Fin WWII et début CW Flashcards
(22 cards)
What were the costs of WWII for the 2 blocs ?
1 million for the Western bloc and 11 million for the Eastern bloc.
What was the state of the world after WWII ?
Destruction of infrastructure, disrupted economy leading to inflation, shortages…
How many deaths and displacements were caused by WWII ?
70 to 85 million, 3% of the world’s population. 21 million were displaced.
How many deaths did the Holocaust cause ?
6 million
The Atlantic Charter
1941, created by FDR and Churchill, multilateral plan to help for reconstruction (by promoting territorial integrity, self determination, security, free trade…)
The Bretton Woods agreements
1944-70, currencies are all convetible to the US dollar which is convertible by gold.
Yalta
Stalin wanted to divide Germany and a buffer zone in Eastern Europe (Churchill didn’t want to but knew that he couldn’t do anything facing the Soviets). Roosevelt broke with American isolationism by asking the USSR to join the UN.
Potsdam
Germany will be divided and the Japenese military power was destroyed. Tensions still were clear between the allies. (end of the Lend-Lease to the USSR)
The UN
1945, replacing the LoN to maintain peace and security, promoting human rights and disarmament.
Iron Curtain speech
1946 by Churchill, marked a divide between the 2 blocs.
Truman doctrine / Containment
1947, stop the spread of communism, protect countries from the Domino theory, protect democracy in the world. Provided money, aid, advisors, weapons… (first country to benefit : Greece)
The Domino theory
Belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would soon follow.
The Marshall plan
1948, 15 billion dollars to help Europe from the US as it would help them not fall into Communism (also helped the US’s economy with exports). called by Stalin the “dollar imperialism”
Berlin blockade
1948, Soviets blocked Allied controlled West Berlin -> The Berlin Airlift provided some ressources but still a threat
NATO
1949, It aimed at deterring Soviet expansionism, forbidding the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe, and encouraging European political integration -> military protection
Cominform
1947 to spread Stalinism
Comecon
1949, coordinated the production and trade, ended up mainly helping the USSR.
UN during the Cold War
Because of the Soviet veto on one side an dthe USSR’s on the other, didn’t have much on an impact.
Orthodox pov
(US’s) USSR broke the Yalta agreements, expansionism, Red Army and terror in eastern Europe, Cominform made that every member took orders from the USSR, Berlin blockade, Stalin a dictator.
Against Orthodox pov
WWII destroyed the USSR and they wanted their strengh back, eastern Europe used to be part of the USSR until 1917, Truman did not share the technology of the Atomic bomb, the need for a buffer zone showed Stalin was scared.
Revisionist pov
(Soviets) Containment, the US interfered with European affairs (Greek civil war), Marshall plan (control over European markets)
Post Revisionist (or scholarship) pov
They both acted in response to what they thought the other was doing (1962 Cuba crisis), power vacuum after WWII with weakened Europe, new theories say that the Cold War was more dangerous than previously portrayed.
