Early Tensions

Question 1

What was agreed at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences?

Answer 1

• Germany split into four zones (supposed to be temporary)
• all countries freed from Nazis: free + fair elections
• USSR restated commitment to joining fight against Japan
• At Potsdam these agreements confined but USSR less committed to free + fair elections
• USSR felt USA using atomic bomb on Japan: act of American Agression

Question 2

What was agreed by the Grand Alliance at the Tehran Conference?

Answer 2

• D-Day against the Nazis in 1944
• United Nations promote world peace after war
• USSR involved in fight against the Japanese

Question 3

What were the big differences between Capitalism and Communism?

Answer 3

• Capitalism → Free and fair elections; freedom of speech; private wealth.
• Communism → One Political Party in charge; restricted speech and all wealth controlled by the government.

Question 4

What were the consequences of the Atomic Bomb?

Answer 4

• USSR felt act of American Aggression
• Triggered an Arms Race between USA + USSR
• USSR started securing influence in countries (Poland) made them double down on efforts to create Satellite States

Question 5

What were the consequences of the Long and Novikov Telegrams?

Answer 5

• Long Telegram → Influenced creation of Containment Policy. Accused Soviets of being aggressive + expansionist like the Nazis had been.
• Novikov Telegram → Written in reply, accused USA of causing instability with use of atomic bomb. Stated USSR would need to take steps to improve its security.

Question 6

How did the USSR establish Satellite States in Eastern Europe?

Answer 6

1944 → Warsaw Uprising → USSR waited until the Nazis had crushed the Polish before moving into the country to “free” the Poles from the Nazis. This made sure of no free Polish government.
1944 → 1947 → USSR secured control over Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. “Free elections” in these countries and Poland were never free and voters were intimidated.
1948 → Czechoslovakia attempted to restore its long-standing democracy after World War Two. Stalin saw this as a threat and the USSR staged a coup in this country. A USSR “puppet government” was set up under the leadership of Klement Gottwald.

Question 7

What was the importance of Satellite States in Eastern Europe?

Answer 7

• Raised the threat level of USSR in the eyes of USA. It made them alive to the possibility of a spread of Communism.
• Weakened spirit of cooperation that existed between the Grand Alliance during the years of WW2.
• It inspired Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech in 1946, which further increased tension between the West and the East. It divided former allies.