How did the Cold War develop?

How did the Cold War develop?

1. 4.1: Why did the Cold War begin?

   • Conflicting ideologies
     • USA: capitalist economy, democratic system of gov.
     • USSR: planned economy, communist state
   • Breakdown of the Great Alliance
     • Teheran Conference, 1943
       • Stalin wanted to punish + weaken Germany with reparations but Churchill + Roosevelt wanted to rebuild Germany
     • Yalta Conference, Feb 1945
       • 4 agreements made: 1 – Germany would be divided into 4 zones: run by USA, USSR, Britain and France. 2 – Berlin (in East) would also be split into 4 zones. 3 – Free elections for countries of eastern Europe. 4 – USSR would join war against Japan in return for territory in Manchuria + Sakhalin Island.
     • The Potsdam Conference, August 1945
       • US President Roosevelt died in April 1945, replaced by Truman, during conference Churchill replace by Attlee. New leaders didn't get on well with Stalin. 2 agreements made: 1 – Nazi Party to be banned + leaders to be trailed as war criminals. 2 – Oder-Neisse rivers to be border between Poland and Germany.

2. 4.2: The development of the Cold War 1945-48

   • By 1945: In Europe, Capitalism in West, Communism in East
     • Countries of Eastern Europe = satellite states
       • USSR-backed Communist parties to take control of the country – in Bulgaria, Albania, Poland, Romania and Hungary opponents were beaten, murdered and frightened into submission.
     • By 1948: all Eastern Europe states had Communist govs.
     • 1946, Churchill: "Iron curtain"
   • US involvement in Europe
     • 1947, Policy of containment of Communism in Europe
       • Truman Doctrine, 1947
         • Aim: Contain spread of communism, but not push it back
       • Marshall Plan, 1947
         • Aim: Economic recovery of Western Europe to prevent spread of Communism + important for American businesses to have future trading partners.
     • Soviet response
       • Cominform, 1947
         • Alliance of Communist countries. Aimed to spread communist ideas + help Stalin tighten his hold on his communist allies (restricted their contact with the West.
       • Comecon, 1949
         • Aim: to coordinate production + trade of Eastern European countries.

3. 4.3: The development of the Cold War 1948-56

   • Berlin blockade and airlift, 1948-49
     • CAUSES
       • Continue to occupy Germany or try to rebuild it?
       • Britain and USA wanted Germany to recover, wanted to rebuild it
         • They could not afford to keep feeding its people + punishing German would not help future peace.
       • USSR didn't want to rebuild Germany - Stalin suspicious why USA + GB did
       • 1948, Trizonia (West Germany)
         • Merging of US + GB + French zones. With help of Marshall Aid, West Germany began to recover and prosper ≠ East Germany poverty and hunger. Many east germans fled to the West through Berlin.
         • Seen as a threat by Stalin to attack him
         • Introduction of the Deutsche Mark in West G
           • To further help economic recovery the USA and Britain introduced a new currency, the Deutsche Mark, in the three western zones. But they did not consult Stalin, and he was furious - a united and strong Germany posed a threat to Soviet security. 
     • EVENTS
       • Stalin closed all road + rail connections from Berlin to WG
         • Aim: to force the Western Allies from Berlin
         • Allies decided to airlift supplies into West Berlin
           • Lasted until following Spring 1949. West Berliners supplied with everything from food to oil, and building supplies.
           • Great success
     • RESULTS
       • May 1949, USSR lifted blockade
         • Victory for West
         • Relations hit rock bottom
       • Zone controlled by USA, France + Britain = FDR, Aug 1949
         • FDR = Federal Republic of Germany
       • Zone controlled by USSR = GDR, Oct 1949
         •  GDR = German Democratic Republic
   • Rival alliances
     • By 1956, 2 rival alliances
       • NATO, 1949
         • North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 
         • USA now formally committed to the defence of Western Europe
         • Stalin saw this as direct threat to USSR
         • Military alliance, main purpose: defend its members
         • Contained most of Western Europe states + USA + Canada
       • WTO, 1955
         • The Warsaw Pact
         • Response to NATO + West Germany joining NATO
   • Nuclear arms race
     • 1945-49, only USA had nuclear weapons
     • USA: A-Bomb 1945, H-Bomb 1952
     • USSR: A-Bomb 1949, H-Bomb 1955
     • 1957, development of satellites, "space race"
       • + USA and USSR developed ICBMs
         • ICBMs = long-range missiles

4. 4.4: Hungary: The tightening of control

   • In 1956, an attempted uprising in Hungary was brutally crushed by the USSR
   • The uprising
     • CAUSES
       • Communist gov. established with support of USSR – RAKOSI
         • Hungarians hated Rakosi + AVH
           • AVH = Secret Police
           • Brutality, execution, imprisonment of 1000s of opponents
       • Falling standard of living + increased poverty
     • EVENTS
       • Protests got worse
         • Stalin's statue pulled down and dragged through the streets
       • Rakosi forced to resign
       • Soviet tanks moved into Hungary
         • Nagy became PM
           • Soviet troops withdrew
           • Determined on reform
             • Demanded Khrushchev for withdrawal of Hungary from WTO + have neutral role in Cold War
               • Khrushchev = alarmed
                 • Free elections = end of Communism in Hungary + gap in iron curtain (Soviet buffer zone from West).
                 • Soviet troops + 1000 tanks invaded Hunagry, crushed uprising, Nagy captured & shot
     • RESULTS
       • 3000 Hungarians killed, over 200, 000 refugees fled to the West
       • Highlighted the limitations of Khrushchev's policy of peaceful co-existence
       • New pro-Soviet gov., Kadar
         • Re-established Communist control of Hungary + negotiated withdrawal of Soviet troops
       • Satellite states didn't dare challenge Soviet authority/reject Communism