The developmental stages of the Cold War

Question 1

What was the Teheran conference?

Answer 1

The Teheran Conference was when Stalin met with Roosevelt and Churchill for the first time. They agreed that the Soviet Union could have a ‘sphere of influence’ in Eastern Europe. It was held in Teheran, Iran.

Question 2

When was the Teheran conference?

Answer 2

28th November – 1st December 1943.

Question 3

Who attended the Teheran conference?

Answer 3

‘The Big Three’ – Russian leader Stalin, American President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill.

Question 4

Why did the Teheran conference happen?

Answer 4

To make plans for the reconstruction of Europe following the Second World War.

Question 5

What agreements were made at the Teheran conference?

Answer 5

The Allies agreed that the Soviet Union should have a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe at the end of the war. This would give the Soviet Union some security and prevent threats from its neighbours. That Western Europe would be a British and American ‘sphere of influence’, where capitalism would be dominant. It was agreed that the USA and Britain would open a second front in 1944. At the same time as the Second Front, the USSR would begin an offensive in the East. However, Stalin felt that the other two wanted the USSR to take the major part and not open up a second front.

Question 6

What could The Big Three not agree on at the Teheran conference?

Answer 6

Stalin believed Germany should be punished for starting the Second World War by being forced to give up its territories and paying reparations, ensuring that Germany would never be a threat again. Roosevelt and Churchill believed that Germany should be rebuilt as they thought that one of the causes of WW2 was Germany’s economic problems following WW1 and remembered the mistakes of the Treaty of Versailles. They argued that a peaceful Europe needed a prosperous Germany.

Question 7

What was the Yalta conference?

Answer 7

An attempt to work out what to do with Germany once the war was over in Yalta, Ukraine.

Question 8

When was the Yalta conference?

Answer 8

4th – 11th February 1945.

Question 9

Who was at the Yalta conference?

Answer 9

The Big Three.

Question 10

Why did the Yalta conference happen?

Answer 10

To work out a clear strategy for ending the war against Germany and Japan and then sort out issues after fighting ended.

Question 11

What agreements were made at the Yalta conference?

Answer 11

It was decided that Germany was to be divided and administered by the Big Three but after Churchill insisted, the French were also given an occupation zone. It was agreed that Berlin would also be divided but there would be a joint commission of the Allies to run the city. Stalin agreed that Russian troops would help America defeat Japan once Hitler had been defeated. Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to the establishment of a communist Poland. The ‘Declaration on Liberated Europe’ committed the USSR, America and Britain to work for democracy in Europe. The Allies agreed to establish the the United Nations, an organisation committed to maintaining peace. The Big Three restated their agreement that the USSR should have a ‘sphere of influence’ in Eastern Europe.

Question 12

What were the effects of the Yalta conference?

Answer 12

The agreement to a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’ guaranteed that the USSR was not threatened by any of its neighbouring countries. It would give the Soviet Union some security and prevent threats from its neighbours. The zones and sectors were put in place. It was successful largely due to Stalin’s relationship with Roosevelt.

Question 13

What was the Potsdam conference?

Answer 13

A conference held in Potsdam, Germany after World War II ended in Germany, where Truman, Stalin and Churchill drew up plans for the administration of Germany and Poland.

Question 14

When was the Potsdam conference?

Answer 14

July 16th – August 2nd 1945.

Question 15

Who attended the Potsdam conference?

Answer 15

Harry Truman (who replaced Roosevelt after he died), Clement Atlee (who replaced Churchill after the election on July 24th) and Stalin.

Question 16

Why did the Potsdam conference happen?

Answer 16

To make plans for how Germany and Poland were to be administered.

Question 17

What were the agreements at the Potsdam conference?

Answer 17

It was decided to put leading members of the Nazi Party on trial as war criminals. These trials were to be held at Nuremberg. It was also decided that the Nazi Party would be banned and that there would be a policy of de-Nazification which would remove the traces of Nazi rule in Germany. The Oder-Neisse (two rivers) line was to form part of the border between Poland and Germany.

Question 18

What were the disagreements about at the Potsdam conference?

Answer 18

Britain and the USA denied Stalin a naval base in the Mediterranean as they saw no need for one. However, Stalin saw this as evidence that his allies mistrusted him. Stalin wanted more reparations from Germany than Britain and the USA did. Britain and the USA didn’t want to cripple Germany; they had seen the results of the harsh reparations that had been put in place after World War I. This made Stalin suspicious though about why is allies seemed to want to protect Germany and even help it to recover. Stalin had set up a Communist government in Lublin, the capital of Poland. Britain preferred the non-Communist Polish Government, which had lived in exile in Britain throughout the war. Truman and Attlee were very suspicious of Stalin’s motives in setting up a Communist government.

Question 19

Why was there tension at the Potsdam conference?

Answer 19

The atomic bomb further worsened tensions. Stalin had been told about the bomb at the beginning of the conference and was furious that it had been kept a secret. He was convinced that the USA was using the bombs as a warning to the USSR. Truman was convinced that the USA had the ultimate weapon and this made him determined to stand up to Stalin and prevent further Soviet expansion.

Question 20

What were the effects of the Potsdam conference?

Answer 20

There were clear signs that Stalin didn’t trust the USA and Britain and that they didn’t trust him. This led to increased tensions. The use of the atomic bomb increased rivalry between the superpowers and an arms race emerged.