The Origins of the Cold War (1941-58)

• The Grand Alliance was made up of Britain, the USA and the USSR. They were the 'Big Three' allies from World War Two. They united to defeat their 'common enemy' (Nazi Germany).
• Tehran Conference (1943):

  • Focused on plans to defeat the Nazis.
  • Discussed what would happed to Europe and Germany after the war. Both Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed the USSR could claim a 'sphere of influence' in Eastern Europe.
  • Britain and the US had very different political views to the USSR which caused tension.
• Yalta Conference (February 1945):

  • Discussed about the future of Europe.
  • Free elections would be held in previously occupied countries in Eastern Europe.
  • UN would replace the failed League of Nations.
• Potsdam Conference (July/August 1945):

  • Germany surrendered in May 1945.
  • New boundaries for Poland.
  • The allies and France would divide Germany/Berlin between them.
  • Nazi leaders tried for war crimes.
• Tensions were high at the Potsdam Conference as Harry Truman replaced Roosevelt as US President and Clement Attlee replaced Churchill as Prime Minister. Harry Truman was much more suspicious of Stalin's intentions.
• USSR stands for 'Union of Soviet Socialists Republics' (Soviet Union).
• The two biggest powers after the war were the USA and USSR. They began to see each others actions as threats as they were very suspicious of one another.
• After Germany surrendered in May 1945, Japan continued to fight as they were on Germany's side during the war.
• Because Japan continued to fight after Germany surrendered, the US decided to drop two atoms on Japan in August 1945 which destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• The US has kept the atom bomb a secret from the USSR at Potsdam in July 1945 (before they dropped it in August 1945). The nuclear weapons boosted the status of the US but Stalin saw it as a attempt to intimidate the USSR, which increased rivalry and tensions between the two superpowers.
• Although Churchill was replaced by Attlee in the British General Elections, he was still a highly respected war-time leader in America.
• In February 1946, Winston Churchill was invited to America and delivered his famous 'Iron Curtain' speech.
• The 'Iron Curtain' speech was the idea that there was a separation of the East and the West. The 'Iron Curtain' symbolised the ideological and physical boundary between Communism and Capitalism. This was the breakdown of the Grand Alliance as Britain and the US no longer viewed the USSR as an ally but as a threat instead.
• The countries that were under the influence of the USSR were known as the 'Satellite States'. The countries included Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia.
• By 1946, tensions between the superpowers were high and each country issued secret telegrams about each other. These telegrams were detailed reports describing the motivations and intentions of the other country.
• The Long Telegram (February 1946):

  • George Kennan (America's ambassador in Moscow) issued information to President Truman about the USSR.
  • It was reported that Stalin wanted to see the destruction of capitalism and warned that the USSR was trying to weaken/divide western powers.
  • American believed there should be a determined policy of 'containment' to stop communism spreading.
• The Novikov Telegram (September 1946):

  • Nikolai Novikov (Soviet diplomat in Washington) issued information to Stalin and the USSR.
  • It reported that America was pursuing world supremacy and was trying to limit influence of the USSR in Europe.
  • It warned that America would stand and support their government if this led to war.
• President Truman was extremely worried as many countries were under going economic hardship and they might resort to communism. So the USA intervened in Europe to try and contain the spread of communism.
• The Truman Doctrine (March 1947):

  • Made by Harry Truman and claimed to support any nation threatened by a communist take-over (USA was the only country able to provide help).
  • Included diplomatic, military or financial support.
  • America's frontiers were now in Europe.
  • The USA gave $400 million to Turkey and Greece to stop communism from spreading.
• The Marshall Plan (June 1947):

  • Made by George Marshall (US Secretary of State).
  • An extra $12.7 billion of aid over 4 years was given to help countries rebuild their economies.
  • Stalin had ordered his Satellite States to reject the plan as he saw it as an attempt to take control in Europe.
• Marshall Plan Amounts:

  • Britain - $3,297 million
  • France - $2,296 million
  • Germany (West) - $1,448 million
  • Italy - $1,204 million
  • Greece - $376 million
• Stalin felt threatened by the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine so he reacted by strengthening and uniting all his allies.
• Cominform (Communist Information Bureau):

  • Stalin's retaliation to the Marshall Plan.
  • Created in 1947, it brought all the European communist parties together and placed them under the control of the USSR.
  • It controlled the trade and policies of the Satellite States.
• Comecon (The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance):

  • Created in 1949.
  • It countered the Marshall Plan by nationalising industries, collectivising agriculture and offering economic aid.
• Stalin hoped that Cominform/Comecon would encourage economic development in Eastern Europe and discourage trade with the West. It also appeased the countries that had been ordered to refuse the Marshall Plan.
• Tensions over the division of Germany had been building since the Potsdam Conference and finally spilled over into the Berlin Crisis in 1948.
• After the war, there were four zones in Germany and Berlin that were occupied by the French, British, Soviets and the Americans.
• In 1947, Britain and the US agreed to combine their zones in Germany/Berlin to form 'Bizonia'. The French later joined to form 'Trizonia'.
• In March 1948, the three zones of the British, French and Americans became known as West Germany.
• The new western zone had a single government and introduced a new currency to help economic recovery in June 1948. This alarmed the USSR as West Berlin's strong capitalist economy embarrassed the USSR and made communism look weak.
• As a result of the formation of West Germany, Stalin decided to blockade Berlin to try and make them withdraw from West Berlin.
• On the 24th June 1948, Stalin blockaded all the roads, canals and railways that led from the West into West Berlin. Supplies from West Germany could now no longer get through to the French, American and British sectors in Berlin. The two million people in Berlin were now effectively 'cut-off' from the West, leaving them with no support.
• Stalin wanted to force the West to withdraw from Berlin altogether. However, the Western Powers believed if they did withdraw then the Soviet Union would be tempted to invade West Germany.
• The Berlin Airlift lasted for 318 days.
• During the Berlin Airlift, there were 36 days of food and 45 days of coal remaining.
• In Berlin during the Berlin Airlift, people were living on 900 calories per day.
• During the Berlin Airlift, there had to be 1300 flights per day to deliver 4000 tons of food and coal.
• The first airlift during the Berlin Airlift started on the 26th June 1948.
• After 2 weeks of the Berlin Airlift, there was only 1000 tons being delivered per day, which was a quarter of the goal.
• General William Tunner established 3 minute intervals for planes, 30 minutes to unload, maintenance checks, new pilots and planes during the Berlin Airlift.