Cold War Notes

Key Conferences & Events

  • Nov. 1943: Tehran Conference - "Big Three" (USA, UK, USSR) met to strategize against Germany, marking a crucial step in Allied cooperation.

  • Feb. 1945: Yalta Conference - Post-war arrangements discussed extensively, including the division of Germany into 4 occupation zones and the future of Eastern Europe.

  • May 1945: VE Day - Allied victory in Europe celebrated, signaling the end of WWII in Europe.

  • July 1945: Potsdam Conference - Finalized the agreement to split Germany and address post-war issues amidst growing tensions between the Allies.

  • August 1945: USA drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki - Marked the end of WWII and the dawn of the nuclear age, significantly impacting post-war geopolitics.

The Grand Alliance (WWII)

  • Informal agreement between USA, Britain, and USSR against Hitler, born out of necessity to defeat Nazi Germany.

  • US & UK provided aid to USSR after Germany invaded in 1941 through the Lend-Lease Act, bolstering Soviet resistance.

  • By 1945, Allies close to victory with coordinated attacks on Germany from the east (USSR) and west/south (Br/France), leading to Germany's surrender.

Post-War Distrust

  • Despite alliance, US and USSR were suspicious of each other, rooted in fundamental differences in ideology and long-term objectives.

  • Different ideologies (Communism vs. Capitalism) led to tension, shaping the bi-polar world order.

  • USSR feared Western influence and capitalist encroachment; West feared communism spreading and Soviet domination.

Ideological Differences

  • Capitalism (USA, UK): Private ownership, free markets, and democratic governance.

  • Communism (USSR): State ownership, classless society, and centralized control.

Early Conflicts

  • Russian Revolution (1917): Bolsheviks (communists) take over, leading to the establishment of the Soviet Union.

  • Western powers opposed Bolsheviks, sent forces to support opponents, reflecting early ideological clashes.

  • Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939): USSR and Germany agree to split Poland; worsened relations with the West, demonstrating the complexities of pre-war diplomacy.

Tensions During WWII

  • Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill ("Big Three") shaped world politics, navigating complex relationships and war strategies.

  • Stalin suspected Western delay in opening a second front was intentional, fueled by historical grievances and mistrust.

  • US kept atomic bomb development secret from Stalin, increasing suspicions and setting the stage for post-war rivalry.

Key Figures

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt: Believed in democracy, sought Soviet support against Japan, and aimed to establish a stable post-war order.

  • Winston Churchill: Suspicious of Stalin, aimed to limit Soviet expansion, and preserve British interests.

  • Joseph Stalin: Strengthened one-party rule, distrusted the West, desired a "buffer zone" in Eastern Europe to ensure Soviet security.

Cold War Characteristics

  • Rivalry through: Loans and aid, Threats, spying, arms race, and propaganda, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of Cold War competition.

Conferences: Tehran, Yalta, Potsdam

  • Goal: Defeat Germany & Japan; decide post-war Europe governance; these conferences aimed to shape the post-war world order, but also exposed growing divisions among the Allies.

  • Tehran (1943): Second front agreed; USSR to join war against Japan after German defeat; Poland to receive land from Germany, setting the stage for post-war territorial arrangements.

  • Yalta (Feb 1945): Germany split into 4 zones; Germany to pay 20 billion in reparations; UN to be established; Stalin agrees to join war against Japan; key decisions that shaped the post-war world, including the formation of the United Nations.

  • Potsdam (July-Aug 1945): Nazi party banned; Germany divided; Berlin divided; disagreement over Eastern European government, highlighting growing tensions over the future of Europe.

Atomic Bomb Impact

  • USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.

  • Increased Cold War tensions; spurred Soviet development of atomic weapons, accelerating the arms race.

  • Led to arms race, with both sides developing nuclear arsenals, creating a state of constant readiness for nuclear conflict.

Soviet Satellite States

  • USSR created "satellite states" in Eastern Europe with communist governments, expanding Soviet influence and control.

  • Included: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and East Germany, forming a buffer zone against Western influence.

Rising Tensions

  • George Kennan's "Long Telegram": Stalin sought destruction of capitalism, warning the US about Soviet intentions.

  • Nikolai Novikov's Telegram: USA wanted world domination, reflecting Soviet fears of American hegemony.

  • Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" Speech: Highlighted Soviet threat to freedom, worsened relations, and symbolized the division of Europe.

Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan

  • Truman Doctrine: US to aid countries resisting communism, marking a major shift in US foreign policy.

  • Marshall Plan: US economic aid to war-torn Europe to prevent communism spread, promoting economic recovery and stability.

  • USSR response: "Dollar imperialism", Cominform (1947), Comecon (1949), establishing alternative structures to counter Western influence.

Berlin Crisis (1948)

  • Stalin blockaded West Berlin; Allies responded with Berlin Airlift, showcasing Western resolve and determination.

  • Resulted in creation of East and West Germany, solidifying the division of Germany and Europe.

Creation of NATO (1949)

  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization formed as military alliance against USSR, marking a significant step in Western collective security.

  • USSR response: Warsaw Pact (1955), creating a counter-alliance in Eastern Europe.

Korean War (1950-1953)

  • North Korea (communist, supported by USSR) invaded South Korea (supported by USA), escalating Cold War tensions into armed conflict.

  • UN forces (primarily US) intervened; China entered war, widening the conflict and increasing Cold War stakes.

  • Ended in stalemate; reinforced US commitment to containing communism, solidifying the US role as a global defender against communism.

Arms Race (1950s)

  • USA and USSR developed increasingly powerful nuclear weapons (H-bomb, ICBMs), escalating the threat of nuclear war.

  • Led to doctrine of "mutually assured destruction" (MAD), creating a precarious balance of terror.

New Leaders & Peaceful Coexistence

  • Eisenhower (USA) and Khrushchev (USSR) sought to reduce tensions, reflecting a shift towards détente.

  • Factors: Defined borders, acceptance of new map of Europe, high military spending, contributing to a period of relative calm.

  • Geneva Summit (1955): Reduced tensions but failed to reach agreements, highlighting the challenges of Cold War diplomacy.

Warsaw Pact (1955)

  • Military alliance of communist states led by USSR, solidifying Soviet control over Eastern Europe.

Hungarian Uprising (1956)

  • Hungarian protests against Soviet control; Imre Nagy proposed reforms, challenging Soviet dominance.

  • Soviet invasion crushed uprising; demonstrated limits of US intervention in communist states, underscoring the risks of direct confrontation.

Berlin '58-'63 and Impact of Berlin Wall

  • Refugee Problem: East Germans fleeing to West Berlin, highlighting the failures of the communist regime.

  • Khrushchev's Berlin Ultimatum: Demand for Western withdrawal; rejected, intensifying Cold War tensions.

  • Vienna Summit, Kennedy's tough policy toward Berlin, demonstrating the US commitment to defending West Berlin.

  • Berlin Wall Built in 1961, cut through streets and buildings, becoming a symbol of Cold War division.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

  • US discovered Soviet missile sites in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.

  • Kennedy imposed naval blockade; crisis brought world close to nuclear war, demonstrating the dangers of brinkmanship.

  • Khrushchev agreed to remove missiles in exchange for US promise not to invade Cuba and secret removal of US missiles from Turkey, averting a potential global catastrophe.

Consequences of Cuban Missile Crisis

Hotline established between Washington and Moscow; Limited