Superpowers up to 1960 Flashcards
3 Conferences
Background detail to the conference (agreement)
Tehran Nov-1943
Churchill Stalin Rooservelt
Atlantic charter- 1941 (USA,GB)- designed to acheive security and peacekeeping.
Jan 1942 the Un decleration was signed
3 Conferences
What was agreed?
Tehran Nov-1943
- WAR/GERMANY- 2nd front to take pressure of the USSR- June 1944-
- JAPAN- USSR to declare war on japan as soon as germany defeated
- POLAND- Stalin to claim all territories the USSR had annexed in Poland 1939- Poland compensated with german land.
- UN- UN to be set up after war
3 conferences
Signs of tension
Tehran Nov-1943
WAR- Stalin happy that they were opening second front as he thought FDR and Churchill delaying it to weaken communism.
Churchill not happy as he wanted to open it on the west FDR sides with STALIN.
Possible to see that the British were being pushed out of world power status by the other two.
3 conferences
Background
Yalta feb 1945
Churchill Stalin Rooservelt
Jan 1944 USSR annexed territory it had claimed from poland in 1939. 2nd front opened- Germany close to defeat. Aug 1944 - warsaw uprising.
Roservelt looked very ill
OCTOBER 1944 PERCENTAGES AGREEMENT- signed by churchill and stalin not by fdr outlines their spheres of influence after WW2
3 conferences
What was agreed
Yalta feb 1945
WAR/GERMANY- Germany should unconditionally surrender and remain weak after war- Plans began for the division of Germany started. Churchill wanted france to be included. The Nazi party would be banned and war criminal tried before an international court.
JAPAN- USSR would declare war on japan 3 months after the defeat of germany.
EASTERN EUROPE- Countries after WW2 would be allowed to choose their own governments along the lines of the atlantic charter.
POLAND- Poland should be in a soviet sphere of influence. Poland would also get some of Germanies land.
UN- Un would be set up for all allied countries
3 conferences
Signs of tension
Yalta Feb 1945
War/Germany- Stalin wanted far more reparations from Germany, but Churchill and FDR did not want to be too harsh.
Eastern Europe- Stalin wanted a single communist government in Eastern Europe and FDR and Churchill wanted a more democratic government.
3 conferences
Background
Potsdam July 1945
Attlee Stalin Truman
Germany was defeated so there was less tension. Jan 1945 the USSR recognised the lublin government in poland. FDR had died in April 1945 Truman had taken over. He was keen to end the war in Japan. He was far more suspicious of Stalin. The USA had TESTED A NUCLEAR WEAPON. Churchill lost the election and was replaced by clement atlee.
3 conferences
What was agreed
Potsdam July 1945
WAR/GERMANY- The Nazi Party would be banned and surviving Nazis would be prosecuted as war criminals in a special court run by the allies at Nuremberg.
Reduce the size of Germany.
Democracy to be established in Germany including free elections, a free press and freedom of speech.
Divide Germany into four zones to be administered by Britain, France, the USA and the USSR.
Divide Berlin into four zones to be run by the same four.
Each ally would take reparations from the zone they occupied.
EASTERN EUROPE-Agree to a Council of Foreign Ministers to organise the rebuilding of Europe.
POLAND- Its frontier to be moved to the Oder and Neisse rivers. However, mostly no agreement reached.
3 conferences
Signs of tension
Potsdam July 1945
WAR/GERMANY-Stalin felt he had been given fewer reparations than he wanted because their zone was less developed. He had to pay for the quarter from the other zones with coal etc.
The USSR wanted to play a part in the running of the German Ruhr and the US refused.
Stalin was desperate to keep hold of Berlin because he wanted to get hold of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute which was the German nuclear programme HQ; the fact the US now had the A bomb was a worry.
JAPAN- The USSR wanted a share in the occupation of Japan and this was also vetoed by the USA.
EASTERN EUROPE- The USA and Britain asked for a greater say in what went on in Eastern Europe and this was refused.
POLAND-Truman objected to the borders previously agreed for Poland. However, there was little that could be done given the USSR was in occupation and the Oder-Neisse border was agreed to for now. Truman also wanted a gov in Poland with less communist influence.
Impact of the A bomb
Isolated the USSR in the short-term
US support increased Western nations’ confidence in relying on American protection rather than seeking agreements with the USSR. Stalin aimed to secure the USSR and establish communist-friendly buffer states. He accelerated the USSR’s nuclear program, conducting its first test in August 1949. By 1964, several countries including Britain, France, and China had acquired nuclear weapons.
Impact of the A bomb
Made a direct conflcit between the two sides less likely
It possibly also made it less likely that the two sides would go to war so contributed to the idea of a Cold War instead eg arms race, spying – but little actual physical conflict because the risks of mutually assured destruction were so high. This did not stop the build up of nuclear weapons on both sides but by themed-1950s they had such nuclear capability it was unlikely they would risk using them
Impact of the A bomb
Worsened US-USSR Relations
Made US feel superior as they delayed Potsdam until the bomb was tested. Called the shots at the conference over reparations and division of Germany. Truman shouted at Molotov in a meeting and said that the USSR had to stop misbehaving. Containment possible. Made USSR feel more insecure and scared – hence ignored free elections and carried on making buffer zones to be out of the reach of nuclear strikes.
The USSR in Eastern Europe
What were Stalins methods
6 points
- Red army left in occupation after liberation
- Coalitions set up with communist and non-communist parties
- Communists took over the civil service, media, security and defence
- Non communist leaders like Jan Masaryk of Czechoslavakia were dealt with
- ‘Free’ elections were held which established communist regimes called ‘people’s democracies’. Voters intimidated into voting communist.
- Economic means used to stop satellite states being self-sufficient eg Poland did shipbuilding and Hungary produced trucks.
The USSR in Eastern Europe
Which countries did he take over
1940-48
- 1940 Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
- 1944 Invade Poland to put a largely pro-USSR gov in place. By 1947 London Poles were removed from the gov
- 1945 elections in Hungary allowed communist influence, in 1947 non-communists removed
- 1945 Also start taking over Bulgaria and Romania after the army had moved in
- 1948 Czechoslovakia - the only democracy in Eastern Europe.
Impact of the takeover of Eastern Europe
Satellite states and a stronger USSR
The USSR felt stronger as it now had buffer or satellite states between it and the west eg Poland, Hungary etc.
These states had governments controlled by the USSR and the followed the communist line; western influences were removed eg the London Poles.
This split Europe into two camps. By 1948 this seemed confirmed, though the west was clearly strong at this point. When both sides had nuclear weapons this seemed more dangerous.
Eventually Churchill would label this split as the Iron Curtain – see his speech below.
Impact of the takeover of Eastern Europe
Western fears leads to change in foreign policy
It would change western foreign policy because of their worries about two sides developing. The Grand Alliance was pulled apart by the takeovers.
It would lead to a policy of containment, confirmed by the telegram of a US diplomat to Truman in 1946 which said that the USSR was dangerous and anxious to spread its influence. The actions of the USSR seemed to justify these fears and the subsequent policy of the USSR to try and contain the spread.
In the longer-term it would pull the US into the European sphere and lead to NATO.
Impact of the takeover of Eastern Europe
Containment
The idea of not allowing the further spread of communism beyond those areas which had already become communist.
This policy had been developed during the Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe; it had been confirmed by the Long Telegram and Iron Curtain Speech.
Truman publicly stated the aims of containment in the Truman Doctrine (where he says the world is divided into free and unfree, good and bad states). He claims he will support non-communist nations who wish to be free.
The policy of containment further worsens relations between the US and USSR in that it was a very public statement that suggested the USSR was a dangerous and unfree state.
Three key communications
Contents
The Long Telegram Feb 1946
Russian leaders felt threatened and insecure because they know the west was more advanced.
The USSR was building up its military power.
However, importantly, Kennan argued that the USSR would back down if faced with strong resistance.
Three key communications - Long telegram 1946
Confirmed containment in the short term
Impact of the telegram
Because Truman asked the US military to assess the strength of the USSR’s army; he learned the USSR was in no position to wage war. This enabled him to develop a new strategy on the back of information contained in the telegram.
This led to the policy of Containment.
This meant that the USA would act so as to prevent the spread of communism, not only in Europe but also elsewhere. Truman initially decided to help Greece and Turkey. He asked Congress for money to help them.
Three key communications
Contents
The Iron Curtain Speech, March 1946
Churchill was invited to Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri where he gave this speech.
Churchill warned against the expansionistic policies of the Soviet Union. The USSR was a threat to freedom and world peace. Compromise with the USSR had to end. A stronger Anglo-American alliance was needed.
In addition to the “iron curtain” that had descended across Eastern Europe, Churchill spoke of “communist fifth columns” that were operating throughout western and southern Europe.
Three Key communications- The Iron Curtain Speech, March 1946
Confirmed containment
Impacts
Truman and many other US officials warmly received the speech and it seemed to confirm their views about how to deal with the Soviets.
Note that the presence of Truman on the platform probably means that it had been cleared by Truman beforehand; already the US had decided that the Soviet Union was bent on expansion and only a tough stance would deter the Russians. Churchill’s “iron curtain” phrase immediately entered the official vocabulary of the Cold War. It moved the policy of containment further forward.
Three Key communications- The Iron Curtain Speech, March 1946
Upset the USSR
Impacts
It split the USA and USSR even further apart. Use examples of the content of the speech to demonstrate why this would have been the case
Stalin denounced the speech as “war mongering,” and referred to Churchill’s comments about the “English-speaking world” as imperialist “racism.” USSR withdrew from the IMF. It increased anti-western propaganda.
Three key communications
Contents
Novikov telegram sept 1946
USSR ambassador to the USA
Following the death of FDR, the USA was no longer interested in cooperation with the USSR.
It said the US wanted to use their military power to dominate the world.
The US public were being prepared for war with the USSR.
Three key communications
Impacts
Novikov telegram sept 1946
The USSR withdrew even further away from the USSR – remember that the USA did not know about this document.
Added to previous communications, both countries were now convinced that there was a greater possibility of war. The USSR believed that war was inevitable whereas the Americans had labelled Stalin as the new Hitler. The Grand Alliance was over.
The development of the Cold War in the early years
Contents- Economic
Truman Doctrine
12th March 1947 Truman appealed to Congress to find the money to strengthen non-communist govs vulnerable to Soviet pressure. $400m was to go to Greece and Turkey.
The development of the cold war in the early years
contents- ideological
Truman Doctrine
It set out the differences between democratic and communist govs: majority rule and freedom from political oppression versus the will of the minority being forced on the will of the majority.
Choosing democracy over communism was like choosing good over evil.
The development of the cold war in the early years
contents- political
Truman Doctrine
It established that the priority of the USA was to support people who resisted communism, outside pressure and armed minorities.
The USA would help free people to work out their destiny in their own way.
The development of the cold war in the early years
contents- military
Truman Doctrine
Truman established that the United States would provide military assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces.
