2 Early developments in the Cold War Flashcards
How did the creation of the satellites states create division in Europe?
SU freed many countries from German control. Stalin didn’t want to give control back after end of war using them as a buffer zone/
Lithuania Latvia Estonia conquered, bordering countries that were communist were turned into satellite states. They saw little independence from SU Truman saw they wanted to expand and control Europe. Stalin took control of Czechoslovakia only democracy saw it as threat to buffer zone and set a communist government up.
How did the Soviet attitudes The Long Telegram affect the US and Soviet tension?
George Kennan ambassador in Moscow lived in SU as a diplomat. In the telegram he discussed the relations between the Soviet and the US. He reported Stalin wanted destruction of capitalism and felt the world wanted destruction of communism. SU wasn’t self destructive so it faced strong resistance. Played key role in American policy towards SU. American government believed their should be a policy of containment towards communism.
How did US attitude: Nikolai Novikov affect the US and Soviet tension?
Novikov was a soviet diplomat working in Washington. Telegram to the gov shows soviet didn’t trust the west. Telegram said USA wanted to use its massive military power to dominate the world. He believed since Roosevelt death US didn’t want to co-operate with the SU. Americans would support their gov if led to war view had a major impact in Moscow. Stalin took this and encouraged him to take control of the countries on his border.
How did Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech affect the relations between US and soviets?
Churchill was no longer prime minister but still had enormous influence. On a visit to the US gave a speech seeing a defining moment in US- Soviet relations, He made clear he thought US was threat to freedom and world peace. Chose to make this speech because of the communist gov set in Eastern Europe.
Stalin thought Churchill was reflecting US beliefs this speech along with the other 2 increased tensions led to SU strengthening their forces and set up propaganda against the west. Hostility was worse
Why was Truman worried that communism would spread?
Many European countries were in ruins. Homes and infrastructure destroyed in these economic conditions communism look attractive t the poorest members of society. Stalin did not need a war just to influence the unhappy people of Europe to support communism and set communist governments .
What was the Truman Doctrine?
US hoped wealthy EU countries like Britain might help to rebuild Europe’s broken economies. Britain was bankrupt and providing aid was impossible when British gov announced in 1947 it could no longer provide military support to Greek government Truman took action.
Truman made a speech to announced economic aid to Greece and Turkey. He announced they would provide 400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey and send American civilian and military help
His speech addressed countries in Europe to chose Between communism and democracy. He said communism offered political oppression and will of minority forced on majority like it was choosing good over evil and it should not be allowed to grow.
Changed the US approach of international relations for USA. Before ww2 USA followed approach of isolationism this was abandoned and the US was setting itself as the leader of fight against communism
What was the Marshall plan and how did it fight communism?
US didn’t suffer damage to infrastructure and industry during war unlike Europe so well placed to provide economic aid to Europe. Months after Truman speech details of aid were release by Secretary of state George Marshall. Marshall plan was outcome of Truman doctrine providing economic aid and help to war torn countries to stop communism from taking western Europe. Between 1948 and 1952, USA gave 13.7 billion of aid in addition to 13 billion already given by USA before Marshall plan. Many countries like Austria Belgium France and Turkey received aid.
What was the impact of the Marshall plan?
Economic aid in western Europe was huge took while for results. US offered to SU and satellite states. Stalin did not accept
What was Dollar imperialism?
Stalin did not like the Marshall plan and Truman doctrine at all. He believed it showed the US trying to extend its influence in Europe. He also thought it was weakening the international role of the UN by suggesting it was US jobs to protect the world. Stalin argued was a way of suing economic might to divide Europe. Called Dollar imperialism.
How did the Marshall plan and Truman doctrine effect US and Soviet relations?
Any belief of a Grand alliance was gone, US set up in direct opposition to the communist soviet union .
Stains suspicions of the west were strengthened. Believeing he had US trying to destroy SU.
Marshall plan was successful to western countries into supporting the US. Europe became divided into 2 economic and political caps
Both countries tried to win Europe
What was Cominform?
Political organisation set in 1947, Set up on Stalin’s orders it was an association of communist parties all over Europe. The new body gave Stalin way of controlling government of the satellite states. Cominform sped propaganda and accused America of being like Nazi Germany was responsible for ending opposition to Moscow ensure the loyalty of Eastern Europe gov.
What is Comecon?
Economic organisation set up in 1949. Stalin wanted communist states to keep independence from capitalist gov did not want US to become powerful in Eastern Europe, would not allow satellite states to accept aid.
its members were SU Bulgaria, Hungary Poland and Romania. Comecon was direct competition with the Marshall plan aim to support economic development in the member states discouraging trade with the US and western Europe
What happened when Germany divided?
At Potsdam Grand Alliance divided Germany and capital Berlin into 4 zones. Administered by SU,USA Britain and France. Many disagreements between powers Western powers and Soviets had different opinions of Germany.
SU wanted to take as much material as possible to rebuild the SU. Western countries wanted to rebuild Germanys .Germany would become a trading partner and they would resist communism.
Why were the zones united?
When the Soviets stopped co-operating the western allies decided to run their part of Germany together. In March 1948, Trizonia. Germany and Berlin was now split into 2 parts. Western Trizonia and Eastern Soviet controlled
Then in June 1948, the three allies created a single currency, the Deutschmark giving them economic unity. Soviets were furious about this decision. For 2 reasons :
The new single currency in
Trizonia created separate
economic unit from the east.
It accepted that they were 2 Germanys
To Stalin this was a further example of the west ganging up on the SU. He saw the formation of Trizonia as a means of developing the three zones and deliberately forcing the SU zone into poverty. He was determined to stand firm and protect Soviet interests in Germany. Believed Germany should be a united country and should follow communism ideology.
What happened in the Berlin Blockade?
Stalin knew that the western zones of Berlin were easy to attack entirely surrounded by Soviet occupied territory/ There was only 2 agreed land routes and two air routes across the Soviet zone of Germany into western occupied Berlin.
In June 1948, Stalin decided to shut off land routes across Soviet controlled Germany into Berlin. He wanted to Show USA Britain that divided Germany does not work. Trizonia could not communicate with the capital, with the capital. The people of Berlin would soon run out of food. If the blockade was a success might mean the western powers to give control of their zones. The whole capital would be controlled by SU. Challenge to Truman he knew he could not ignore the blockades because of his speech against communism.
The west knew a attempt to force supplies along the closed land roots could be seen as an act of potential war. could lead to military confrontation. Flying air supplies into their zones would only be stopped if Stalin shot the planes and could lead to war
