The origins of the Cold War 1945-60

The origins of the Cold War 1945-60

1. USA and USSR

   • USA - Capitalist (private ownership of industry) Democracy - voting in elections and choosing government
   • USSR - Communist (state owned industry) One-party state - only communist party existed

2. Yalta Conference Feb 1945

   • Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin
     • Got on well together
   • DECIDED Germany to be divided into four zones. Berlin divided in four zones. USSR joined war against Japan. Germany would pay reparations.
     • REMEMBER W44P

3. Potsdam Conference July 1945

   • Attlee, Truman and Stalin
     • DID NOT get on well together
   • DECIDED on future borders between Poland and Germany.
   • Leaders suspicious of Stalin's motives in Eastern Europe
     • He set up communist government in Poland
   • 16th July - Americans tested atomic bomb.
     • This worried Stalin. Could bully war-torn USSR in future.

4. Soviet Expansion

   • Stalin felt vulnerable. USA much richer than USSR who had been devastated by war.
     • Set up a BUFFER ZONE - protect western borders
     • Ensured communists came to power in Eastern Bloc using RIGGED ELECTIONS and his RED ARMY.
   • The IRON CURTAIN - Churchill referred to division of East and West as an 'Iron Curtain'

5. Truman Doctrine 1947

   • To 'contain' the spread of communism
   • USA gave military help to countries resisting communism
   • Truman granted $400 million to support Greece and Turkey against Communist influence
   • EFFECTS
     • America adopted 'policy of containment'.
       • Reverts policy of Isolationism
     • Communists felt it was a declaration of war against Communism
     • Regarded as the start of the Cold War

6. The Marshall Aid

   • Other half of the Truman Doctrine >>
   • America granted $17 billion in aid to Europe
     • To give huge economic aid to countries accepting American help - helped raise living standards torn apart by war.
     • Helped American economy - increased exports to, and investments in, Europe.
   • Stalin rejected aid for Eastern Europe
     • Believed it was designed to reduce appeal of communism - "dollar imperialism", controlling countries through money.
   • EFFECTS
     • Stalin reacted through 'Comniform'
       • Russian equivalent of Truman Doctrine - defend communism
         • COMECON 1949 - united economies of communist states
       • Increased Stalin's control of Eastern Europe
     • Increased suspicions between America and Russia

7. The Berlin Blockade and Airlift

   • 1948 - French, US and British zones merged into West Germany. Began to prosper due to Marshall Aid.
   • Soviet-controlled East Germany had poverty and hunger. East Germans began fleeing to West.
     • Stalin feared Allies would attack by building up West Berlin.
       • Closed all road and rail connections from Berlin to West Germany to force Allies out of Berlin.
   • Allies air-lifted vital supplies into western sector - 8000 tonnes supplied daily
     • SUCCESSFUL - Stalin didn't shoot down air-craft and risk war. May 1949 - USSR lifted Blockade.
   • IMPORTANCE
     • Truman Doctrine put into action
     • Britain and France stood up to Soviet Expansion
     • Victory for West - lead to NATO
     • Clear Germany would remain divided
     • Set pattern of Cold War: threats, no war, hostility between East and West