28.1 - 28.1 Development of the Cold War
Aftermath of World War II
Prisoners and Displacement:
Approximately 11 million prisoners of war (POWs) were repatriated.
An estimated 15 million ethnic Germans and Eastern Europeans were expelled from their homes as borders shifted following the war.
Economic Recovery:
By 1950, Europe’s industrial and agricultural output had surged to about 30% above pre-war levels, despite the initial chaos of post-war reconstruction.
Various countries implemented recovery plans that contributed to this economic resurgence.
Loss of Supremacy:
Many European colonial empires began to disintegrate post-1945, fundamentally changing Europe's role in global affairs.
The onset of the Cold War heightened tensions, leading to a division of Europe into pro-American and pro-Soviet camps.
Development of the Cold War
Origins of Suspicion:
Early tensions between the US and USSR emerged after WWII due to stark ideological differences: capitalist democracy versus communist dictatorship.
While unity had been necessary to defeat the Axis powers, post-war negotiations unveiled the two nations’ conflicting ambitions for global dominance.
Key Events (1945-1949)
Eastern Europe Disagreement:
The US and Britain advocated for self-determination and democratic governance in Eastern Europe.
In contrast, Stalin’s USSR established pro-Soviet regimes in several Eastern European countries, creating a strategic buffer against Western influence.
Truman Doctrine (1947):
In response to perceived threats of communist insurgency, particularly in Greece and Turkey, the US adopted this doctrine declaring its intention to aid any nations resisting communism.
This marked the formal beginning of the US containment policy against the expansion of the Soviet Union.
The Marshall Plan (1947):
Initiatives were launched to provide approximately $13 billion in economic assistance to help rebuild European economies post-WWII and to stabilize them against communism.
The USSR viewed this plan as an assertion of American influence in Europe, exacerbating Soviet-American tensions.
American Policy of Containment
Containment Strategy:
Introduced by George Kennan, this strategic approach suggested that the US should actively counter Soviet expansion at various locations globally to prevent the spread of communism.
Berlin Blockade and Airlift (1948-1949):
Following disagreements over the fate of post-war Germany, the USSR blockaded West Berlin in June 1948, making it inaccessible to Western powers.
In response, the US and its allies executed a massive airlift operation, supplying over 2.3 million tons of essential goods to sustain the city's population until the blockade was lifted in May 1949.
Formation of Military Alliances
NATO (1949):
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established as a defense pact among Western nations, including the US, Canada, and several Western European countries, committed to mutual defense against Soviet aggression.
Warsaw Pact (1955):
Created in reaction to NATO, this military alliance included the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellite states, thereby institutionalizing the division of Europe into opposing camps.
Globalization of the Cold War
Victory in China (1949):
The Chinese Communist Party led by Mao Zedong triumphed in the Chinese Civil War, establishing the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and further intensifying American fears about the global spread of communism.
Korean War (1950-1953):
Following the division of Korea post-WWII, North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950, prompting a unified response from the UN led by the US.
The war ended in a stalemate in 1953, solidifying the division at the 38th parallel and reinforcing Cold War tensions in East Asia.
Issues in Indochina
First Vietnam War:
The conflict began in 1946 when the Vietminh, led by Ho Chi Minh, fought against French colonial rule; the war escalated as Cold War tensions influenced the struggle for Vietnamese independence.
The Geneva Conference in 1954 led to a division of Vietnam into North and South, further embedding Cold War divisions in the region.
Escalation of Cold War Tensions
Nuclear Arms Race:
The competition for nuclear supremacy became a central element of the Cold War, leading both superpowers to amass significant arsenals capable of mutually assured destruction.
Another Berlin Crisis (1961):
The construction of the Berlin Wall by East Germany became a physical manifestation of the division between East and West, symbolizing the broader ideological conflict of the Cold War.
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Crisis Overview:
The US discovered Soviet nuclear missiles deployed in Cuba, resulting in a 13-day standoff that brought both superpowers perilously close to nuclear conflict.
The crisis ended with the US agreeing to withdraw its missiles from Turkey in exchange for the Soviet withdrawal from Cuba, marking a pivotal moment in Cold War history.
Decolonization Post-1945
Independence Movements:
Following WWII, nationalist sentiments surged, resulting in the rapid decolonization of many regions in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East during the late 1940s into the 1960s.
African Independence:
Various movements led by prominent leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana and Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya pushed for self-determination; while some countries achieved independence through peaceful means, others witnessed violent struggles.
Middle East and Palestine
Growth of Tensions:
The establishment of Israel in 1948 sparked immediate conflict with neighboring Arab states, leading to a protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict that continues today.
Nasser and Pan-Arabism:
Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser advocated for Arab unity and nationalism, notably nationalizing the Suez Canal, further complicating relations in the region.
Conclusion
The intertwined processes of decolonization and the Cold War created a landscape where newly independent states often found themselves caught in the ideological struggle between the US and USSR, significantly influencing their internal and foreign policies for decades to come.