1940's : Start of the cold war

Question 1

What was the cold war

Answer 1

A technological war of threats and fear between the capitalist USA and communist USSR with no direct fighting between both sides, hence the word ‘cold’

Question 2

When was the Yalta Agreement

Answer 2

February 1945 (WW2 ended in May)

Question 3

What things were agreed in the Yalta agreement

Answer 3

-Government of Germany : Divided Germany and Berlin into 4 zones. UK, USA, USSR and France each control their zone.
-Future Peace : USA, UK, USSR would join the United Nations to prevent war in the future
-Eastern Europe : liberated countries should hold ‘free elections’, however Eastern Europe allowed to be under USSR’s ‘sphere of influence’
-Reparations : Germany should pay for the damage caused, not specified how much
-War : Stalin agreed to enter war against Japan once Germany surrendered

Question 4

Why was the Yalta Agreement so successful

Answer 4

WW2 had not yet ended, the USA and USSR wanted peace during war

Question 5

Which 3 leaders were involved in the Yalta agreement

Answer 5

-Stalin
-Roosevelt
-Churchill

Question 6

When was the Potsdam agreement

Answer 6

July 1945 (WW2 over)

Question 7

Which 3 leaders were involved in the Potsdam agreement

Answer 7

-Stalin
-Truman
-Atlee

Question 8

What was disagreed on at Potsdam

Answer 8

-How much Germany should pay. The USSR wanted huge reparations but Truman refused because he wanted West Germany / Berlin to be wealthy and capitalist
-Free elections : Stalin refused to agree to let Eastern European countries to have ‘free elections’

Question 9

Why was there more disagreement at Potsdam

Answer 9

-because USSR didn’t need USA anymore as Germany was defeated
-USA became worried that the USSR was trying to spread Communism across Europe
-The alliance between the USA and USSR began to break down

Question 10

Which two Eastern European countries were taken over in 1945

Answer 10

-Bulgaria
-East Germany

Question 11

Which three Eastern European countries were taken over in 1947

Answer 11

-Romania
-Poland
-Hungary

Question 12

Which Eastern European country was taken over in 1948

Answer 12

Czechoslovakia

Question 13

What methods did the Soviet Union use to take over Eastern European countries

Answer 13

Communist-led coalitions followed by Execution and Imprisonment of Non-communist leaders, which were then replaced by Communists.

Question 14

What did Winston Churchill say descended upon Europe and when

Answer 14

‘An Iron Curtain’ - 1946

Question 15

When was the Truman doctrine

Answer 15

March 1947

Question 16

What was the Truman Doctrine

Answer 16

the USA would now focus on CONTAINING communism which meant spreading it any further

Question 17

What did Stalin do in response to the Truman Doctrine

Answer 17

He set up Cominform - made sure that the USSR had control over what other communist countries were doing

Question 18

When was the Marshall plan set up

Answer 18

June 1947

Question 19

What was the Marshall plan

Answer 19

where USA would give money to European countries to help them recover from the damage caused in WW2 and therefore stopping communism as he believed that poverty led to communism

Question 20

How much money in total did USA give to Europe

Answer 20

$13.5 billion - between 15 countries

Question 21

What did Stalin call the Marshall plan

Answer 21

‘Dollar Imperialism’ - USA was trying to bribe Europe to become capitalist

Question 22

What did Stalin do in response to the Marshall plan

Answer 22

-He prevented any Eastern European countries from accepting any money from the USA. He set up comecon, which would provide money and resources to the countries of Eastern europe

Question 23

what was Trizonia

Answer 23

The British, American and French zones of Germany coming together to form one zone, marshall aid was given to the area

Question 24

What was the new currency that the USA introduced to West Germany

Answer 24

The Deutsche Mark

Question 25

How long did the Berlin Blockade Last

Answer 25

318 days (June 24th 1948 - May 12th 1949)

Question 26

What did the USA did in response to the Berlin Blockade

Answer 26

The Berlin Airlift - (began on 26th June 1948)

Question 27

When did the Berlin Airlift reach its peak and how many tonnes of supplies were sent in a day

Answer 27

Spring 1949 - 13,000 tonnes of supplies were flown in 24 hours

Question 28

Why was the Blockade raise the tensions between USA and USSR

Answer 28

It was the first time that the USA and USSR used their military and people feared that a war might start if any conflict began