Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

AS History (Cold War) > Consolidation of Rival Blocs 1948-55 > Flashcards

Consolidation of Rival Blocs 1948-55 Flashcards

(64 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Why were the USA keen on western European integration?

A
  1. To deter people from wanting Communism
  2. To boost world trade
  3. To provide valuable markets for US exports
  4. To eventually draw the Eastern European states out of the Soviet bloc
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How did the USA’s interest in western European integration affect their attitude towards the question of Germany?

A

Would accept German partition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why did the USSR try to avoid western European integration?

Their attitude to Germany?

A

To prevent the formation of a strong capitalist group

Wanted united Germany so they would move towards Communism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

After the failure of the London Conference of Foreign Ministers 1947, which countries agreed to a West German State?

A
  1. Britain
  2. France
  3. USA
  4. Benelux
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What persuaded France into agreeing to a West German State?

A

The Occupation Statute:

  1. Gave France, Britain, and the USA powers over W. Germany
  2. There would be troops in W. Germany to prevent a rise of power
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What did the Western Allies do on the 20th June 1948 to upset the USSR?

A

Introduced the Deutschmark into their occupied zones without consulting the USSR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What did the USSR do in response to the new Deutschmark in W. Germany?

A

Immediately introduced their own new currency: the Ostmark

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What did the Soviets do on 24th June 1948?

Why?

A

Formed the Berlin Blockade

To pressure the West to stop the creation of the new W. German state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What was the Western response to the Berlin Blockade?

A

An Airlift of supplies through three air corridors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Give two reasons why Stalin called off the blockade in 1949

A
  • The Airlift had been so successful
    • American C-54 planes, by April 8000 tons reaching Berlin and 1000 aircraft
  • The West had responded with a counter-blockade of exports to the Soviet zone and declared Deutschmark only legal tender of West Germany, which was damaging Soviet zone’s economy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What was the West German state called?

A

The Federal Republic of Germany

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What was the East German state called?

A

The German Democratic Republic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

When were the FRG and GDR set up?

A

Summer 1949

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

When was the GDR set up?

Why?

A

October 12th 1949

Because of poor results for the Communist party in the West German elections

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Who was made first Chancellor of the FRG in 1949?

A

Conrad Adanaeur

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Who did Stalin appoint as leader of the GDR?

A

Walter Ulbricht

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What was created by the US on 4th April 1949?

A

NATO

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Which two events caused the US to believe they needed a defensive military alliance in the form of NATO?

A
  1. The takeover by Communists in Czechoslovakia 1948
  2. The Berlin Blockade 1948
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What about NATO caused the French + others some alarm?

A

Its vague wording

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What did the USSR achieve in September 1949?

A

Exploded its first atomic bomb

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

In what year did the Korean War begin?

A

1950

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Why did the Korean War speed up western European moves for integration?

A

The West feared this marked the beginning of a Communist world takeover

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What made Germany such a crucial part of Europe for the East and the West?

A

Its geographic location as the gateway between the two, where cultural contrasts and tensions were most striking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Why did the West attempt to pacify the French around W. Germany?

A

W. Germany was seen as a vital country in the ‘defense’ of western Europe - French consent to integration would make their position stronger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What was the original plan to **pacify** French fears about Germany **regaining power** and threatening them?
To create **supranational** European Defense Comunity (**EDC**)
26
What became of the EDC?
A treaty was signed in **1952**, but it **never** came into effect because of its **unpopularity**
27
What was the compromise instead of the EDC? Bonus point! Who came up with this plan?
The FRG became part of **NATO**, and **small units** from each NATO country would form a **large force** Charles Spofford!
28
Which two topics split NATO?
1. Fears of US use of the **atomic bomb** in the **Korean War** 2. French concerns over **German rearmament** in the early 1950s
29
When did the US create the Hydrogen Bomb?
**1952**
30
How did the US cause political and economic problems in Europe in the early 1950s?
The US **diverted** Marshall spending to **rearmament** in Western Europe
31
What does OEEC stand for?
Organisation for European Economic Co-operation
32
What did OEEC organise, and why?
The policy of '**guns and butter**', to **improve European economies** after diverting Marshall spending to rearmament
33
How did Stalin react to the reamament of W. Europe? Why?
1. Created the **World Peace Movement** for **disarmament** 2. Sent a note to Adanaeur in **1952** offering **German reunification** To exploit divisions, hopefully gaining some support by appearing like the 'good guy'
34
Why was the **European Coal and Steel Community** formed?
To **interlock** the **industrial economies** of Western Europe, making them **stronger** than the Soviet threat Also to tie-in Germany so they would never invade West again - no economic inscentive
35
Who didn't join the ECSC, and why?
**Britain**, because they feared they would **lose control of industry**
36
What was the Soviet response to the ECSC? What did it do?
**COMECON** 1. Integrated Eastern **economies** 2. Satellite state **armies** were **linked together** under Soviet control
37
Which country was expelled from Cominform following disagreements with Stalin + when?
Tito's **Yugoslavia 1948**
38
What did Yugoslavia's move towards the West after its expulsion from Cominform lead to?
A **proaganda offensive** by the West in eastern Europe to try and cause **further rifts** to form
39
When did Stalin die?
**1953**
40
Who replaced Stalin in 1953?
A **collective** leadership of 1. Beria (soon executed) 2. Molotov 3. Malenkov 4. Khrushchev (a little later)
41
Who replaced Truman as US President in **1953**?
President **Eisenhower**
42
Why did the public elect Eisenhower?
Because of his strong **anti-Communist** rhetoric (Secretly more peaceful because aware of damage to **economy** from **arms** race and danger to world from **nuclear weapons**)
43
What did: 1. The collective leadership 2. President Eisenhower offer?
1. **Detente** 2. Would only improve relations if **elections** held in the East
44
What happened in the **GDR** in **1953**?
A zone-wide **uprising** against Ulbricht raising **quotas**
45
Why was it kind of ironic that there was an uprising against Ulbricht's harsh policies?
Stalin had tried to make him **relax** them so as to prevent such unrest - obviously he **failed**
46
How did the USSR get the GDR uprising back under control?
By sending in **Soviet tanks**
47
How did the West react to the GDR uprising?
Did **not** interfere BUT taken as an opportunity to use **propaganda**
48
When did the FRG join NATO?
May **1955**
49
How was France pacified about the FRG joining NATO?
1. Britain promised to keep **British troops** in Germany 2. Adanaeur promised to **restrict** German troop levels
50
How did the USSR react to the FRG joining NATO?
By signing the **Warsaw Pact** between itself and the eastern European states
51
Give examples of why it could be argued there was a 'Thaw' in 1953-55
1. **Geneva Conference 1955** (first since Potsdam 1945) 2. **Austrian independence** agreed on at conference 3. **1955** USSR returns FRG **POW** 4. **'Open Skies'** suggested
52
Why could it be argued that there was not a 'Thaw' from 1953-55?
* Big topics **not resolved** e.g. divided Germany, arms control, etc. * FRG rearms + joins NATO * **Hallstein** Doctrine ends FRG/GDR relations * **Open Skies rejected**
53
What were the main reasons for tensions in 1948-55?
* Germany * Nuclear Weapons * Changing leadership
54
When was the East German uprising?
17th July **1953**
55
What caused the East German uprising?
Increased work hours Collectivised farms Poor conditions Weak economy
56
What happened during the East German uprising?
50,000 went on strike, 100,000 protested in East Berlin GDR forces too weak so Soviet tanks sent in 100 killed
57
How did nuclear weapons cause tensions between 1948-55?
H-bombs developed by 1952-3 U2 spying
58
How did Western Europe integrate militarily?
NATO- FRG allowed units by 1955 under US + UK supervision
59
What impeded Western European military integration?
Vague wording of NATO Failure of EDC French fear of FRG Fear of US use of nukes in Korea Stalin World Peace Movement + notes
60
How did Western Europe integrate economically?
OEEC Guns + Butter International Ruhr Authority -\> ECSC
61
What impeded Western European economic integration?
UK didn't join the ECSC
62
How did Eastern Europe integrate militarily?
Warsaw Pact 1955 Increase in military spending + hardware nos. Cominform
63
How did Eastern Europe integrate economically?
COMECON - Stalinist industrial planning + collectivisation
64
How was Eastern European integration impeded?
Tito expelled from Cominform 1948 - 'Non-Alligned' + links to West Radio Free Europe propaganda Unpopularity in Eastern states

AS History (Cold War) (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions