

Brezhnev Doctrine

New Soviet policy to control Communist states in Eastern Europe

Strong industry

Czechoslovakia’s industry was the strongest in Eastern Europe

Soviet military strength

USSR sent overwhelming force into both countries as an immediate response to the uprisings

Living conditions in the West

The Soviets had stripped industry and resources from much of East Berlin as reparations USA had invested heavily in West Berlin

‘Brain Drain’

Those who left the East were most likely to be young, educated and in skilled jobs. The East German economy needed these trained workers

Prevented invasion

Made a Soviet invasion of West Berlin less likely. There were no constraints imposed on Western movements into the city Propaganda victory

Methods

Strictly nonviolent; they did not want to provoke the government into violent action

New policy towards Eastern Europe

Anti -Communist movements in Eastern Europe were encouraged as they knew they were safe from Russian military intervention

Glasnost – ‘Openness’

Allowed freedom of expression. Gave new freedoms to the press, allowing them to criticise the government Perestroika – ‘Restructuring’

Reagan

US President Reagan increased military spending by a third

Instability

Extremist groups wanted to overthrow the government Those with right wing political views wanted to see the Kaiser return

Defeat and the Treaty of Versailles

Many Germans felt that politicians had betrayed the army by signing the Armistice

The November revolution of 1918

The Allies made it a condition of peace that the Kaiser abdicate

The new Weimar Republic

The new Weimar Republic government signed the Armistice ceasefire agreement with the Allies

Economic

Germany had to pay reparations totalling £6.6 billion

Political

Some political opponents referred to the Social Democrats as the “November Criminals”, blaming them for losing the war and the humiliation of Versailles

By signing the Versailles Treaty

By signing the Versailles Treaty, President Ebert and the Social Democrats became associated with a unpopular and humiliating treaty

Article 48

The President could pass emergency laws without the consent of the Reichstag

Proportional representation

The electoral system allocated seats to parties in proportion to votes they won

The Spartacist Uprising, 1919

The Spartacists were an extreme left wing revolutionary group They were led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. They believed in communism.

What happened during the Kapp Putsch, 1920?

The Freikorps were established by President Ebert as a security force to support the police in maintaining order

Causes Occupation of the Ruhr, 1923 – 1925

The Versailles Treaty required Germany to make regular reparations payments to the Allies

Results Occupation of the Ruhr, 1923 – 1925

The Weimar government responded with passive resistance: Industrial strikes and refusing to cooperate with the French and Belgian occupiers

Hyperinflation Causes

When Germany defaulted on its reparations payments, France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr.

Economic stability

The Dawes Plan, 1924 Gave a loan of 800 million marks, Reduced annual reparations

Foreign policy Recovery

The Locarno Treay (1925) guaranteed Germany’s borders with France and Belgium. Improved Germany’s relations with its neighbours

End of the Treaty of Versailles

Hitler hated the Versailles Treaty. He believed it was unfair and humiliating The treaty had taken German land, made Germany pay reparations and forbade Anschluss

What happened during the Munich (Beer Hall) Putsch, 1923?

The Nazis interrupted a political meeting held in a Munich beer hall addressed by the right wing Bavarian chancellor Kahr.

Mein Kampf

His time in prison gave Hitler an opportunity to dictate Mein Kampf (my struggle) a bestselling account of his life and explanation of his political views

Publicity

Hitler spread his political views by speaking at his trial. His opinions were reported internationally in newspaper coverage

Goebbels

Goebbels was head of Nazi propaganda and masterminded Nazi election campaigns in the 1930s

Strategy

The failure of the Munich Putsch (1923) persuaded Hitler that the best way of gaining power was by gradually increasing the Nazi Party’s election success

Economic

Unemployment rose to 6 million. Many fell into poverty Economic problems were blamed on the government

Emergency Powers

Germany was ruled by emergency decrees using the President’s Article 48 Powers Power became concentrated in the hands of the very old President Hindenburg

How did Hitler become chancellor in 1933?

The Nazis lost support in the November 1932 elections

Fear

The SA Stormtroopers were used to intimidate voters and attack opposition parties and politicians

Hindenburg

President Hindenburg who appointed Hitler as Chancellor Hitler probably would not have become Chancellor had Von Papen not needed the Nazis to join him in a coalition

What was the Reichstag fire?

A Dutch communist with learning difficulties called Marius Van Lubbe was arrested and charged with starting the fire. He was later executed

How did the Reichstag Fire benefit Hitler and the Nazis?

Hitler used the fire as proof that the communists were plotting against the government

What was the Enabling Act, March 1933?

After the March 1933 election, Hitler asked the Reichstag to pass the Enabling Act

Why did Hitler make the army swear an oath to him in 1934?

The army was the only organisation left in Germany that could remove Hitler from power

What happened during the ‘Night of the Long Knives, 1934?’

Hitler called a meeting of SA leaders. He had them arrested and executed. Hitler arrested Röhm himself

Army Why?

The army became disillusioned as the war started to go badly Many army leaders hated the SS, which acted as a separate army and carried out brutal war crimes

How did the Gestapo control the German people?

The Gestapo was a secret police unit They investigated and punished cases of treason, espionage, sabotage and political opposition

The Gestapo

They investigated and punished cases of treason, espionage, sabotage and political opposition

Newspapers

The Nazi government took over most newspaper publishers and The Propaganda Ministry issued daily orders to newspapers

Radio

The Nazis formed the Reich Radio Company to control all radio broadcasts

Non Aryans or ‘Lesser Groups’

The Nazis saw some groups as “lesser”, who they believed undermined the racial purity of the German nation These groups included Jews and Romani

Why did the Nazis persecute certain groups?

Nazis saw some groups as “lesser”, who they believed undermined the racial purity of the German nation

Euthanasia

In 1939, the Nazis began to murder mentally ill patients in hospitals 72,000 were murdered in the euthanasia campaign

Sterilisation

Allowed doctors to sterilise people for “simple mindedness” and “chronic alcoholism”

How were those who were perceived as a ‘burden’ treated?

In 1939, the Nazis began to murder mentally ill patients in hospitals 72,000 were murdered in the euthanasia campaign

1935 Nuremberg laws

Marriages between Jews and Aryans banned Jews lost their citizenship rights

1938

Jews had to register their property, making it easier to confiscate Jewish doctors were forbidden from treating Aryans

1939

First mass arrest of Jews. Sent to concentration camps to work as slave labour

1942 “The Final Solution”

Nazis began the mass murder of Jews in concentration camps

What happened on Kristallnacht, 1938?

German diplomat was murdered in Paris by a Jewish man in 1938

Rationing and shortages

Strict rationing on food, clothes and shoes was introduced in 1939