The End Of Ww2, Why Did The War Develop Flashcards
(39 cards)
Why was it called the “cold war”
“Cold war” refers to the state of hostility between the two superpowers without any actual fighting. The threat of new and even deadlier weapons such as nuclear technology prevented outright open warfare.
What was the “cold war”
The “cold war” was the protracted economic and ideological struggle between the global superpowers of the USA and USSR as supported by their respective allies, that emerged after ww2. The war lasted 40 years until the decline and eventual collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the USSR after 1989.
If not an actual war, how did they fight?
Diplomatic manoeuvring, economic pressure, indimidation, propaganda, espionage and assassination.
What was the basis of the ideological conflict?
Capitalism and democracy vs communism.
Give reasons why the West would mistrust the soviets
Communism threatened western way of life.
During WW1 the Bolshevik government deserted Russia’s allies by making peace with Germany.
Disliked Stalin’s totalitarian policies which had led to forced labour, public trials, deaths and the purges of the 1930’s.
Stalin signed the Nazi-soviet Non-aggression Pact in August 1939.
Reasons for Soviets mistrusting West?
We’re opposed to capitalism because the rich prospered at the expense of the poor.
When Bolsheviks took power in 1917 the Americans sent aid to the people they were fighting.
Allies gave away Russian land to other countrlike Poland.
Why were tensions developing in the grand alliance?
Stalin suspected that the USA was purposely trying to weaken the USSR by not providing assistance when the USSR was battling the Nazis.
The USA stopped the Lend-lease program which sent resources to Soviets.
Stalin was suspect of the secrecy of the atomic bomb.
Where can the cold war be most directly traced back to?
The wartime conferences of Teheran (43), Yalta (feb45) and Potsdam(july45).
What key decisions were made at Teheran conference?
November 43. The bug three decided that there would be no English-American invasion of Germany, meaning that Soviet troops were left alone in clearing Eastern Europe of Nazi forces.
Stalin was convinced that because of this, the West would leave Eastern Europe to be governed by the Soviets exclusively.
Key decisions of Yalta?
Feb45. The purpose was to decide what to do with Germany and areas it had usurped.
It was decided to divide Germany into 4 zones of occupation that would would each be governed by the big 3 and then France as well.
Berlin (deep in Soviets zone) was also subdivided according to the same scheme.
Poland (occupied by Stalin and ussr as result of the war) was set do have democratic elections dispite the pro-soviet provisional government that had been set up there.
Soviets wanted Germany to pay reparations but the big3 couldn’t decide on an amount and thus ni agreement was reached.
Stalin wanted to expand the border pf ussr into Poland, really didn’t want another German invasion.
Key decisions of Potsdam?
July45. Zones of occupation finalised.
Polands border finalised.
Exiled Germans in Czech, Poland and Hungary to return to Germany.
They disagreed on the state of Germany, Stakin wanted to cripple them whereas the west did nkt want a repetition lf the treaty kf versailles
Same story with reparations, Stalin wanted Germany to pay up but Truman didn’t want to make the same mistakes as WW1
Although it was agreed that Soviet gorvernments could exist in East Europe, Truman wasn’t feeling it.
How did the USSR gain control of most if Eastern Europe.
First with poland they already occupied some of it from the german invasion then when the war ended they took the whole thing. The red army freed many countries from nazi control and simply remained there, thus imposing Soviets will upon those areas. Soviet satellite states.
Why did the Soviets wantnto take over so much of east Europe?
Ussr feared the west so they wanted to put a buffer between them and their surroundings in order to protect themselves against potential western invasion.
They would initially set up coalition governments in east european countries but then slowly uproot the non communists, this is hiw they gained control of so much.
Stalin saw the rest of Eastern Europe as ussrs way out of poverty and into prosperity, they had cheap resources and would be forced to trade with the ussr
How did the west react to the soviets control of Eastern Europe?
They grew increasingly alarmed and began to view Stalin as a dictator, eliminating capitalist opposition.
Churchill gave iron curtain soeech.
Stalin called Churchill a warmonger.
What prompted the truman doctrine?
The civil wars in greece and Turkey, where in greece there was a battle for control between the monarchists and communists, the USA stepped in and provided aid to the monarchists out of the fear of the domino effect. Same thing in Turkey.
What was the Truman doctrine
USA’s new foreign policy of containment, wherein they would provide economic and military aid to any country threateened by communism or any totalitarian ideology.
What was the Soviet reaction to the Truman Doctrine?
The establishment of Cominform (the communist information bureau) in 1947, this linked communist parties around the world under strict instruction from the USSR to ensure that nobody was receiving foreign aid from the west.
Explain the Marshall plan.
The Marshall plan was a plan for aiding European countries in economic recovery from WW2. Truman believed that communism thrived where there was poverty and a lack of economic structure and prosperity. This was essentially a poverty killer. They offered money, equipment and goods. A condition of receiving the aid was thatbthe countries had to engage in trade with one another, thus eliminating true communism.
Consequences of the Marshall plan.
16 countries had applied for aid by 1947.
These countries set up the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) to put the plan in motion.
US congress approved the spending of 17 Billion dollars to rebuild Europe.
The plan was a massive success and the hostility between Soviets and USA intensified.
What was the USSR reaction to Marshall Plan.
Cominform
Comecon
First Berlin crisis?
Berlin Blockade and airlift 48-49
Consequences of the Berlin blockade?
The west saw the lifting kf the blockade as a victory
East west relations got worse
The arms race begun
In 49 the west set up NATO to counter against possible russian aggression.
Did Berlin continue to be a feature of the war?
Yes via the Berlin crises
The east Berlin uprisings of 1953
The U2 spy plane incident of 1958-1960
The building of the Berlin wall 1961
What was NATO?
The North atlantic treaty organisation 1948. Needed to keep large numbers of Americans troops i. Western Europe in krder to counter Soviet threat. Thus the organisation was formed.
