Origins of the Cold War Flashcards
(22 cards)
1
Q
Feature of the USSR
A
- One party dictatorship with no guaranteed freedoms
- Only party allowed was Communism
- Decisions were made by small groups of leaders without any input from the people
- Heavy censorship, strict laws and harsh punishments -> people unwilling to speak against regime
- Federation of 15 Soviet (meant to be semi-independent h/w ruled by Moscow
- Socialist state based on the Marxist philosophy
- People were able to own private property (e.g. house, car) but weren’t allowed to profit from them
- command economy=resources, labor and capital allocated to enterprises based on need
- Prices fixed by government
2
Q
Yalta Conference
A
- Stalin worried about a potential conflict with capitalist countries -> desired to create a buffer zone in Eastern Europe to prevent an invasion form the west
- Churchill worried about the spread of communism -> bel that Roosevelt was too willing to compromise with Stalin
- Roosevelt wanted soviet assistance with Japan -> concede territory for assistance + wanted UN to be established
- –> USSR would enter war with Japan once Germany def
- Germany = split btw allies
- Exiled polish politicians would return = free election in Poland
- Declaration of liberated Europe = indep + democratic elections
- Allies would establish UN
3
Q
Potsdam conference
A
- Stalin bel did ‘lions share’ and bel deserved compensation in terms of territory and reparations
- Britain = maintain peace and stability
- USA = worried about soviet influence -> decide to make J surrender w/o Soviet help through Atomic bombs + deter soviets from acting aggressively
- Agreements made =
- Demilitarisation and Denazification of Germany
- Dividiosn of Germany and Berline into 4 zones
- Proescution of Nazi war criminals
- Shfting Germanys easter border west
- Explusion of German populations living outside this new border
- Transformation of Germans heavy industial economy into a light industry and agriculatural
- Recognise sovet controlled polish government
- Announcement declaring Japan to surreder or Destruction
4
Q
Reasons for Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe
A
- Felt isolated as only communist state in Europe surrounded by hostile Cap
- prov. Trading and sec partners
- created a wall of buffer states
- bel given perm. To est. sphere of influ dur wartime conferences
5
Q
Methods used to expand Soviet influence
A
- Existing Comm. Parties = co-opted
- Elections rigged -> comm gain a larger share of votes
- Comm joined coalitions + given more imp role in gov
- Red army harassed, intimidated + arrested oppo
- Media censorship + erosion of freedom o speech -> promote comm. propaganda
6
Q
Key features of the Truman doctrine
A
- The US approach to foreign policy during the presidency of Harry Truman
- Radical shift form isolationism prior to WWII
- Based on containment (preventing the expansion of a hostile country)
- Bel. That the spread of Comm. = threat to int. peace
- Bel it was in the interest of USA to aid countries under the threat of Communism
- By providing military support to combat insurgencies or invasions
- By providing financial aid to reduce appeal of comm. by increasing standards of living
- By prov. Political support to anti-comm. Nations to promote democracy
7
Q
Reasons why the USA created the Truman doctrine
A
- ‘Long Telegram’ by Geroge Kennan prov an analysis of Soviet motivations.
- USSR perceived to be at war with capitalism
- USSR would spread comm. through all means incl force
- USSR needed an external enemy to maintain ctrl
- USSR wouldn’t respond to the logic of reason by was highly sensitive to the logic of force
- Iran crisis provided evidence for these assumptions as they refused to withdraw their troops from Iran after the war, tried to pressure the government into giving them access to the oil fields and it was only by the UN resolution and intense diplomatic pressure from the USA that they eventually withdrew
- Turkish Straits Crisis (Aug 1946): USSR demanded revision and give them ctrl of Black Sea straits -> USSR mobilising to force Turkey to cave in h/w USS Missouri sailed through -> Soviets backing down
8
Q
Soviet response to the Truman Doctrine
A
- -> Sept of 1946, Soviet ambassador sent a telegram suggest that the USA’s goal is complete eco and pol domination of the world
- -> USSR bel. That they should cont. expanding influence to combat this
- USA began establishing military bases and forming alliances with nation on its border
- This made it seem like the USA was encircling the USSR with hostile states
- Anti-communist rhetoric from American officials as becoming more common and increasingly hostile
9
Q
Key features of the Marshal plan
A
- Goal was to provide a healthy economy independent of extraordinary outside assistance
- Provided more than 13 billion (5% of US GDP) to 16 nations
- Included loans to governments, shipments of food, fuel and raw materials
- Recipients had to agree to Free market reforms designed to receive aid
- Remove tariffs between USA impots, reduce spending and end government control e.g. rations
- Offered to USSR, Czechoslovakia and Turkey h/w USSR didn’t allow either to take the deal
- -> economies GDP increasing by up to 25% an resulted in higher living standards and reduced barriers to trade
10
Q
Reasons why the US created the Marshal plan
A
- Argued that USA needed to assist European recovery as it was the only nation not devastated by the war and had resource Eruope didn’t
- Argued it was in the interests of the USA as poverty could lead to political instability and increase the attractiveness of communism
- Western Europeans may take trade deals with the USSR if USA wasnts involved
11
Q
Soviet Response the the Marshal plan
A
- Forced Czechoslovakia and Poland to refuse to take the deal
- Created COMECON in 1949 which was an alternative which created a series of trade deals that tied Eastern European block countries to the USSR and isolated them from global trade.
- Made them more economically dependent on the USSR
- Socialist economies were imposed in all the satellite stated to align them with the USSR
- -> Nationalism of industry, abolition of private property, state control over all allocation of resources
12
Q
Conditions in Germany after WWII
A
- At Yalta and Potsdam the allies agreed on the “Four Ds”
- Demilitarise = disarming German soldiers and destroying fortifications
- Denazification = removing any remnants of Nazi ideology from society
- Democratise = reduce the power of the central government by creating a new federal system
- Democratize = creating democratic institutions and holding election
- Occupation of authorities suffered many difficulties
- Bombing raid had -> housing shortages and destruction to infrastructure and industrial facilities (around 40% of houses were destroyed)
- Lack of food -> in British zone received 500Kj a day in rations
- Destruction of the economy and mass 14 million unemployed and hyperinflation
13
Q
Causes of the Berlin Blockade
A
- After the Truman doctrine, US policy towards Germany shifted
- Saw a united and powerful Germany as necessary to halt the spread of communism
- Focused on building a strong capitalist state rather than denazifying
- Former low level nazi’s allowed to continue in civil service and legal professions
- 1947 America and British zones combined into ‘Bizonia’ -> greater economy and political cooperation
- Stalin Reacted furiously and saw them undermining agreements made at Potsdam
- 24th June 1948 cut off all land and river transit between West Berlin and ‘Bizonia’
- Stalin intended to focre western nations out of Berlin and back down on their plans for uniting W. Germany and gambled that they wouldnt risk another war
- Left 2 million Berliners trapped with only 36 days of food and 45 days of Coal
14
Q
US response the the Berlin blockade
A
- Truman was certain Stalin was bluffing and was determined to resist his attempts of bullying the USA
- Decided to resist the blockade by airlifting Fuel, food and other supplies in west Berlin
- Soviets had made a written agreement to let this happen
- If USSR attacked an aircraft it would be seen as an act of aggression against an unarmed humanitarian mission
- 1,400 British and American planes flew daily and delivered over 13 000 tonnes of supplies which cost 224 million
- Intro. Counter blockade b preventing the export of coal to easter Germany leading to sever shortages.
15
Q
Impacts of the Berlin Blockade
A
- Soviets back down so containment was a successful strategy
- French joined the zone forming Trizonia in June 1948
- Berlin remained divided
- Established a basic pattern of conflict
- Both sides sought to obstruct one other and take proactive actions
- Both reused to give in or compromise with the other, but avoided a direct military conflict
- Both sides claimed victory even though very little was achieved
16
Q
Causes of the Chinese Civil War
A
- Government was under the control of the Nationalists of GMD since 1927 who were led by Chiang Kia-shek
- However, the Chinese communist party led by Mao Zedong started an insurgency in southern China
- 1937-45 Second Sino Japanese war -> GMD and CCP uniting to resist J
- GMD was supported by Britain and USA however the offences led by Chiang were seen as a costly failure and was constantly losing territory
- GMD seen as corrupt and ineffective government and began losing support
- CCP controlled less territory but were more proactive in attacking the J so seen as the ‘defenders of China’
- Once J def, Tensions increase
- Attempts for power sharing agreement collapses when GMD attacked the CCP in Manchuria
- Dec 1945 Truman sent the Marshall mission h/w failed as neither side wanted to compromise
- End of 1946 Full blown civil war
17
Q
Chinese civil war
A
- GMD initially successful and made considerable gains in Northern China
- However the communist army retreated and began guerilla campaign
- Mao is a strong charismatic leader who was supported by loyal troops and effective generals
- Promised land reforms -> increased support from peasants who supplied them food, recruits and other supples
- GMD unable to effectively fight against these tactics -> slowly worn down
- Faced with Army that refused to fight openly and struck when least expected
- Corruption and poor leadership -> poor morale and lack of support from ppl
- Chian appointed commanders based on loyalty not skill and land and money were requisitioned for the war effort and alienated peasants and merchants
- No longer supported by the USA due to corruption and misuse
- By 1948 PLA strong enough to attacking GMD controlled cities
- Isolated and undersupplied cities quickly fell to communism
- 21 Jan 1949 collapse of GMD armies led to Chiang fleeing to Taiwan
- Negotiations -> communists demanded a unconditional surrender which was rejected
- War resumed until the capture of Nanking on 23 April 1949
18
Q
Impacts of the Chinese Civil War
A
- 1st of October Mao proclaimed the establishment of the Peoples republic of China
- By the end of 1949 whole of mainland China under PRC
- 2nd major country to become communist
- 1950 Mao and Stalin signed treaty of Friendship alliance and mutual assistance
- GMD continued to claim they were the sole legitimate goct of all of China
- Western countries refused to recognise the PRC
- US provided financial aid to Taiwan -> strong capitalist country
- Taiwan recognised by the UN and given VETO until 1971
- Source of tension btw USA and China
- Communist victory -> Truman commitment to containment
- USSR angered that PRC wasn’t recognised so Boycotted UN meetings from 13th jan to 1st aug 1950
19
Q
Causes of the Korean War
A
- End of Japanese occupation caused Korea to be split into a Soviet communist zone and a USA capitalist Zone
- Nov 1949 UN general assembly called for withdrawal of troops in Korea and holding of elections h/w boycotted by USSR refusing to hold elections
- -> elections held in south only and Rhee elected President
- Aud 1948, Rhee proclaimed the creation of the Republic of Korea
- Sept Kim il Sung created the democratic Peoples Republic of Korea
- Division of Korea seen as temporary and both sides considered themselves as the legitimate leaders
- Both wanted to unite the nation
20
Q
Four main phases of the Korean war
A
- DPRK invades ROK
- North Korea began industrialising and building up military for invasion
- Supported by the USSR and PRC who provided them military personal and equipment
- 25th June DRPK had 266000 troops 230 tanks and a few aircrafts cs 95000 troops
- Superior Army led to capturing of Seoul by 27th
- UN SC sent aid b/c USSR boycotted conference
- UN intervention advance to Yalu
- In Sept 1950, US troops landed in Inchon and resistance was low as most of the fighters were in the south causing them to take Seoul quickly
- MacArthur decided to ‘rollback’ communism and reunite Korea
- UN pushed back ctrl to south
- Chinese intervention
- Plea from Kim Il Sung to China for supplies and Mao became worried if Korea fell then China was next
- 25th Oct 50000 PLA troops sent followed by 350000 more to attack UN
- 5th Jan 1951 UN pushed back to 38th parallel
- MacArthur proposed a direct attack on China using Nuclear weapons led to sacked by Truman
- Stalemate and Armistice
- UN forces retook Seoul and fear that continuation would lead to further conflicts -> USA backing down and returning to containment
- July 1951 Peace negotiations began but with frequent break downs of communications and fighting dragged on with enormous consequences for both sides for 2 more years
- 27th July 1953 A ceasefire was signed btw North and USA with 2.5 miles demilitarised zone
- Rhee never signed so technically still at war
- War devastating 4 million Koreas which 2/3 were civilians and 1 mill Chinese and 40000 UN troops killed1980s
- Bombing destroyed cities completely
- South Korea’s economy didn’t recover until
- Korea is still divided
- Families are split
21
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22
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