The Origins of the Cold War 1941 - 1958 (KO)

Creation of satellite states (3)

1944 - 1948

The USSR spread its sphere of influence by placing puppet leaders in countries like Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania

Stalin wanted these satellite states to act as a buffer zone

The Truman Doctrine (2)

1947

Truman argued the need for containment to stop the spread of communism

The Marshall Plan (2)

1948

The US provided $13 billion in financial aid to help rebuild Europe

Cominform (3)

1947

A union of the communist parties in Europe

Strengthened Stalin’s control over communist parties in Europe

Comecon (3)

1949

Offered financial aid to communist countries (countering the Marshall Plan)

Built up trade links between communist parties in Europe

Impact of Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Cominform and Comecon (3)

Divided Europe into two camps

West Germany recovered strongly

USSR strengthened its grip on satellite states

Why did the Berlin Blockade happen? (4)

The Western Allies joined their zones in Germany to create Trizonia, which hugely benefited from the Marshall Plan money

This angered Stalin for two reasons

It made the West look much better than the weakening East

He didn’t want Germany to become strong enough to start another war

When was the Berlin Blockade? (2)

1948

Stalin gradually began cutting off access to West Berlin then cut all land access

What was the Berlin Airlift? (2)

To avoid war by ignoring Stalin’s orders, the allies decided to supply West Berlin by air

For 11 months, the Western Allies flew planes bringing 5,000 tinnes of supplies to West Berlin every day, costing over £350 million.

What was the impact of the Berlin Blockade/Airlift? (4)

Huge propaganda win for the US

NATO (1949) and the Warsaw Pact (1955)

West Germany become a country called the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG)

East Germany became a country called the German Democratic Republic (GDR)

What is N.A.T.O? (3)

Formed in 1949

A defensive military alliance who have a policy of collective defense for all its members

The US placed nuclear missiles in N.A.T.O countries to protect them

What was the Warsaw Pact? (2)

Formed in 1955

A military alliance of Soviet controlled countries

What was the Arms Race? (2)

Began in 1949

The US and the USSR racing to develop new weapons

The impact of NATO, the W.P and the Arms Race (3)

Europe was now divided into 2 opposing military camps armed with nuclear bombs

Both sides followed the policy of MAD

The USSR further strengthened its grip on its satellite states

The Hungarian Uprising: Beginning (3)

Hungary suffered under Stalin’s control

Rakosi, the Hungarian leader, was brutal and ruthlessly wiped out opposition

Destalinisation: Krushchev gave a speech hinting there would be more freedom in 1956

The Hungarian Uprising: Ending (2)

Imre Nagy: Became the new Hungaian leader and promised to hold free and fair elections as well as to leave the Warsaw Pact (angered Krushchev)

In 1956, 200,000 soviet troops invaded Hungary → 5000 Hungarians were killed, Nagyu was executed and a new pupet leader called Janos Kadar became the Hungarian leader