Cold War: Chapter 2 [Early Developments in the Cold War, 1945-49] Flashcards
1
Q
CREATION OF SATELLITE STATES
A
- 1944-45: Red Army liberated many Eastern European countries
- Stalin wanted to use them for buffer zone post war
- Feb 1948: in Czechoslovakia Benes overthrown by communist Gottwald
- 1947: ‘free’ Polish elections wherein London Pole government members threatened and forced to flee
- 1947: Moscow backed Hungarian voter intimidation
2
Q
LONG TELEGRAM AND GEORGE KEENAN
A
- Keenan = US ambassador in Moscow
- Stalin wanted capitalist destruction
- Stalin believed outside world unfriendly and wanting communist destruction
- BUT Keenan claimed USSR would soften in face of strong resistance
- US gov worried so introduced containment
3
Q
NIKOLAI NOVIKOV
A
- claimed USA wanted military power for world domination
- Roosevelt’s death = death of American desire to cooperate with USSR
- Stalin responded by taking further control of bordering countries
4
Q
CHURCHILL’S IRON CURTAIN SPEECH
A
- March 1964: Fulton, Missouri
- USSR = threat to freedom and peace because of their establishment of communist govs in Hungary etc.
- Stalin believed Truman shared these beliefs
- strengthened Soviet forces and set up Anti-West campaign
5
Q
IMPACT
A
- Long Telegram confirmed Truman’s fears
- US military advisers believed USSR too weak for war
- but Truman aware that war not needed for Soviet increase in power and territory
- WW2 had destroyed infrastructure and these economic conditions made communism look attractive
6
Q
TRUMAN DOCTRINE
A
- USA hopeful that richer Europeans would help rebuild destroyed European economies
- BUT post-war Britain = bankrupt [pulled out of Greece in 1947 after fighting communist guerillas]
- 12 March 1947: Truman announced to Congress that $400 million aid and civilian and military personnel to be sent to Greece and Turkey
- outlined that democracy = majority rule and political freedom
- and that communism = evil will of minority
- USA would send troops and aid to countries resisting communism
- USA abandoned isolationism and adopted containment
7
Q
MARSHALL PLAN [JUNE 1947]
A
- George Marshall announced provision of economic aid to Europe to stop communist appeal
- 1948-1952: $13.7 billion in aid given
- economic impact was enormous but only seen in 1950s
- British Ernest Bevin called it ‘lifeline to sinking men, giving hope where there was none’
- USA decided aid would only be provided to USSR and Satellite States if countries agreed to review of finances
- Stalin didn’t allow this
8
Q
DOLLAR IMPERIALISM
A
- Truman thought policy = defensive measure
- Stalin thought policy = weakening UN by implying USA as protector of world
- also thought policy = using economic might to divide Europe into 2 = ‘dollar imperialism’
- remaining Grand Alliance beliefs disappeared
9
Q
COMINFORM [22 SEP 1947]
A
- association of European Communist parties
- Stalin could direct and control Satellite State govs
- Marshall Plan rejected at first meeting
- spread propaganda, compared USA to Nazis and ensured loyalty of Satellite govs
10
Q
COMECON [25 JAN 1949]
A
- alternative to Marshall Aid
- members = USSR, Hungary, Poland etc.
- supported economic development and discouraged trade with West
11
Q
GERMANY DIVIDED
A
- Allied Control Commission = central org. for 4 zones
- soldiers and military checkpoints on streets
- Soviets wanted to take material to rebuild USSR but West wanted German economy to be rebuilt so Germany could better trade and better resist communism
- Dec 1947: talks broke down and Soviets stormed out
12
Q
UNITING WESTERN ZONES
A
- March 1947: Bizonia + French = Trizonia
- June 1948: Deutschmark created at ACC for economic unity
- Soviet furiosity at economic separation
- Stalin believed this = West ‘ganging up’ and forcing USSR into poverty
13
Q
BERLIN BLOCKADE [JUNE1948]
A
- Stalin knew Western zone easy to attack because surrounded by Soviet zone
- only 2 air and 2 land routes
- Stalin shut land routes aiming to show divided Germany wouldn’t work
- Berlin soon to run out of food
- successful blockade = Soviet propaganda success and Western abandonment of their zones
- West knew forcing supplies across land = act of war
- instead flew supplies
- if planes shot down, Stalin would be seen as agressor
14
Q
BERLIN AIRLIFT [JUNE 26 1948]
A
- Allies began Operation Vittles
- food and coal flown in
- Western troops and Berliners created new airport at Tegel
- citizens unloaded planes and distributed supplies
- 1,000 tonnes of supplies daily
- May 9 1949: Soviets lifted blockade
- Stalin looked foolish and aggressive
15
Q
CREATION OF EAST AND WEST GERMANY
A
- 8 May 1949: West formed Federal Republic of Germany
- Bundestag elected, Adenauer to office and Bonn = capital
- Oct 1949: East created German Democratic Republic
