Cold War 1 Flashcards
(48 cards)
When and why was the Grand Alliance formed?
1941
It was a ‘marriage of convenience’ aimed to defeat Nazi Germany and Japan.
Who started the Grand Alliance?
Britain - Churchill, USA - Roosevelt, USSR - Stalin
When was the Tehran conference?
November - December 1943
Who attended the Tehran conference?
Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin
What decisions were made at the Tehran conference?
- USA and Britain agreed to open a second front in Europe through Nazi occupied France
- USSR agreed to declare war on Japan after Germany was defeated
- Poland’s borders would move east, gaining land from Germany and losing land to USSR
- Organisation would be set up to settle international disputes, which becomes UN
When was the Yalta conference?
February 1945
Who attended the Yalta conference?
Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin
What decisions were made at the Yalta conference?
- Germany was going to be split up and demilitarised and have to pay reparations
- UN would be set up
- USSR agreed to declare war on Japan after Germany was defeated
- Poland would be under the ‘Soviet sphere of influence’ but run on a broader democratic basis (free elections)
When was the Potsdam conference?
July - August 1945
Who attended the Potsdam conference?
Truman, Churchill, Stalin
What decisions were made at the Potsdam conference?
- Council of Foreign Ministers set up to rebuild Europe
- Nazi party banned and war criminals to be prosecuted
- Germany and Berlin were going to be split into 4 zones: Britain, USA, USSR and France
- USSR would allow free elections in satellite states
What happened when Roosevelt died?
12th April 1945
Increased tensions as he was a key person in holding the Grand Alliance together.
How did the Grand Alliance end?
- USA drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945
- Truman felt that Stalin was untrustworthy because he broke his promises over Poland
- Stalin doesn’t like this, increasing tensions
- Britain was economically exhausted by WWII so took sides with USA
What was the ideological conflict between Capitalism and Communism?
Increased tensions
USA and Britain said Communism enslaved the people, while USSR claimed Capitalism exploited workers.
What did the Long Telegram say?
February 1946
Secret report from US ambassador, George Kennan, stating that USSR saw Capitalism as a threat and was building its military power.
What did Novikov’s Telegram say?
September 1946
Report from Soviet ambassador, Novikov, stating that USA wanted world domination and was preparing its people for war with USSR.
How did Bulgaria become communist?
All elected non-communists were executed, a communist government was elected in 1945.
How did Romania become communist?
A communist-led coalition party took power, and by 1947, communists had taken over.
How did Poland become communist?
At Yalta, Stalin agreed to set up a communist/non-communist government, then arrested non-communists.
How did Hungary become communist?
Communist leader, Rakosi, took control of the secret police and executed his opponents.
How did Czechoslovakia become communist?
Communists took control of the army, radio, and secret police, seizing power completely in 1948.
How did East Germany become communist?
After WWII, Germany was divided, and the Soviet part became communist in October 1949.
What was the Truman Doctrine?
1947, President Truman’s policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism.
What was the Marshall Plan?
1947, the plan to give about $13 billion to help rebuild Europe, accepted by 16 western countries.
