Beginnings : Cold War 1945─49

• Why did the USA─USSR alliance begin to break down in 1945?

  • USA, GB, USSR were allies during WW2 against Nazi Germany.
  • They defeated Germany in May 1945, the USSR (Russia, the Soviet Union) entering from the east, the Americans (USA) and British entering from the west.
  • Near the end of the war was the Yalta Conference (February 1945)
  • Just after the war was the Potsdam Conference (July─August 1945) to decide what to do with the defeated Germany.
• Yalta Conference took place in February 1945

  (towards the end of the war)
• Potsdam Conference took place in July─August 1945

  (after the war)
• COMMUNISM :

  • USSR (Russia, Soviet Union)
  • Stalin
  • No democracy
  • No free press
  • The state owns everything
• USSR = Russia and the Soviet Union
• CAPITALISM :

  • USA (and GB, and France)
  • Democratic
  • Free press
  • Private ownership of property / businesses
  • "The West"
• Between the two conferences (Yalta and Potsdam), three major changes happened which made POTSDAM more difficult that YALTA..:

  1. Stalin (USSR) was now occupying most of Eastern Europe. This included Poland, where he had set up a Communist government.
  2. FDR (Roosevelt) had died and been replaced as USA's President by Truman (more anti─Communist than Roosevelt)
  3. USA had tested an atomic bomb (nuclear bomb).
• Iron Curtain Speech : relations between the USA and USSR were breaking down, especially because Stalin was taking control of Eastern European governments.

  Churchill said in March 1946 that an Iron Curtain had descended across Europe
• Stalin put pro-Russian, Communist governments into power in Eastern Europe between 1945 and 1948, using Salami Tactics to 'shave off' opposition
• How did the USA react to Soviet expansionism?

  • Truman Doctrine
  • Marshall Aid
• Truman Doctrine :

  • WHY : CONTAINMENT : kept communism "contained" where it currently was (i.e.: in Eastern Europe), to stop it spreading to other countries. The USA were making it clear that Stalin could NOT expand further
  • HOW : Money, equipment and advice to be sent into any country which might be in danger of becoming Communist.
  • EXAMPLES : Greece – GB was supporting the monarchists against the Communists. President Truman (USA) paid for British troops to stay in Greece (1947) to help defeat the Communists.
• Marshall Aid :

  • Money which was given to Europe by the USA to help it recover from WWII and to stop Communism spreading there.
  • $17 billion was sent to Europe.
  • Many Americans thought it was too much to give away
  • Congress approved the $17 billion after they heard that the Soviets had killed Masaryk in Czechoslovakia.
  • The USA also wanted to keep Europe strong because of trade and investment opportunities (i.e. not just to contain Communism).