JCH29 Notes

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Video links - The Berlin Blockade https://youtu.be/8GOUGADRdZY

The Cold War

● A period of tension and hostility between the two superpowers of the USA and the USSR

Causes of the Cold War Political Differences

● USA is a democratic country - favoured private enterprise and had a capitalist economy, several parties took part in the elections, freedom of speech and religion

● Russia is a communist country - state owned economy and only one political party, dictatorship

Disagreements during the War

● Stalin was bitter and paranoid

● American refused to share the secret to their atomic bombs

Disagreements after the War

● Satellite state refers to the countries or regions that came under Soviet influence after war

● Iron curtain refers to the division that existed between the Democratic West and the Communist East

American Response

Truman Doctrine 1947

● Harry Truman’s commitment to stop communism

● Military help was provided to the governments of countries who were fighting against communist countries

Containment

● A policy to prevent the spread of communism

The Marshall Plan

● Financial aid offered to European countries in exchange for not becoming a communist country

Russian Response

Comecon - similar to the Marshall Plan

The Berlin Blockade 1948-1949

Why?

● At the Yalta Conference in February 1945, the leaders of the Allied countries decided to divide Germany after the war

● Germany was divided into 4 zones and each Allied country took control (Russia, Britain, America and France)

● Berlin was also divided into 4 zones between the Allies

● Allies had different views on the treatment of Germany

● US, Britain and France wanted to revive the German economy

● Russia wanted to punish Germany

● In June 1948, the democratic Allies released the Deutschmark, a new currency and

Stalin’s reaction resulted in the start of the Berlin Blockade

How

Soviet’s Response to Deutschmark

● Closed all the railroads, roads and canal access

● Cease power supplies

Allied response

● Operation Vittle - for 11 months, 1 plane was dropped every 90 seconds to provide people with food, medicine, supplies, coal and petrol

● In May 1949, the Blockade was eventually lifted

Outcome

● Soviet’s showed that they were not willing to go to war

● The Western Allies formed the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)

● West Germany became known as the Federal Republic

● East Germany became known as the German Democratic Republic

● The Berlin Wall (1961-1989) was built to separate West and East Germany

● The Berlin Wall had armed guards and watchtowers

● Anyone who tried to climb over the wall was killed

The Korean War

Why?

● After WW2, Korea was split

● North Korea was ruled by the Soviets

● South Korea was ruled by the Americans

● The 38th parallel separated the North from South Korea

● In June 1948, there was an election and North Korea wanted to remain communists and South Korea wanted to remain democratic

How

June 1950

● North Korea invades South Korea

● Army pushed to the Eastern corner called Pusan

September 1950

● UN army led by Douglas MacArthur respond and push the North Koreans back over the 38th parallel and northward until they reached the Yalu River in China

November 1950

● Mao Tse Tsung instructed his Chinese army to join with the North Koreans and they forced the United Nations army to retreat South back into South Korea

Truman

● Truman refused to use the atomic bomb and talks began that resulted in the two Korean zones agreeing to respect the political division between them and the border ceased on the 38th parallel

● In July 1953, the Korean War ended

Results

● 2 million people died

● Japan - ally for American

● Communism was contained

● UN’s role could was clear

The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

Why?

● America had a great relationship with Cuba when Batista was in control

● Fidel Castro overthrew Batista in 1959

● Castro forced Batista and his followers out of the country Cuba

● Castro established a one party socialist state and nationalised sugar plantations and other big businesses

● Castro gained support from the Russians

● America was not happy when Castro gained support from the Russians

How

● Bay of Pigs 1961 - JFK supported an armed invasion of Cuba and the invaders landed at the Bay of Pigs, but they were easily defeated

● CIA (Central Intelligence Agent) + JFK

● Exiles - sent Cubans living in America back to the Bay of Pigs

● Soviets building nuclear bases

● American U2 spy planes confirmed the existence of such bases in October 1962

● Kennedy ordered an American naval blockade

● In response, from the 22nd to the 28th October 1962, the world was on edge

● On 28th October, both sides agreed to a truce (JFK and Khrushchev)

Results

● Russia withdrew weapons from Cuba and US withdrew weapons from Turkey

● Phone line was installed between the Kremlin and the White House

● Both signed a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

● Never again risk a direct nuclear war was agreed between the two countries

An End to the Cold War

Glasnost ​refers to the Soviet policy of openness whereby people were encouraged to criticise or question the Russian government. This was brought in by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 - the leader of the Soviets at that time.

Perestroika ​refers to the Soviet policy aimed at rebuilding the Soviet economy

Thaw-Detente ​refers to the peaceful co-existence easing in tension

● Communist countries began to fall and the Berlin Wall was destroyed in 1989

After a the Cold War

● The USA dominates world politics

● The EU has increased and become larger

Exam Prep

Name an incident which involved the USA, USSR, and one other country (Germany, Cuba, Korea etc).

The Berlin Blockade

Give an outline of what happened during this incident.

After WW2, Germany was divided into 4 occupied zones which belonged to France, the USA, Britain and the USSR. To aid the German economy, the Allies tried to introduce a new currency called the Deutschmark. The USSR did not want this, and they cut off the three western sectors of Berlin by blocking road, rail and canal access. The only way West Berlin could now receive supplies was by air. The Allies decided to supply Berlin by air by using 20-mile-wide air corridors. This was known as operation Vittles. It lasted 11 months and almost 200,000 flights were made which carried 1.4 million tons of supplies. In May 1949, the Soviets realised their blockade was not working and withdrew travel restrictions.

What was one outcome of this event for each of the countries involved in this incident?

USA: The event established that the USSR and USA were now enemies. The USA also prevented the spread of Communism into other nations, demonstrating the success of the Truman doctrine.

USSR: The Soviets built the Berlin wall which permanently divided Berlin from the west.

The Third Country: Germany was officially divided into West Germany and the Communist controlled East Germany. This division would last until 1989.

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