Post-WWII Cold War: Soviet Union, US, and Europe Key Events HST lecture 10

Post-WWII Cooperation

The alliance between the U.S., Britain, and the Soviet Union broke down after WWII, leading to rising tensions and the start of the Cold War.

Rise of Stalin

Lenin was the 'brain,' Stalin the 'muscle.' Stalin consolidated power through purges, industrialization, and terror.

Soviet Leadership Structure

Controlled by a small committee (5-6 members) running decisions behind the scenes.

Five Year Plans

Stalin's economic programs to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union, focusing on heavy industry and mining.

Industrial Success and Cost

Transformed the USSR into a leading industrial power but caused famine due to neglected agriculture.

Ukrainian Famine

Stalin deliberately starved millions of Ukrainians who resisted collectivization; used famine as political control.

The Purges

Stalin eliminated political, military, and civilian opponents through executions and imprisonment in Gulags.

Show Trials

Fake court proceedings where people were sentenced to labor camps without evidence; used to justify purges.

Gulag System

Network of forced labor camps used to punish and silence dissenters in the Soviet Union.

Soviet Archives Access

After USSR collapse, brief period of openness allowed historians to access archives; later restricted by Russia.

Operation Barbarossa (June 1941)

Germany invaded the Soviet Union; initial success shocked the Soviets and caused major losses.

Lend-Lease Aid

U.S. supplied weapons and resources to the Soviet Union to fight Nazi Germany during WWII.

Churchill on the Alliance

"If the Devil were to come out against Hitler, I would say something nice about the Devil" — meaning aid anyone fighting Nazis.

Temporary Alliance

U.S. and USSR cooperated during WWII but resumed rivalry after the war ended.

Spheres of Influence

At Yalta and Potsdam, Allies divided Germany and agreed on postwar zones of control and free elections.

Yalta & Potsdam Conferences

Meetings in 1945 between Allied leaders to plan postwar Europe, German occupation, and the UN.

Division of Germany

Germany divided into occupation zones — Soviet-controlled East and Western zones under the U.S., Britain, and France.

Concept of Spheres of Influence

Major powers agreed to respect each other's areas of dominance to maintain peace.

Truman's "Get Tough" Policy

Truman demanded Soviets honor agreements for free elections and began confronting them directly.

Atomic Diplomacy

U.S. used possession of the atomic bomb to assert influence over the Soviets after WWII.

Polish Elections

Rigged by the Soviets to ensure communist control; Poland became a Soviet satellite state.

Appeasement Comparison

Like Hitler in the 1930s, Soviet expansion showed that appeasement fails—aggressors only demand more.

George Kennan

American diplomat and historian who analyzed Soviet motives in his 1946 "Long Telegram.

The Long Telegram (1946)

Kennan argued the USSR was paranoid, power-driven, and expansionist—not truly ideological.

Fig Leaf Metaphor

Kennan said communism was a "fig leaf" disguising the regime's desire for power and control.

Soviet Paranoia

Rooted in history of invasions by Huns, Mongols, and Napoleon, shaping defensive and aggressive policies.

External Enemy Concept

Soviet leadership needed an external enemy to maintain internal unity and justify control.

Diseased Flesh Metaphor

Refers to nations weakened by corruption or poverty—making them vulnerable to Soviet influence.

Containment Policy

U.S. strategy to stop Soviet expansion by resisting communism politically, economically, and militarily.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

Policy to aid nations like Greece and Turkey threatened by communism; established containment as U.S. policy.

Berlin Airlift (1948-49)

U.S. and Allies supplied West Berlin by air after Soviets blocked ground routes; Soviets eventually backed down.

Marshall Plan (1948)

U.S. economic aid program to rebuild Western Europe and prevent spread of communism ("diseased flesh").

Soviet Advances (1949)

USSR detonated its first atomic bomb ("Joe 1"), and China fell to communism under Mao Zedong.

NATO Formation (1949)

North Atlantic Treaty Organization established as a military alliance for collective defense against Soviet aggression.

NSC-68 (1950)

National Security Council report calling for massive military buildup to contain communism globally.

NSC-68 Goals

Maintain strong economy and industry, support anti-communist regimes, and confront Soviets anywhere in the world.

Korean War (1950-1953)

First major test of containment policy; North Korea invaded South Korea, starting a proxy war between communism and democracy.

Syngman Rhee

Leader of South Korea; authoritarian and repressive but anti-communist, supported by the U.S.

Kim Il-Sung

Leader of North Korea; launched invasion to unify Korea under communism with backing from China and the USSR.

Invasion of South Korea (1950)

North Korea's Blitzkrieg captured Seoul; U.S. and UN forces intervened to stop communist expansion.

UN Role in Korea

UN authorized military action against North Korea; Soviet absence from the Security Council prevented a veto.

Soviet MiG-15 Jets

Advanced Soviet aircraft that outclassed early U.S. planes; showed Soviet technological strength.

Douglas MacArthur

U.S. general criticized for poor strategy; advanced too close to China, provoking massive Chinese counterattack.

Chinese Counterattack

China entered the war when U.S. troops approached Yalu River, pushing back UN forces.

Korean War Stalemate

Fighting settled into trench warfare near the 38th parallel; neither side gained ground.

MacArthur Fired

Truman removed General MacArthur for insubordination after he publicly criticized presidential policy.

End of Korean War (1953)

War ended under Eisenhower through political negotiation, not military victory.

Cost of Containment

Containment became a long-term, expensive global commitment for the U.S.

By 1947

Cooperation with the USSR had fully ended; Cold War competition defined international relations.

Containment Summary

Goal was to starve communism of influence; Korea became the first of many wars fought under this policy.