2 - The development of the Cold War

When was the Truman Doctrine?

March 12, 1947

What was the Truman Doctrine?

In 1947, Truman began a US policy of containment. This meant using US influence and military resources to prevent the expansion of communism into non-communist countries.

The USA, including Truman, believed the Soviet Union was trying to spread communism through eastern europe, and then to the west and beyond.

The USA had the atomic bomb and wanted to use this, together with its superior economic strength to put pressure on the soviet Union and prevent further expansion.

What was going on in Greece before the USA aided them using the Truman Doctrine?

At Yalta, it was agreed Britain would have influence in Greece. Since 1944, there had been a civil war in Greece, with Britain helping the royalist government to fight communism forces.

In Greek elections, 1946, the communists were heavily defeated by royalists but refused to give up, continuing to fight against the Greek government.

Britain had 40000 troops in Greece and gave money to their government (Britain also gave money to Turkey’s government). In early 1947, they told the USA they could no longer afford to do this.

How did the USA use the Truman doctrine to help Greece?

In early 1947, after the british told the USA they could no longer afford to help Greece, the USA stepped in with the necessary financial aid, fearing Greece (and Turkey) would be taken over by Soviet influence.

A pronouncement by President Truman on march 12, 1947, declared immediate economic and military aid to the government of Greece, which was threatened by a communist revolution, and Turkey, under pressure from Soviet expansion.

What are the consequences of the Truman Doctrine? (1947)

The Marshall Plan - the USA became committed to the policy of containment and decided to provide economic aid to Europe (the plan). It was a very generous act by the Americans to create a new market for US goods (and ‘show off’ capitalism.)

Cominform, 1947 - created by Stalin to link communist parties in eastern europe and worldwidein common action.

Increased rivalry between the USA and Soviet Union - Truman had publicly stated the world was divided between 2 ways of life - unfree communists, of free non-commmunists.

Within a year, the first serious crisis of the cold war would begin over Berlin.

When was the Marshall plan?

1947

What is the Marshall Plan?

Truman backed up his policy of containment with economic aid to Europe.

It was officially called the European Recovery plan, but nicknamed the Marshall plan.

The Marshall plan was given to 16 countries who each pitched what they needed for recovery. The USAgave funds of over 17 billion.

Was very successful overall - countries involved increased their gross national procut.

Made capitalism attractive.

The USA invited counties to help give aid, including the USSR, but they backed out of the plan - made communism appear bad.

Why was the Marshall plan introduced?

The USA feared communism appealed to countries that suffered poverty, unemployment and dislocation after WW2.

Many European countries suffered greatly due to WW2, with many shortages, leading to countries implementing rationing.

If the USA helped the economic recovery of these countries and provided employment, there would be no need to return to communism.

The Marshall plan was given to 16 countries who each pitched what they needed for recovery.

What were some consequences of the Marshall Plan? (1947)

Stopped spread of communism in eastern europe.

Established USA as a wold superpower.

The comecon, 1949.

By 1953, the USA had provided 17 billion to help europoean countries rebuild their standard of living.

Europe became more firmly divided between East and West.

Made capitalism appeared strong over communism (as USSR declined to join the plan to give aid.)

When was cominform?

1947

What is cominform?

The communist information bureau.

Set up to enable the Soviet Union to coordinate communist parties throughout europe.

UUSR’s response to Truman Doctrine.

What was cominform introduced to ensure? (1947)

To ensure eastern states in europe:

Followed Soviet fireign policy

Introduced soviet-style economic policies, such as collectivism of agriculture.

USSR also used the organisation to purge any members who disagreed with Moscow. For example, Tito, whose refusal to follow the Soviet line, leading to the expulson of yugoslavia from cominform in 1948.

What were the consequences of cominform?

Deepend east-west divide - a direct Soviet response to US Marshall Plan.

Increased superpower hostility - by rejecting the Marshall Plan and encouraging member states to cut off contact with the west, it deliberately heightened tensions.

The west, by seeing cominform as proof of Soviet aggression, responded by creating NATO in 1949.

Led to creation of comecon.

When was comecon?

1949

What is Comecon? What did the USSR really use it to do?

The council for mutual assistance. Was USSR’s response to the Marshall plan.

It was supposedly so the USSR could financially support countries in eastern europe. In reality, it was used by the USSR to:

Control the economies of these states

Give the Soviet Union access to their resources

Encourage economic specialisation within the soviet bloc. EG. Czecholsvakia and East Germany were encouraged to concentrate on heavy industry.

What were consequences of comecon?

Ensured eastern European satellite states were tied economically to USSR. They relied on them for trade resources and could not trade significantly with the west.

Increased tension - USSR’s response to US Marshall plan and created 2 rival economic systems.

When was Nato established?

April 1949

Why was NATO established?

Western European states, even joined together, were no match for the Soviet Union and needed the formal support of the USA.

In April 1949, NATO was signed.

Although a defensive alliance, its main purpose was to prevent Soviet expansion.

It was agreed if NATO country was attacked, they would all join in and fight.

Based on the principle of collective security - an attack on one is an attack on all.

What were the consequences of NATO?

Stalin saw it as an ‘aggressive alliance aimed at the Soviet Union and a direct threat.

Within 6 years, the USSR had its own alliance - the warsaw pact, a military treaty and association between the eastern satellite states.

Arms race started to intensify - both sides began to develop ever more powerful weapons, including larger atomic bombs.

Increased tensions.

USA now committed to the defence of western Europe.

At which conference was Germany split into 4 zones, and by whom?

The potsdam conference (July 1945) by the Grand alliance.

How is differences in communist vs capitalist rule a cause of the Berlin crisis? (1948)

USSR ensure minority communist group took control of their eastern zone and tried unsuccessfully to make Berlin city council communist.

Soviets wanted to keep germans weak and prevent any future attack.

Berlin was in the heart of the Soviet zone. The Western allies were allowed access to their berlin sectors by road, rail, canal and air.

He feared the democratic and reunited Germany the bordered the USSR would spread to the Soviet zone and undermine the control of east Berlin.

What were aspects of the ‘lifestyle’ Stalin didn't want communist sectors to see in the capitalist zones leading up to the Berlin crisis?

The west wanted to speed up the economic recovery of Germany, which had extreme shortages of food and fuel.

Western allies provided large quantities of Marshall aid.

They set up free elections to establish democracy.

They invested in the deutschmark.

What is Bizonia and Trizonia?

In January 197, the US and Britishzones in Berlin and Germany merged into ne economic unit - Bizonia.

A year later, France joined to for trizonia.

What happens in March 1948, contributing to the Berlin crisis?

Soviet representatives walked out of the allied control commission (the organisation working to run Germany, set up in 1945) complaining western attitudes made it unworkable.

How did Soviet troops contribute to the Berlin crisis?

In April 1948, Soviet troops began to hold and search road and traffic entering west berlin, increasing tensions.

What occured in June 1948 leading to the Berlin airlift?

June - western powers announced plans to create a new german state and introduced a new currency, the wester deutschmark for their zones and West Berlin. The USSR retaliated by introducing its own currency, the ostmark in the Soviet zone and East Berlin.

24 June - talin accused the west of interfering in the Soviet zone and cut off road, rail and canal traffic in an attempt to starve West Berlin. Stalin wanted the allies to pull out of their sectors and abandon plans for separate development of their German zones.

How did the Berlin crisis create a turning point with no possible reconciliation between the USA and USSR? (Examples of importance Q)

Was a turning point that marked no reconciliation between the USSR and USR.

After the crisis finished, the western allies announced the formation of ‘west Germany's - an independent and democratic country which had the support of the USA.

This led to the USSR declaring the state of East Germany - a German state under the rule of Stalin and communism.

Before this it seemed as if the 2 sides could reconcile and unite Germany again having previously been the plan when they were allies at Potsdam.

How was the Berlin crisis symbolic in marking the first capitalist versus Communist rivalry? (Importance Q example)

During the crisis, capitalist allies were able to present a strong United front as they tirelessly sent planes over the Berlin blockade into the ally-ruled area of Berlin.

2 opposing sides directly shown when USSR tried to persuade people to move from West to East Berlin (area governeed by USSR), although only 3% of people took up on the offer. Suggested capitalism was appearing more favourable.

Arguably there were 2 undeniably opposing sides.

Marked capitalism’s first victory over communism (when, after 11 months, Stalin said he was ready to negotiate.)

Stalin more determined than ever to defeat capitalism and spread communism.

When did the Berlin airlift start and finish?

28 June 1948 - 12 May 1949. (11 months)

Why did the allies have to fly supplies into Berlin?

Due to the blockade, the only way into Berlin was by air, so allies decided to airlift supplies from their bases in West germany.

Describe the use of planes during the Berlin airlift.

Each plane was given an exact time to land at 90-second intervals.

Pilots had dangerous jobs as Soviet planes flew across air corridors and weather balloons were placed in awkward positions.

By september, the planes were flying 4,600 tons of supplies a day.

The airlift reached its peak around 16-17 April, when 1,400 flights landed 13,000 tons of supplies in 24 hours.

Total of 275,000 flights throughout the whole period.

What did Truman do to warn the USSR during the Berlin airlift? What was this in response to?

USA pilots had dangerous jobs due to Soviet planes flying across air corridors and weather balloons placed in difficult areas.

The USSR tried to persuade people to move from West to East Berlin.

As a warning to the USSR, Truman ordered B-29 bombers, capable of carrying atomic bombs to be sent to Britain - USSR now within US Bombing range.

Why did the Berlin Airlift end?

January 1949 - Stalin said Russia was ready to negotiate (was expensive for him to continue as he had troops stationed on the road, etc.)

May 1949 - Blockade ended.

What were the consequences of the Berlin crisis?

Confirmed the divisions of Germany and Berlin - shortly after end of blockade, the allies announced West Berlin would federal Republic of germany . Stalin announced East Germany would now be the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

West-East rivalry - Truman triumphant and victorious, Stalin humiliated and defeated, more determined than ever to defeat the west and spread communism.

The establishment of NATO