Early Developments In The Cold War, 1945-49

Question 1

Soviet Expansion

Answer 1

• Baltic states 1940
• yugoslavia and Albania were communist but not part of Soviet Union
• 6 countries into satellite states
• 1944-45 soviet red army freed Eastern European countries from nazis but did not leave
• 1944 poles rebelled, 1947 invaded by red army
• 1944-45 ‘free elections’ with pressure for communist in Bulgaria, Romania, east Germany
• 1919 Czechoslovakia only democracy in Eastern Europe, overthrown by soviet in feb 1948
• 1947, Hungarians were threatened to vote for communists, by 1949: one-party state

Question 2

Reasons for Changing Policies Superpowers (1946)

Answer 2

• Kennan’s Long Telegram: George Kennan (USA’s ambassador in Moscow)… USA introduced ‘containment’ policy
• Novikov’s Soviet Telegram: Nikolai Novikov (Soviet diplomat in Washington) need protection from west
• Iron Curtaim: march 1946, Churchill delivered speech in Missouri: soviet as threat to freedom

Question 3

The Truman Doctrine

Answer 3

• British government couldn’t support Greece in 1947 for fight against communist
• truman delivered speech to congress - economic package ($40 million) to Greece and turkey
• actually a speech about oppression: from isolation to preapering to send troops and economic aid to resisting communism

Question 4

The Marshall Plan

Answer 4

• three month after doctrine: providing economic aid to help war-torn countries in order to stop communism from taking over in Western Europe
• between 1948 and 52, USA gave $13.7 billion of aid plus the $13 billion from before to help Austria Belgium Denmark France Greece Ireland Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Portugal Sweden Switzerland Turkey West Germany Britain
• huge economic impact, called ‘a lifeline to sinking man’
• None give into satellite state because Stalin wouldn’t allow it so Eastern Europe didn’t benefit

Question 5

The Soviet Response to Truman Doctrine

Answer 5

• Stalin believed Truman doctrine showed USA asserting influence over Europe - economic empire ‘dollar imperialism’ , weakening international rôle of UN because western countries now support USA, grand alliance gone, suspicions increases
• Cominform 22 September 1947: association of all communist governments, ended opposition to Moscow, propogranda, Stalin control
• Comecon 25 January 1949: support economic development in member states, discouraged trade with west

Question 6

Gradual Germany Division (Before Berlin Airlift)

Answer 6

• December 1947, talks between foreign ministers broke down and Soviet stormed out
• bizonia 1947, trizonia march 1948, Deutschmark June 1948 - separate economy
• west ‘ganging up’ on Soviet Union

Question 7

The Berlin Airlift

Answer 7

• June 1948, Stalin shut off land routes across soviet controlled Germany into Berlin
• wanted to show divided Germany wouldn’t work to allies through blockade, direct challenge to allies
• June 26, operation vittles: food coal and essentials flown in to new airport in Tegel
• 1000 tonnes supplied every day by both America and Britain - January 1949: 170000 tonnes were supplied to Berlin through western aircraft
• 9 May 1949, soviets gave in - Stalin didn’t win propaganda victory - looked foolish and aggressive

Question 8

Consequences of the Berlin Airlift

Answer 8

• 8 May 1949: federal republic of Germany, 14 august 1949: Budenstag parliament
• October 1949: Stalin created German Democratic Republic
• April 1949: NATO with 12 countries because of Czechoslovakia communist takeover
• NATO: if any member was attacked, they would assist so Americans kept bases in Europe - changed international method