Topic 1: Origins of the Cold War (1945-1949) Flashcards
(36 cards)
When did the Yalta Conference take place?
February 1945
Who attended the Yalta Conference?
Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Britain)
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (USA)
Josef Stalin (USSR)
What was agreed at the Yalta Conference?
- Germany and Berlin would be divided into four “zones of occupation” (US; GB; French; USSR)
- When Germany was defeated, Russia would support America in the war against Japan
- When Germany was defeated, democratic elections would take place in countries in eastern Europe (the governments would be sympathetic to the USSR)
- The United Nations organisation would be set up to maintain peace between countries
When did Germany surrender in the Second World War?
May 1945
When did the Potsdam Conference take place?
July / August 1945
Who attended the Potsdam Conference?
Prime Minister Clement Attlee (Britain)
President Harry Truman (USA)
Josef Stalin (USSR)
What did President Truman reveal to Josef Stalin at the Potsdam Conference?
He revealed that America had successfully tested an atomic bomb.
What was agreed at the Potsdam Conference?
- It was confirmed that Germany and Berlin would be divided into four “zones of occupation”.
- The Nazi Party was to be abolished and senior Nazi officials were to be put on trial for their crimes.
- Poland’s borders were expanded westwards, taking over some German territory and creating a buffer zone between Germany and the USSR.
What did the leaders disagree about at the Potsdam Conference?
- Germany: Stalin wanted severe reparations to be imposed on Germany in order to weaken the country and protect the USSR.
- Eastern Europe: Stalin wanted pro-Soviet governments to be set up in countries in Eastern Europe in order to create a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’ and a buffer zone to protect the USSR from Germany. Western leaders did not want the USSR to expand its influence (even though this had been agreed at Yalta).
How many Soviet people died during the Second World War?
20 million
Who gave the “Iron Curtain” speech in March 1946?
Winston Churchill (former British PM)
Where did Winston Churchill give the “Iron Curtain” speech?
Missouri, America
What was the “Iron Curtain”?
The division in Europe that had developed between the communist Soviet Union and its ‘sphere of influence’ in eastern Europe, and the capitalist countries of the West.
How did the leaders at the Yalta Conference disagree about Poland?
Lublin and London Poles
How did Josef Stalin respond to the “Iron Curtain” speech?
He was angry and criticised Churchill’s remark.
Which countries in eastern Europe had become communist before 1948?
All countries (e.g. Poland, Hungary and Romania) except Greece and Czechoslovakia.
Identify three methods used by communists to establish governments in eastern European countries.
- Rigged elections (e.g. using the Red Army to intimidate voters)
- Imprisonment of political opponents
- Overthrowing monarchies
When did Czechoslovakia become a communist country?
March 1948
What was the name of the pro-American Czech politician who was presumed to have been murdered by communist forces?
Jan Masaryk
What policy did Harry Truman introduce in March 1947?
“Containment” – the USA would do all they could to prevent the spread of communism. This was known as the Truman Doctrine.
How did Stalin respond to the introduction of the Truman Doctrine?
Cominform
What was the name of the American General who visited Europe in 1947 to assess the economic situation?
General George Marshall
What evidence was there that the European economy was still severely damaged from the war in 1947?
- There were food shortages in Europe and rationing was still in place in many countries.
- In the winter of 1947, Britain experienced a coal shortage and the use of electricity had to be restricted.
What was the Marshall Plan?
America provided $17 billion of economic aid to countries in Europe over the course of four years (1948-1952).
