blame for the cold war - exemplary 4 Markers by eunho chang.

What was the Cold War?

- the relationship that developed between the USA and the USSR after the 2nd world war, from 1947-91

- a clash of different ideologies, capitalism vs communism

- the international power struggle with both side for competing for dominance

- the war which did not involve any direct military action but pursued through economic and political actions-

What was discussed about Poland at Yalta?

- a provisional government was to be established comprising of pro-Soviet Lublin poles and exiled London poles who had fled in 1939

- Poland's future frontiers. The border to be moved westwards into German territory at Oder-Neisse

- free elections to be held

- Churchill was suspicious of Soviet interest in Poland.

What was decided at Yalta?

- Divide Germany into 4 zones: USA, British, French and Soviet

- Berlin would also be divided into 4 zones

- UUSR to enter war against Japan

- Free elections in countries freed from Nazi occupation

- Poland's border to be moved west

Disagreements

- Wanted Poland's border further west to ensure a friendly one on his border

- Stalin wanted Germany to pay large reparations, but Roosevelt denied as he realised this was the main course of frustration for Germany after WW1

Describe the main problems facing the Allied leaders when they met at Potsdam in July 1945.

- Roosevelt had died and Truman was much more anti-communist than him

- On the eve of conference Truman informs Stalin that they have successfully tested an atomic bomb

- Soviet troops liberated countries in Eastern Europe but Stalin left his troops there instead of withdrawing

- Disagreements because Stalin wanted to cripple Germany but Truman resisted this as he did not want to repeat the same mistakes from the Treaty of Versailles

What were the main disagreements at the Potsdam Conference

D1 Stalin refused to hold free elections in Eastern Europe as he wanted friendly governments to provide a buffer zone to future invasion

D2 Truman started a "Get Tough" policy to counter this action

D3 Stalin wanted Germany to pay large reparations, but GB and France denied as they realised this was the main course of frustration for Germany after WW1

D4 Polish government, England wanted exiled Poles to rule but Stalin already had his Lublin Poles there

What were the main agreements at the Potsdam Conference?

A1 Poland border fixed westwards

A2 Nazi party banned

A3 Nazi war criminals to be put on trial at Nuremburg in 1946

A4 Free German elections

A5 German Army demilitarised and reduced

What did Stalin gain from the Yalta and Potsdam conferences?

- Eastern Europe to be a soviet sphere of influence

- Russia was allowed to take reparations from the Soviet zone

- Germany's Eastern border to be moved westwards

- Received land in Manchuria and lost land following fight against Japan

What decisions, in relation to Germany were agreed at Yalta and Potsdam conferences?

- Split into 4 zones, same with Berlin

- Free elections

- Demilitarisation

- Pay reparations, with half going to Russia

What did Churchill mean by the Iron curtain?

- Border between democratic and unfree countries

- Suggested lack of freedom in the East

- Metaphor for division of Eastern Europe (communist) and the West (capitalist)

- Symbolized Soviet control and influence over Eastern Europe

Describe how Poland became under communist control

- Soviet troops remained after Liberation

- New government formed by Lublin Poles (communist

- Opposition leaders were arrested and murdered

- Rigged elections in 1947 gave the communists 80% of the vote

Describe developments in Czechoslovakia between 1945 and 1948 which led to the Communist takeover

- Soviet troops left after the war.

- Post war elections gave communists leadership of a balanced, coalition government

- Gradually assumed control of key government ministries allowing then to arrest political opponents.

- Foreign minister Jans Masaryk a popular and non-communist politician, murdered in May 1947.

- All non-communist members of the government resigned in February 1948, with communists filling vacant positions

What was Marshall Aid?

- Financial assistance program for European recovery post-ww2 launched in 1947

- Aimed to rebuild war-torn countries and prevent the spread of communism

- Provided 13 billion dollars over four years to European countries

- Boosted European economies and reinforced alliances with USA

- Offered to all European countries, though Eastern Bloc countries rejected it under Soviet pressure

What was NATO as set up in 1949?

- North Atlantic Treaty Organization - military alliance between Western powers

- Collective security against USSR and Communism

- Included USA, Canada, GB, France - 11 in total

- Marked a key division between the west and the east during the cold war.

What was the Berlin blockade?

- Stalin cut all rail and road links to West Berlin

- Attempt to force the allies out of Berlin

- Operation Vittles was an airlift that provided supplies to West Berlin

- Lasted over 10 months

What was the Berlin airlift?

- One plane every 30 seconds

- 8000tons of supplies were flown into Germany each day

- Food clothing oil and building materials

- Operation Vittles, carried food and fuel to Berlin

What was the Warsaw pact?

- Set up in 1955

- Reaction to the creation of NATO

- Defence treaty, members agreed to help each other if one was attacked

- Way for Russia to keep control of military forces in USSR

- Ended in 1991