Start of the Cold War 1945-1949

What is a Cold War?

A war with threats and propaganda but no direct physical warfare.

Who were the superpowers after WW2?

USA and USSR

What is captalism?

‘Rich get richer, poor get poorer’

People can start their own businesses to make money

What communism?

common ownership of the means of production

When was Yalta?

February 1945, before WW2 ended

What were they discussing at Yalta?

what to do with Europe

What country’s leaders were at Yalta?

USSR (NOT RUSSIA)

Britain

America

Who were the leaders present and Yalta?

Stalin- leader of the USSR

Churchill- Prime Minister of Great Britain

Roosevelt- President of USA

Key Yalta Agreements

• Germany split into 4, Berlin into 4 again

• Free elections in Eastern Europe

• punish Nazi war criminals

• USSR help fight Japan with USA

Major Yalta Disagreement

• Stalin wanted to push the boarder of Poland to make USSR bigger, Britain and USA agreed as long as he didn’t get involved in communist revolution in Greece

When was Potsdam conference?

July 1945, after Germany surrendered

Who were the leaders at Potsdam?

Stalin- leader of the USSR

Clement Attlee- Prime Minister of Great Britain

Harry Truman- President of USA

What was different at Potsdam

• USA had a bomb

• Stalin had invaded Eastern Europe despite many countries voting against being communist

• Harry Truman who hated Communism

What did the allies want for Germany?

To rebuild it, not punish too harshly

What did Harry Truman want for Eastern Europe?

Free elections

What did Stalin want for Germany?

Keep it weak

What did Stalin want in Eastern Europe?

Expand communism and take control