origins of the cold war 1941-58 Flashcards
(44 cards)
What countries were in the Grand Alliance?
The USA, the USSR and Britain
When was the Tehran Conference and what was agreed?
1943
- USA and Britain would open a second front and launch an attack on Germany from the West.
- Stalin would declare war against Japan
What impact did Tehran have on international relations?
- Stalin pleased USA and Britain were opening a second front against Germany.
- Britain annoyed and wanted second front in the Balkans.
- Good relations between USA and USSR- development of the two superpowers.
When was the Yalta conference and who met there?
Feb 1945
- Roosevelt (USA)
- Churchill (GB)
- Stalin (USSR)
What was agreed at Yalta
- Germany and Berlin would be divided into zones of occupation under control of USA, USSR, Britain and France.
- USSR would join war against Japan.
- UN would be set up after WW2
- Eastern European countries could hold free elections after war ended.
What was disagreed at Yalta?
Stalin wanted to move the border of Poland westwards into German territory - Roosevelt was unhappy but agreed since Stalin promised not to help communist rebels in Greece.
When was the Potsdam conference and which leaders met there?
July 1945
- Truman (USA)
- Churchill (GB) -replaced by Atlee
- Starlin (USSR)
What was agreed at Potsdam?
- Germany and Berlin would be divided as agreed at Yalta
- Poland’s eastern border moved west, giving USSR more territory
- Nazi leaders tried as war criminals
What was disagreed at Potsdam?
- Truman blocked Starlin’s demands of crippling reparations to be placed on Germany
- Truman refused to allow USSR to occupy Japan once defeated
- Truman and Atlee opposes Stalin’s demand that he set up pro-Soviet governments in Eastern Europe- the Red Army looked like an army of occupation
Why was Potsdam less successful?
- Stalin’s troops remained in Eastern Europe- low hopes for free elections
- Truman informed Stalin that the USA now possessed the atomic bomb and Stalin feared the USA may use it against the USSR
- Truman was far more hardline against Stalin than Roosevelt
- Britain and USA were now suspicious as Stalin had set up a pro-communist government in Poland
- Stalin suspicious on why Britain wanted Germany to ‘recover’ economically
When and where did USA drop atomic bombs?
On Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 - end of WW2
How did the USA/West feel after the development of the bombs?
Secure and more confident + could persuade USSR to hold free elections in Eastern Europe
What did Stalin do in reaction to the bomb?
- He made a buffer zone between Eastern Europe and the West
- Tested his own bomb in 1949
How did the development of the bomb affect relations?
- Increased Cold War tensions as the bomb was so powerful
- Both reluctant to go to war
- Arms race begins
What was the Kennan Long telegram?
Telegram discussing US-Soviet relations by George Kennan (US ambassador in Moscow).
Said Stalin wanted to destroy capitalism but would back down if the US threatened.
What was the Novikov Telegram?
Telegram by Nikolai Novikov (Soviet diplomat in Washington)
Said US wanted to dominate the world.
How did the telegrams affect relations?
- Both distrusted each other even more
- Eventually led to America’s policy of containment as they thought USSR was looking to spread communism
- Soviet wanted to protect themselves
Why did Stalin create a buffer zone in Eastern Europe?
He though it would protect him from future invasions.
How to the USA see Stalin’s buffer zone?
An attempt to spread communism worldwide - West Europe under threat.
What was the Iron Curtain Speech?
A speed by Churchill in March 1946 in America.
Declared Europe was divided by soviet policy and that West was free and democratic but East was under communist domination.
An ‘iron curtain’ separated them
How the iron curtain speech affect relations?
Increased tension and mistrust and led to Soviet increased anti-West propaganda
What were satellite states and how did Stalin set up communist governments?
- Countries free from Nazi rule by Red Army (Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary Romania)
- Stalin held rigged elections to make sure the government was pro communist)
- 6 million troops stamped out opposition and some were murdered)
How did Stalin make sure states relied on USSR?
-Set up COMINFORM 1947, an alliance of communist countries, which restricted contact with West.
Why did events in Greece change US policy?
- Truman was informed in 1947 that GB could no longer afford to keep troops in Greece + Turkey.
- They could go under influence of Stalin if they withdrew.
- Truman paid for troops to be kept there + gave them financial aid. CONTAINMENT
