Chapter 2: From Wartime Allies to Post-War Enemies, 1945–47

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the transition from the Grand Alliance to the Cold War, including key political doctrines, conferences, and terminology from 1945 to 1947.

Lend-lease

The US programme begun in March 1941 that gave over $50\text{ billion}$ ($650\text{ billion}$ in today's terms) of war supplies to Allied nations.

Harry Truman

The US President who replaced Roosevelt on $12\text{ April 1945}$, characterized as more aggressive and decisive but less experienced in foreign policy.

Dumbarton Oaks

A location near Washington where representatives of Britain, the US, the USSR, and China met in August 1944 to discuss the future structure of the United Nations.

United Nations Security Council

The UN body where Britain, the US, the USSR, China, and eventually France became permanent members with the right to veto any decision.

Manchuria

A region in the far north-east of China, occupied by the Japanese in 1931 until the end of the Second World War.

United Nations Atomic Energy Commission

A commission established following a call in November 1945 by the US, Britain, and Canada to create rules for the control of nuclear weapons.

Potsdam Conference

A summit held from July to August 1945 where Stalin, Truman, and initially Churchill (later replaced by Attlee) met to discuss Germany and Poland.

Denazification

The process of removing all Nazi Party ideology, propaganda, symbols, and adherents from all aspects of German life.

Allied Control Council (ACC)

A body composed of military commanders from each of the four occupying powers in Germany to handle matters in the absence of a central government.

Reparations

Economic compensation for war damage; at Potsdam, it was agreed that the USSR and the Western powers would take these from their own occupied zones.

Oder-Neisse Line

The boundary between Germany and Poland lying along the Oder and Western Neisse Rivers, which Britain and the US eventually recognized pending a final peace conference.

Council of Ministers

A body formed at Potsdam composed of Foreign Ministers from Britain, the USSR, China, France, and the US to negotiate peace treaties with former Axis powers.

Paris Peace Treaties

Treaties concluded on $10\text{ February 1947}$ with Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, and Hungary.

Socialist Unity Party (SED)

A new political party in eastern Germany formed in February 1946 by the forced merger of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Communist Party (KPD).

Trade surplus

The situation that occurs when a country sells more than it buys from other countries it trades with.

Bizonia

The economic entity formed in January 1947 through the merger of the British and US occupation zones in Germany.

Truman Doctrine

The policy outlined by Harry Truman on $12\text{ March 1947}$ to support free peoples resisting subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures.

Dardanelles

A strait connecting the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas with the Black Sea, separating Europe from Asia Minor.

Domino effect

The belief that the fall of one state to communism would result in a chain reaction leading to the fall of other neighbouring states.

Marshall Plan

A US economic aid programme for post-war western Europe, also known as Marshall Aid, announced by George Marshall in June 1947.

Supranational

A term describing an organization or policy that transcends national limits.

Customs union

An area of free trade between countries.

Sovereignty

National political independence.

Cominform

The Communist Information Bureau established in 1947 to co-ordinate the activities and policies of nine eastern European communist parties.

Iron Curtain

A term used by Winston Churchill in his 1946 Fulton, Missouri speech to describe the division between Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and the West.

Doctrine of containment

A policy of halting the USSR's advance into western Europe without necessarily removing existing Soviet control in eastern Europe.

Collectivization of agriculture

Abolishing private farms in favour of large, state-owned farms where peasants work together.

Christian Democrats

A moderately conservative political party seeking to apply Christian principles to governing the country, particularly prominent in Italy.

Western bloc

An alliance consisting of western European states and the USA.