Cold War

What decisions did the Big Three make that would affect the international community?

The decision that the Big Three made that would affect the international community was to settle the post-war order.

The decision to divide Germany into four occupation zones, to be controlled by the Soviet Union, United States, United Kingdom, and France.
The decision to demilitarize and deindustrialize Germany, to prevent it from becoming a military threat again in the future.
The decision to prosecute German war criminals and hold them accountable for their actions during the war.
The decision to implement a program of reparations to be paid by Germany to the Allied powers, to help compensate for the damage caused by the war.
The decision to transfer Germans from the Eastern territories of Germany to the western zones. The decision to establish the United Nations, an international organization aimed at promoting peace and cooperation among nations.

What role did the United States and Great Britain play in the Russian Revolution?

In the Russian Revolution, Great Britain and the United States tried to prevent the spread of the communsim. The West were seizing any chance to embrace an ally in order to destory communism. They funded and particpated in the White Army.

Explain what is meant by "American politics shifted to the left.

Because of the Great Depression, which caused the “richest nation on earth” to suffer and caused millions to face destituiton, American politcally begin to shift towards left ideologies such as socialism and capitalism.

Why was President Roosevelt's recognition of the Soviet Union significant?

President Roosevelt's recognition of the Soviet Union was significant because for the last 16 years there was no Russian representation and the two governments had no relations.

What impressions do you have about Josef Stalin as a leader?

Stalin was a complex and contradictory figure, capable of great evil, but also possessing a certain level of intelligence and skill in manipulating people.

According to George Kennan, why did Stalin order the trials of leading government officials?

Stalin's desire for absolute control over the Soviet government and society was why he order the trials of leading government officials. Stalin saw the trials as a means of eliminating potential rivals or opponents within the Communist Party and government, in order to consolidate his own power. Stalin's belief in the existence of widespread sabotage and espionage within the Soviet Union, carried out by internal enemies and foreign powers. Stalin used the trials as a way to justify a campaign of repression and terror against perceived enemies of the state, in order to maintain order and control. Stalin had a paranoid personality and saw enemies everywhere, and that Stalin’s belief in the existence of a world capitalist conspiracy that was actively trying to undermine the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a totalitarian state and were shaping the world and nation view to be in their favor by having trials of leading government officials.

How do you account for Communism's popularity in the United States? (Consider the state of the U.S. economy in the 1930s.)

Because the Great Depression worsened the economic situaion for millions, this prove that capitalism wasn’t flawless. Therefore, “American politics shifted left” which meant that people were adopting political and economic ideologies that they thought would save them, since capitalism failed them.

What important lesson did Stalin take away from this Western policy (of appeasement)?

Stalin learned that the Western democracies would not be able to effectively resist the aggression of Nazi Germany. As a result, Stalin planned a bold and unexpected diplomatic move, involving an alliance or agreement with the fascist regime of Nazi Germany, despite the fact that the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany were ideological archenemies. Stalin was willing to set aside ideological differences and take drastic action in order to protect his own interests and those of the Soviet Union, given the perceived weakness of the Western democracies in the face of the Nazi threat.

Based on eyewitness accounts, why did Stalin agree to the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939?

Based on eyewitness accounts, Stalin agreed to the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939 so that the Soviet Union could take time to defend intself against Germany.

Why do you think Great Britain and the United States "chose to ignore this evidence of Stalin's methods” (i.e. killing 400 Polish military officers in 1940)?

Great Britian and the United States “chose to ignore this evidence of Stalin’s methods” because the Big Three alliance was still in tact. Russian alliance was politically more significant than being ethical.

Why did Stalin really want FDR and the American Delegation to stay at the Soviet Embassy in Tehran?

Stalin wanted FDR and the American Delegation to stay at the Soviet Embassy in Tehran because he wanted the insight on what the nations were thinking and planning to do. The Embassy was bugged but it hid that by insisting that it was safer for the American Delegation to stay at the Soviet Embassy.

Why was the D-Day landing in France important for the Soviet Union?

The D-Day landing in France was important for the Soviet Union because it relieved pressure on the Eastern Front, drew German troops and resources away, and it sent a message of commitment and cooperation between the Western Allies and Soviet Union, which helped the Soviet Union to push the German army back and ultimately defeat them.

What was Churchill's formula, while at the Moscow Conference, for "carving up Europe?" What do you think of this arrangement with regard to self-determination?

Churchill’s formula, while at the Moscow Conference, for “carving up Europe” was…

Romania had 90% soviet influence and other 10%.
Greece was 90% British and American
Yugoslavia and Hungary 50/50
Bulgaria 75% Russian

This arrangement was made with regards to self-determination because it pleased the big developed countries and didn’t appease to any smaller countries. However, it also ensured that no country had full control over every nation.

What were the objectives at Yalta?

the agreements made at the Yalta Conference regarding Poland and Eastern Europe emphasized the importance of democracy and free elections, and called for the formation of a coalition government in Poland and free elections in Eastern Europe.

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What were the results of Yalta?

leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union agreed to the formation of a coalition government in Poland that would include representatives from both the western and Soviet-controlled parts of the country. Additionally, the leaders agreed to hold free and fair elections in Poland, which would determine the country's political future.
people of Eastern Europe should have the right to determine their own future and to establish governments based on "democratic principles" and "free elections."

How did the loss of so many Soviet lives affect Stalin's policies after WWII? (Note: Stalin's purges were responsible for about half of the 27 million deaths.)

The loss of so many Soviet lives that Stalin’s purges were responsible for, affected his policies after WWII by…

Stalin sought to establish a buffer zone of Soviet-aligned countries in Eastern Europe, which would provide a barrier against any potential aggression from the West. He also implemented policies of repression, purging and terror to maintain control over Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.
He had a desire to rebuild the Soviet economy and increase industrial production, in order to make the Soviet Union more self-sufficient and less dependent on foreign goods and resources. This led to the implementation of Five-Year Plans and other economic policies aimed at increasing productivity and efficiency.
Stalin also became more paranoid and suspicious of his own people and potential dissent, this paranoia led to many purges, repression and terror in order to maintain control over the Soviet Union.

By the end of WWII, where were Soviet troops? How might this affect the decisions made at Tehran and Yalta concerning postwar influence in Europe?

At the end of WWII, Soviet troops were present in Eastern Europe, which gave the Soviet Union a significant military advantage. Stalin used this advantage to push for Soviet control of the region and secure agreement for the establishment of coalition governments in Eastern Europe that would include representatives from the Soviet-controlled areas, at the Tehran and Yalta Conferences. The presence of Soviet troops also made it difficult for the Western Allies to contest Soviet influence in Eastern Europe, due to the huge sacrifice made by Soviet Union in the war and their success on the Eastern front.

Why had U.S. attitudes changed before the conference at Potsdam? What were U.S. concerns with regard to agreements made at Yalta?

U.S. attitudes towards the Soviet Union changed before the Potsdam Conference due to revelations of Soviet-imposed totalitarian regimes in Eastern Europe, Soviet Union's refusal to cooperate in the reconstruction of Germany, and discovery of Soviet espionage in the U.S. government. This led to increased concerns about Soviet expansionism and the erosion of democracy in Europe, and U.S. officials at Potsdam were more skeptical of Soviet intentions and less willing to make concessions. At Yalta, U.S. had concerns about Soviet Union's control of Eastern Europe, lack of democratic process, Soviet reparations from Germany, and Soviet Union's influence over the United Nations. The U.S. were preparing nuclear weapons.

How do you explain Stalin's reaction to Truman's statements regarding a "powerful new weapon?"

Stalin's reaction to Truman's statements regarding a "powerful new weapon" was that his level of trust in the U.S decreased, and his understanding of the military capabilities of the U.S. increased. However, he already knew because he was developing one.

How did leadership changes in the Big Three affect the relationship among the three countries?

Because FDR died and Churchill wasn’t reelected, Stalin’s comfortability and willingness to engage with the U.S. and Britain decreased; most likely because of the use of threatening to use nuclear weapons.