Cold War Effects and Key Conferences

Definition: The Cold War was an ideological conflict primarily between capitalism (led by the United States) and communism (led by the Soviet Union), characterized by political, military, and economic struggles, but it did not lead to direct military confrontation between the two superpowers.

Tehran Conference: First major meeting; set the groundwork for post-war plans.
Yalta Conference: Discussed the post-war reorganization of Germany and Europe.
Potsdam Conference:
- Led to increased tensions between the Soviet Union and the US.
- Final decision made to divide Germany into occupation zones.
- Truman’s distrust of Stalin contrasted with FDR’s more friendly relationship with him.

Germany was divided into occupational zones:
- British Zone: Northwestern Germany.
- American Zone: South-central Germany.
- French Zone: Southwestern Germany (added on Churchill's lobbying).
- Soviet Zone: Eastern Germany.
Key event: The decision at the Potsdam Conference to finalize the division of Germany into these zones.
- Poland received territory from Germany; Germany lost significant lands are included in the Soviet sphere.

Berlin: The capital of Germany, located entirely within the Soviet territory, became a focal point for Cold War tensions.
Berlin blockade in 1948: An attempt by Stalin to force the Allies out of West Berlin.
- Resulted in the Berlin Airlift (June 1948 - May 1949), where the Allies supplied West Berlin by air with necessary goods—planes landed every 45 seconds.