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  • Cold War Overview

    • Term "Cold War" refers to high tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States without direct military conflict.
    • If direct fighting had occurred, it would be termed a "hot war."
    • Example of a hot war: the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

  • Proxy Wars

    • During the Cold War, many conflicts were proxy wars.
    • Soviet Union and US supported different sides in these conflicts, such as Vietnam.
    • Example:
    • Vietnam War involved US supporting non-communist side, while the Soviet Union aided the communist side.
    • Neither superpower fought directly against each other in these conflicts.

  • Rising Tensions

    • Tensions began rising before the end of WWII:
    • Both the US and the USSR were suspicious of each other despite being allies against the Axis Powers.
    • Ideologies contrasting:
    • Soviet Union: totalitarianism and communism under Stalin.
    • United States: democracy and capitalism under Roosevelt, then Truman.
    • Economic impacts of WWII:
    • The Soviet Union suffered destruction and heavy casualties.
    • The US experienced economic growth and minimal destruction.

  • Mutual Distrust

    • Western nations mistrusted the USSR due to Stalin’s past secret dealings with Nazis.
    • The USSR felt abandoned by the West during major battles in WWII (demanded earlier invasion of Europe).

  • Yalta Conference (1945)

    • Allies discussed postwar Europe, planning to divide Germany into militarized zones controlled by different powers.
    • Stipulations included reparations for the USSR and Soviet assistance against Japan (though Japan was defeated by US nuclear weapons).
    • The formation of the United Nations aimed to replace the ineffective League of Nations.

  • United Nations Structure

    • Comprised of a General Assembly (discussion forum) and a Security Council (decision-making body).
    • Permanent members with veto power: US, UK, France, USSR (now Russia), and China.

  • Iron Curtain Speech

    • Spoken by Winston Churchill in 1946, warning about the division of Europe by Soviet influence.

  • Containment Policy

    • US policy focused on preventing the spread of communism, introduced through the Truman Doctrine.
    • US aid programs such as the Marshall Plan aimed to rebuild Western Europe to prevent communist ideologies from taking hold.

  • The Berlin Airlift

    • Soviet attempts to block supply routes to Berlin led to the US and allies organizing an airlift of supplies.
    • The airlift lasted for about 11 months, successfully supplying West Berliners without direct military conflict.

  • Berlin Wall

    • Erected to keep East Berliners from escaping to the West; not originally intended to keep Westerners out.

  • Formation of Alliances

    • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) formed by the US and its allies in response to Soviet actions.
    • Warsaw Pact established by the USSR and its satellite states to counter NATO.

  • Conclusion

    • The Cold War was defined by increasing mistrust, ideological clashes, and culminated in the establishment of opposing military alliances, setting the stage for future geopolitical conflicts.