The breaking up of the Grand Alliance

Question 1

Why did the Grand Alliance break up?

Answer 1

Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech. The long telegram. The Novikov Telegram.

Question 2

How did the Iron Curtain speech lead to the breaking up of the Grand Alliance?

Answer 2

Churchill gave his Iron Curtain speech during a trip to America in March 1946 and it was understood that Truman agreed with what he said. The speech described how an ‘iron curtain’ was in place around the eastern block and that all the countries within this ‘curtain’ were subject to both Soviet influence and an increasing measure of control from the USSR. Stalin retaliated by saying that Churchill was a ‘warmonger’ and that he and his friends bore a resemblance to Hitler and his friends.

Question 3

How did the Long Telegram lead to the breaking up of the Grand Alliance?

Answer 3

Truman was concerned about the breakdown of the Grand Alliance and the threat of new war. He asked for a secret report from the American embassy in the USSR to help him understand what Stalin was thinking. This report was sent as a telegram. This telegram reported that: Stalin had given a speech calling for the destruction of capitalism. There could be no peace with the USSR while it was opposed to capitalism. The USSR was building up its military power. After this telegram, Truman believed that he was facing the possibility of war.

Question 4

How did Novikov’s telegram lead to the breaking up of the Grand Alliance?

Answer 4

Stalin was concerned about the breakdown of the Grand Alliance and the threat of new war. He asked for a secret report from the Soviet embassy in America to help him understand what Truman was thinking. This report was sent as a telegram. This telegram reported that: America desired to dominate the world. Following Roosevelt’s death, the American government was no longer interested in cooperation with the USSR. The American public was being prepared for war with the USSR. After this telegram, Stalin believed that war was inevitable.

Question 5

What were the Soviet Satellite States?

Answer 5

These were countries that were controlled by the USSR although they were officially independent.

Question 6

When did the Soviet Satellite States exist?

Answer 6

Between 1947 and 1949.

Question 7

Why did Stalin make the Satellite states?

Answer 7

Stalin did this in response to the Marshall Plan, as he believed that the Americans were trying to buy influence over Europe as any country that accepted the money was effectively an American ally. This made him want to extend his own influence.

Question 8

How did Stalin make the Satellite States?

Answer 8

The USSR extended its influence in Eastern Europe, turning countries such as Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary into satellite states. He did this with Cominform and Comecon.

Question 9

What was Cominform?

Answer 9

The Communist Information Bureau was an international organisation that represented communist parties across Europe and brought them under the direction of the USSR.

Question 10

When was Cominform?

Answer 10

1947.

Question 11

Why did Stalin make Cominform?

Answer 11

To extend his control.

Question 12

What were the aims of Cominform?

Answer 12

To spread communist ideas. To tighten Stalin’s grip on his communist allies. To restrict Stalin’s communist allies’ contact with the west. The first Cominform Conference rejected the Marshall Plan It was used to ensure the loyalty of Eastern European governments by investigating government ministers and employees and removing those opposed to Stalin.

Question 13

What were the effects of Cominform?

Answer 13

The rejection of the Marshall Plan led to eastern European governments refusing to accept Marshall Aid. The rejection of the Marshall Plan also led to communist parties in western Europe being encouraged to organise strikes and demonstrations against the plan. For example, in France, 2 million communist workers went on strike in the winter of 1947 demanding that the French 1947 demanding that the French government reject Marshall Aid. The investigation of government ministers and employees often led to violence. The investigation of government ministers and employees led to 5% of the population of Hungary being in prison by 1953. Through Cominform, the USSR consolidated its power through eastern Europe.

Question 14

What was Comecon?

Answer 14

The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance was the communist alternative to the Marshall Plan. In 1949, it consisted of the USSR, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania. In 1950, Albania and eastern Germany joined.

Question 15

When was Comecon?

Answer 15

1949.

Question 16

Why did Stalin start Comecon?

Answer 16

In answer to the Marshall Plan. Stalin knew that the Marshall Plan was attractive to some eastern European governments. After ordering his satellite states to boycott the plan, he needed a communist alternative.

Question 17

What were the aims of Comecon?

Answer 17

To encourage the economic development of Eastern Europe. To prevent trade with western Europe and America. To coordinate the production and trade of eastern European countries.

Question 18

What were the effects of Comecon?

Answer 18

Politically, it minimised American influence in Eastern Europe and the USSR. Economically, it ensured that the benefits of economic recovery in eastern Europe remained within the Soviet ‘sphere of influence’. It also meant that eastern Europe did not have access to the prosperity of western Europe.

Question 19

What was the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 19

A communist version of NATO; a military alliance of eastern Europe.

Question 20

When was the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 20

1955.

Question 21

Why was the Warsaw Pact made?

Answer 21

In response to NATO.

Question 22

What was NATO?

Answer 22

NATO was an organisation founded by the west to unify and strengthen their military.

Question 23

When was NATO founded?

Answer 23

1949.

Question 24

What was the Truman Doctrine?

Answer 24

A policy set out by Truman.

Question 25

When was the Truman Doctrine made?

Answer 25

1947.

Question 26

Why was the Truman Doctrine made?

Answer 26

After the Long Telegram, Truman asked the American military to assess the strength of the USSR’s army. He learned that the USSR was in no position to wage war. However, Truman believed that the USSR would encourage communist revolutions across Europe as a strategy to conquer more territory without having to declare war. The Truman Doctrine was a policy set out to address this threat.

Question 27

What were the features of the Truman Doctrine?

Answer 27

The world had a choice between communist tyranny and democratic freedom. America had a responsibility to fight for liberty wherever it was threatened. America would send troops and economic resources to help governments that were threatened by communists. Communism should not be allowed to grow and gain territory.

Question 28

What was the significance of the Truman Doctrine?

Answer 28

It suggested that America, rather than the UN, had a responsibility to protect the world.

Question 29

What was Marshall Aid?

Answer 29

An America plan set out by Truman to help Western Europe to rebuild their economies after the end of World War 2.

Question 30

When did Marshall Aid begin?

Answer 30

1948.

Question 31

Why was Marshall Aid given?

Answer 31

To help Western Europe to rebuild their broken economies. It also ensured that countries wpuld remain capitalist; if they were getting aid from America, they wouldn’t convert to communism (although it may have seemed more appealing during their time of poverty) because they were getting help from a capitalist country and their economies were improving.

Question 32

What were the features of the Marshall Plan?

Answer 32

America gave about $13 billion (approximately $130 billion by today’s standards) to Western Europe. Aid was given in the form of: Food, Grants to buy equipment, Improvements to transpport systems, Medicine. Cominform members were forbidden from requesting Marshall aid.