Early Tensions

• Why was the USA not as tough in negotiations with the USSR than Stalin would have liked?

  After Japan bombed Pearl Harbour in 1941, the USA wanted Soviet support against Japan.
• List 4 agreements made at Tehran Conference

  -second front launched in West Europe

  -USSR enter war against Japan once war in Europe over

  -aim to make Germany unconditionally surrender

  -international organisation to be set up
• 5 agreements at Yalta


  -Germany to be split into 4 zones

  -Germany to pay $20 billion in reparations in goods and resources, half to USSR

  -free elections in Eastern European countries

  -United Nations to be set up 25 April 1945

  -USSR enter war against Japan 3 months after war
• 2 Agreements at Potsdam

  -Germany to be split into 4 zones but German economy to run as whole.

  -Berlin to be divided into 4 zones
• What was the agreement on reparations?

  Each administering country to take reparations from its own zone. USSR could take a quarter of industrial equipment from other zones because it was the poorest zone.
• How many Japanese civilians killed by the atomic bombs?

  Atleast 120,000
• Why did USA drop atomic bomb?

  -to establish a stronger bargaining position with the Soviet Union
• Kennan Long Telegram


  -World outside Soviet Union was hostile

  -USSR not suicidal would back down if faced with strong resistance

  -American policy of 'containment'
• Novikov Telegram

  USA wanted to use massive military power to dominate the world

  Americans would support their government if this led to war, didn't want to cooperate after Roosevelt's death

  Develop as much protection as possible in Eastern Europe
• Iron Curtain Speech

  -Soviet Union was a threat to freedom and world peace
• Yugoslavia and Albania

  -never occupied by the Red Army, had more independence than other countries
• What triggered the Truman Doctrine

  After 6 years of war, Britain was nearly bankrupt and announced in 1947 they would no longer provide military support to the Greek government against communist guerillas
• Soviet response to Marshall Plan

  -undermining role of United Nations

  -using economic might to divide Europe in two and establish an American economic empire in Europe "dollar imperialism"
• Cominform 1947

  -allowed Stalin to control government of satellite states

  -took orders from Moscow, and concentrated on trade with other Cominform members
• Comecon 1949


  -supporting economic development in member states

  -Five Year Plan with nationalised industry and collectivised agriculture

  -In 1951 Bulgaria's trade was at 90% with other Comecon members
• Why were the Soviets angry about Trizonia's single currency, the Deutschmark

  -separate economic unit from the East

  -acknowledged there were two Germanys: West and East
• How many tonnes of supplies of supplies were sent into Berlin during the Berlin Blockade in the peak month of flying, January 1949?

  170,000
• What triggered the creation of Nato?

  -Berlin Blockade

  -Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia
• When did the USA develop ICBMs and what could they do

  1957

  -could fire a nuclear warhead at a target more than 4,500 kilometres away
• When did Khrushchev come into power?

  1956
• In 1956 why were people hopeful that a solution to the Cold War arms race would be found

  -Change in leadership.

  -1953 war in Korea had come to an end. Both USA and USSR had supported different sides

  -Both sides spending large sums on armed forces and knew that reducing spending would be good for economies
• Why were there riots in Hungary?

  people were unhappy with fuel shortages and bad harvests
• What reforms did Nagy make?

  reorganised Hungarian government to include members of non-communist parties

  persuaded Khrushchev to withdraw Soviet troops from Hungary

  authorised immediate release of many political prisoners
• How many tanks rolled into Budapest on 4th November

  1,000
• How many Hungarians were killed

  20,000
• How did the Hungarian Uprising reflect badly on the USA?

  USA encouraged communist countries to stand up to Soviet Union, through Radio Free Europe, however were not prepared to back up their words with military support