Cold War I Reading Questions

What decision was made by the Allies as to what to do with Germany after WWII?

Germany and Berlin were divided into 4 occupation zones which were given to each of the Allies: France, GB, Russia, US, rebuild, deal with nazis, create lasting peace.

The origins of the Cold War stretched back to the _ Revolution.

Russian

Why do you think the Allies adopted a policy of unconditional surrender during WWII?

It would solidify the relationship between the Allies by causing Germany to have to be equally split.

What issue divided the USSR and Western Allies at the Tehran conference?

The location and when Western front would be.

What agreement(s) was reached between the Western Allies and the USSR at Yalta?

Each ally would occupy part of Germany, Stalin would declare war on Japan after German defeat, Poland divided (some to USSR and some to Germany, governments in Soviet occupied territories would get free elections.

What issue(s) divided the Western Allies and the USSR at Potsdam?

The need for immediate free elections in Soviet occupied Eastern EU.

The first implementation of the containment policy came in post-WWII __.

Greece/Turkey

In what year did the USSR successfully test if first atomic bomb? Cold War implications?

1949, it begins the arms race between the 2 superpowers and creates the issue of potential world destruction, this begins the MAD (mutually assured destruction) idea which becomes part of the Truman Doctrine.

What was the Soviet response to the Marshall Plan?

COMECON (Council for mutual economic assistance)

What was the Soviet response to the establishment of an independent West Germany?

They blockade West Germany’s access to their zone of Berlin, this is Stalin telling the Western allies that they can have a united west Germany if the give up berlin.

What was the Western Allies’ response to the Berlin Blockade?

They have the Berlin airlift where they fly planes into west berlin to give the west Berliners supplies.

What were the long term results of the Berlin Crisis of 1948-49?

The blockade is lifted and cements German division as the USSR establishes their independent East Germany or GDR.

What was the Soviet response to West Germany joining NATO?

Warsaw Pact

Explain the Korean War with attention to the policy of containment.

The soviets support the communist north Korea who invade democratic south Korea In 1950, UN forces predominantly American back the south Koreans (US’s promise to help any fighting off communist invasion), ends in stalemate/shaky truce in 1953 with the nation still divided

Why might it have been possible for Francisco Franco to remain in power so long?

Not a lot of internal (or external) opposition, Franco was a military dictator not a tyrant with an ideological agenda, both side might not have wanted to get him involved by eliminating his power not wanting another world war. (Spain, supported, king Juan Carlo also follows fascism)

Explain France’s romantic nationalism in the post-WWII era under Charles DeGaulle.

Charles de Gaulle championed French nationalism and the idea that France would not rely on other nations for economic support, withdraws France from Nato.

In what year did Joseph Stalin die? Cold War implications?

1953, Khrushchev begins a “thaw” in the cold war as he tries to de-Stalinize the USSR

What did the Soviets refer to as the “Great Patriotic War of the Fatherland” and why?

WWII because it fostered Russian nationalism and provided a period of relaxed dictatorial terror.

What was the topic of Nikita Khrushchev’s “secret speech?”

Said Stalin supported glorification of his own person to build a propagandistic cult of personality. Avoiding war with the US

What were the reasons for Nikita Khrushchev’s policy of “peaceful coexistence?”

Avoiding war with the US, direct conflict between the 2 superpowers was unnecessary

What Eastern European Soviet satellite nation revolted in 1956, and what were the results?

Hungary, soviet tanks roll in a crush the revolt quickly, some people see as appeasement because the West did not intervene for fear of a nuclear war. (students and workers rebelled, want to leave Warsaw pact. 27,000 innocents die, Poland also has a revolt but its put down by Poland.)

What were the causes of the Soviet construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961?

USSR does not appreciate having a piece of the West within them, sick of people migrating from East Berlin to West Berlin. (Tighten borders, don’t want people leaving)

What were the causes and results of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

US U-2 spy plane takes pictures of Cuba which show that the USSR is storing missiles scarily close to the US, the USSR removes the missiles as long US doesn’t interfere with communist Cuba, ends up forcing Khrushchev out of power. (13 day standoff).