Rising Tensions Leading to Cold War Flashcards
(21 cards)
When and what was the Tehran conference?
(November 1943) Agreed on second front war with Germany, Rising tensions over the post-war Poland –> Soviet union would keep Eastern Poland
When and what was the Yalta conference?
(Feb 1945) Division of Germany, Soviet entry into war against Japan, free elections in Eastern Europe promised. ( Soviet union broke the promise of having free elections in Eastern Europe)
When and what was the Potsdam conference?
(July 1945) New leader (Truman), tension over Poland and reparations. Truman hinted at the atomic bomb.
When and what was the George Kennan’s Long Telegram?
(Feb 1946) USSR seen as expansionist → advised containment
When and what was the Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech?
(March 1946) Public declaration of ideological division between USSR and democratic countries. “Whatever conclusions may be drawn from these facts.. this is certainly not the Liberated Europe we thought to build up”
When and what was the Novikov Telegram?
(Sept 1946) Soviet version of Long Telegram — portrayed the US as imperialist.
What were the Salami Tactics enforced by the USSR?
Gradual takeover of Eastern Europe via pro-Soviet parties (Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia).
When and what was the Czechoslovak Coup?
(Feb 1948) Communist takeover of a previously coalition government — alarmed West.
When was the formation of the Cominform and what was it?
(1947) Coordinated communist parties — response to Marshall Plan
When was the formation of the Comecon and what was it?
(1949) Soviet economic policy used to counter the Marshall Plan would provide some economic aid to communist countries. Moreover, due to the lack of funds would subsidize the import goods/forgive debts
What was the Truman Doctrine and when did it happen?
(March 1947) $400 million aid to Greece and Turkey to resist communism. (Greece was in an ongoing civil war and communism was on the rise) Doctrine provided military and economic aid to any democratic nation if faced with the threat of communist takeover.
What was the Marshall Plan and when did it happen?
(June 1947) $13 billion to Western Europe → USSR saw this as economic imperialism and was viewed as a way to weaken the USSR and encircle them. Was used to prevent spread of communism + economic recovery to war-torn nations
Why and when was NATO formed?
Collective security alliance — aimed at Soviet deterrence –> was viewed as a threat by the USSR
When and what was the Bizonia formation?
(1947) UK and US merged zones in Germany
What was the impact of the New Deutschmark introduction?
(1948) This sparked soviet anger as they were excluded from this decision this also signalled the economic split between East and West Berlin –> led to the Berlin Blockade
What was the Berlin Blockade and when did it occur?
(1948–1949) The USSR cut-off road/rail access to West Berlin. The goal was to make West Berlin economically unsustainable forcing it to rely on the USSR
What was the Berlin Airlift and when did it occur?
277,000 flights, over 2.3 million tons of supplies delivered this was used to counter the Berlin Blockade established by the USSR
What was the Marshall Plan GPD growth?
Western European economies grew ~15–25% over 4 years
What caused the shift in the US monopoly?
The US monopoly collapsed by 1949 as the USSR developed atomic weapons and this shifted the power
What were some reasons for the collapse of the Grand Alliance?
Ideological differences, mistrust, and conflicting goals between the US, UK, and USSR + Iron curtain speech
