Cold War. 1945-1991

What was the Cold War?

Title given to the decades of struggle for supremacy between two superpowers, the USA and the USSR

Historiography - What was the Traditional or Liberal School 1940-1950s?

When historians were writing about events they had lived through in the very recent past. US historians tended to blame the Russians arguing that the USSR was a Marxist Leninist State that believed in spreading world revolution. Therefore, the West had to stand up to the Russians and Truman was right to take a hard line.

Historiography - What do Marxist Historians believe?

Used economics to blame capitalist countries for the Cold War.

Historiography - What do Revisionist Historians believe?

They started to look at American behaviour and concluded that Truman acted aggressively and started the Cold War to advance capitalism and avoid another Depression.

Historiography - What do Post - Revisionists believe?

They believe misunderstanding is crucial in explaining the Cold War. The USSR was rational in their attitude to Eastern Europe given its history. And, the USA was equally rational in seeing it as aggression. Given these differences conflict was unavoidable.

Historiography - Most recently what have historians been looking at?

The Cold War in the wider international context, for example increasing the importance of the role played by China and other non - Western leaders

US Presidents

In the USA the President controls foreign policy but his practical power is limited by Congress, which controls the budget. He is also assisted by the Cabinet including the Secretary Of State and Secretary Of Defence. Also influential from 1947 were the Joint Chiefs Of Staff. This was a committee of Army, Navy, CIA and air force heads

How did the ideologies of the emerging superpowers cause conflict?

The clash between the ideologies of the capitalist word, and the communist world were at the heart of the Cold War. Both sides saw the others ideology ad way of life as an existential threat and anted to expand their own system to gain allies and protect themselves.

How did the ideologies of the emerging superpowers cause conflict ? - What does the term capitalist mean?

A system which advocates economic freedom, with property and businesses owned privately rather than by the state. Individuals liberty and freedom to make profits is prioritised. 

How did the ideologies of the emerging superpowers cause conflict? - What does the term communism mean?

Ideology founded by Karl Marx which argues capitalism allows the bourgeoisie to unfairly oppress the proletariat and that the ruling classes should be overthrown. Marx argued that capitalism would ultimately destroy itself and would be replaced by a communism state where all would be equal and ownership of property would be shared

Why did the Grand Alliance breakdown - The situation in 1945 - What had the Russians and Americans had?

A history of mistrust. The Soviets believed the US wanted to destroy communism. In 1919, the Americans, French and British had sent troops to fight against the communists during the Russian Civil War. In the 1930s, the West refused Stalin’s proposal of a ‘Popular Front’ to fight against the rise of fascism, and suspicion in the West increased in 1939 with the signing of the Nazi Soviet Pact

Why did the Grand Alliance breakdown - The situation in 1945 - What happened when Hitler invaded Russian in June of 1941?

Britain and Russia became allies. In Dec of 1941, Pear Harbour was attacked bringing America into the war. The 3 then formed the Grand Alliance and worked together to defeat Nazism. Old suspicions were put aside for the duration of the war. The leaders, Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill met many times. Notably at Tehran in 1943. By the start of 1945, the Germans were on the retreat in Europe and the war was being won. It was now time to think of the post war settlement.

Why did the Grand Alliance break down? - The situation in 1945 - What would the leaders of the Grand Alliance do?

Meet multiple times in an attempt to discuss a post war settlement. Although they reached agreements in some areas there was still lots of conflicts and uncertainty. 

Why did the Grand Alliance break down? - The situation in 1945 - What happened to Europe?

It was liberated from the West and South by US and British forces, and from the East by Soviet forces. As a result, the governments in these states were greatly influenced by the policies of their liberators. As the Red Army occupied much of Eastern Europe Stalin was able to control what happened in these countries. Therefore, a clear divide became apparent in Europe that was to become a key feature of the Cold War. 

Why did the Grand Alliance break down? - The situation in 1945 - What could potentially be destructive to the Grand Alliance?

The debate over the futures of Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. This was because the leaders different ideologies meant they wanted to establish different forms of government 

Yalta - What is the dates of the Yalta conference?

4 - 11 February 1944

Yalta - Roosevelt Overall Objectives

Objectives - To create a stable world after WW” and protect US interests. World economic reconstruction through free trade and creation of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Creation of the UN. Generally anti colonialism but prioritised security and stability. Wanted self determination and democratic governments to be established in Europe

Yalta - Roosevelt Aims At Yalta

Wanted the USS to aid the US to fight for Japan after Germany had ended. Wanted the UK and USSR support in creating the United Nations. Did not want long term US involvement in Europe after the war had ended. Reconstruction and re education of Germany and establishment of democracy in Germany.

Yalta - Stalin Overall Objectives

Increase the power of Soviet State. Create long term security for the USSR by establishing a buffer zone in Eastern Europe. Get reparations for Germany for the damage caused in the war (25 million deaths). Keep Germany weak through harsh sanctions, some historians argue that he wanted to make Germany a communist state. Keep landed taken from Poland in 1939. Ensure control of Poland through the Lublin Government 

Yalta - Churchill Overall Objectives

Protect British interests even at the expense of democracy. Did not want a repeat of the harsh punishments imposed on Germany after WW!. Wanted to remove Nazi’s and rebuild Germany as a stable democracy. Didn’t want any country to be able to dominate Europe. Wanted a close alliance between the UK and US to protect against USSR. Saw percentages agreement as a way of protecting British sphere of influence in Greece and Balkans. Wanted to restore the prewar aristocratic Polish government to Poland. 

Yalta - Clement Attlee - Overall Objectives

Saw USSR as an active threat to UK’s interests. Concerned that the Soviets would try and create a communist Germany. Wanted the USA’s help to defend democracy in Europe. Was in a weak economic position - needed loans from the USA. Didn’t want any country to become too powerful in Europe. Wanted to remove Nazi’s rebuild Germany as a stable democracy

Yalta - Truman US President Overall Objectives

Like FDR, wanted political self determination, democracy and free trade. Didn’t want to commit to a military role in Europe in the long term. Used the atom bomb on Japan in part to prevent USSR’s troops from needing to be involved in the pacific war. Believed force was the only method Stalin understood. 

Yalta - Molotov Soviet Foreign Minister overall Objectives

Suspicious of the USA and UK. Viewed them as fundamentally hostile to the USSR. He thought co - operation was inevitably doomed to fail. However, Stalin as leader, had final say over all decisions.

What was the percentages agreement?

9th October 1944 - Churchill and Stalin secretly made a percentages agreement, dividing the states of eastern and southern Europe in regard to the amount of influence each would have over each country. Example - in Greece, Britain had 90% influence, USSR had 90% in Romania and Hungary was split 50% each

Yalta - When was the Yalta conference, and what did this mean? 

When WW2 was ongoing. Therefore, all sides had a need to maintain the Grand Alliance at least until Nazi Germany had been defeated. Stalins Red Army occupied much of Eastern Europe whilst the US and UK were advancing from the West. 

Yalta - What was happening in Poland?

The situation in Poland was a particular issue. Stalin wanted to install the Lublin Government as the provisional government of Poland. However, the West wanted democratic elections. Churchill wanted to bring back the aristocratic pre war Polish government whose members had fled to Britain in 1939

Yalta - What key issues were debated at Yalta?

The establishment of the UN. The future of Poland. How Germany should be treated once it was defeated. 

Yalta - What agreements were made at Yalta?

Occupied Germany divided into 4 zones, and so was Berlin. The USSR can take reparations but details were vague. UN to be created. USSR will help the USA fight Japan if needed. Redraw the border of Poland so the USSR would gain land from Poland, and Poland would gain land from Germany. The Lublin government will remain, but democratic elections are to be held. Declaration of Liberated allies. 

Potsdam - When was the Potsdam conference?

17th July - 1st August 1945

Potsdam - What changes has there been since Yalta?

Truman replaces FDR, and he is much more suspicious of Stalin. 19th July first successful detonation of atom bomb. 26th July - Attlee replaces Churchill, he too was concerned about Stalin. Stalin was increasingly viewed as untrustworthy. War in Europe was over. Red Army occupied much of Eastern Europe. 

Potsdam - What agreements were made at Potsdam?

Demilitarisation. De nazification. De centralisation. Democratisation. Germany to be a single economic unit. USSR top receive reparation for the Soviet occupied zone in Germany plus 25% from the western occupied zones. 

Potsdam - What tensions and problems still remain?

USA’s usage of the atom bomb was unknown information to the USSR. Stalin was determined to not back down by the USA’s atomic monopoly. No real agreement on Germany’s long term future. No further agreements on Eastern Europe.