Origins of cold war

• USA Capitalist Society

  American society was based on two key ideas of capitalism and democracy

  Th USA was the worlds richest country but there were extremes of wealth and poverty

  For Americans the rights and freedom of individual Americans were more important than everyone being equal

  Many Americans believed Communism threatened their way of life
• USSR Communist society


  There were elections but people could only elect Communists

  Industry was organised and run by state

  Unemployment/poverty was rare but living standards were lower than the average American

  Believed rights of individuals were less important than the good of society as a whole

  Many restrictions of individuals freedom

  State kept close control on art , film, radio, and press

  Hostile to organised religion

  Believed other countries should run Communist way

  USSR bitterly opposed Capitalism
• Death of Roosevelt - 12th April 1945


  Truman took tougher stance against USSR

  Adopted containment policy which aimed to stop the spread of Communism

  His death was a turning point in US foreign policy

  Increased tensions between both superpowers due to the shift in approach (containment )

  Truman was at fault as he could have taken a softer approach but he instead alarmed the USSR
• Secret Telegrams (1946 ) - context for Truman doctrine


  Kennan (officer in Moscow ) put a summary together saying Soviets could be less trusted and that USA was stronger and could contain Communism

  Novikov (soviet ambassador in US ) said USA was only interested in capitalism and stressed the possible dangers of US economic and military domination worldwide
• Tehran Conference

  28 Nov - 1 Dec 1943
• Tehran Conference

  • Decided USA and USSR in future, towards end of war, would fight Japan together
  • Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt came to Iran and discussed matters relating to WW2 such as opening a second front in Europe (to relieve pressure for USSR - initiated improvement between USA and USSR) and coordination of military strategies
  • Solidified alliances between allies
  • Raised tensions - revealed differing post war attitudes as USSR wanted to establish communism in EE which USA and allies saw as a threat to democracy - divergence of interests and visions for post war world
  • Both superpowers had different ideologies meaning you can't blame anyone
• Yalta Conference

  General public in 1945 saw signs of tension so allied leaders met in Yalta to plan Europe after war ended - it went well

  Happened on 4th February 1945 in Yalta, Ukraine

  Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin were present
• Decisions at Yalta


  Stalin agreed to enter war against Japan once Germany had surrendered

  Agreed Germany would be divided into 4 zones ; American, French, British and Soviet. Since Berlin (capital) was under Soviet control, they agreed that Berlin itself would be divided into four zones.

  Big 3 agreed to join new UN organisation which would aim to keep peace after war.
• Decisions at Yalta

  Big 3 were horrified by concentration camps - promised to hunt down+ punish war criminals responsible for the Genocide

  As countries were liberated by German army, they were allowed to hold elections and choose their own government

  20 million Soviets died in war - Stalin was concerned about future security - Big 3 agreed EE should be seen as 'Soviet sphere of influence'
• Map of Europe 1945 to 1949

  
• Consequences of Yalta

  Only disagreement was Poland - Stalin wanted USSR border to move westwards into Poland, argued that Poland in turn could move its border westwards into German territory

  Churchill didn't agree but he knew he couldn't do anything as Stalin's Red Army was in total control in both EE and Poland.

  Roosevelt also didn't agree but Stalin came to an agreement - USSR agreed to not interfere in Greece where the British were attempting to prevent the Communists taking over.
• Consequences of Yalta

  Document was interpreted differently by 3 leaders, especially about Poland - could have raised tensions

  Germany and Berlin divided into four zones

  Stalin was allowed to control Poland

  Poland fell under Soviet power
• Importance of Yalta and how it changed Cold War relations


  Didn't agree to everything but able to negotiate some issues

  Laid groundwork for division of Germany and establishment of UN

  Helped end WW2 but allies no longer bound by common enemy, uneasy alliance of USA and USSR wouldn't endure
• Origins of Potsdam Conference

  3 months after Yalta : Hitler died, allied troops reached Berlin, Germany surrendered, war in Europe won

  2nd Conference was arranged in July 1945 but in the 5 months since Yalta, major changes happened which would have great effects.
• Effects after Yalta - Stalin's army occupying most of EE

  USSR liberated EE countries but kept his troop there

  By July Romania, Bulgaria, Poland etc.. were controlled and refugees fled these countries fearing Communist takeover

  Stalin set up Communist government in Poland, ignoring wishes of majority of the Polish

  UK + US protested but Stalin defended himself insisting his control of EE was a defensive measure against possible future attacks
• Effects after Yalta - America had a new President

  12th April 1945 - Roosevelt died and replaced by Truman

  Truman was more anti Communist + very suspicious of Stalin

  Truman and his advisors saw Soviet actions in EE as preparations for a Soviet takeover of the rest of Europe
• Effects after Yalta - USA developed Atomic Bomb


  The Americans had developed and successfully tested a new weapon of terrible and tremendous power and it would affect the future of relations between superpowers.
• Potsdam Conference

  17th July 1945

  Potsdam, suburb of Berlin, Germany

  Truman, Attlee, Stalin
• What was decided at Potsdam

  Finally went underway on 17th July 1945

  Didn't go as smoothly as Yalta

  In July election in UK, Churchill replaced by Attlee halfway through the conference. In the absence of Churchill, the conference was dominated by rivalry + suspicion between Stalin and Truman.

  Number of issues arose but neither side seemed to be able to appreciate each other's point of views

  Barely anything was agreed on
• Potsdam disagreements - what do do with Germany

  Although they agreed about dividing Germany into 4 zones, Stalin wanted to cripple Germany completely to protect USSR against future threats

  Truman didn't want to repeat the mistake of the Treaty of Versailles
• Potsdam disagreements - Reparations

  20 million Russians died in war - Stalin demanded 10 billion dollars compensation from Germany

  Truman was determined to not repeat mistakes made at end of WW1 and create a bitter, unstable Germany - so he resisted this demand
• Potsdam disagreements - Soviet policy in EE

  At Yalta, Stalin won agreement from Allies that he could set up pro Soviet governments in EE - he said that if majority of EE people are united, no one would dare move a finger against them.

  Stalin saw this as away to protect USSR from future attacks - Truman saw it as evidence that Stalin wanted to build a Soviet empire in Europe

  Truman adopted a 'get tough' attitude towards Stalin
• Importance of Potsdam + how did it affect Cold War relations

  Made decisions regarding Germany division, punishment of war criminals, establishment of democratic governments in EE

  Division of Germany into East and West ,with USSR controlling East and USA controlling West ,created a clear divide and heightened tensions between the superpowers

  Potsdam played a crucial role in shaping post war world and influencing dynamics of the Cold War
• Atomic Bomb


  As the Potsdam Conference approached, the USA was close to developing an effective atomic bomb.
• 1st successful test

  The 1st successful test of the atomic bomb took place on 16th July 1945, the day before the Potsdam Conference officially opened

  The story of the bomb shows the mistrust which was developing between the 2 sides

  The atom bomb was developed in complete secrecy
• Truman telling Stalin

  Truman, knowing that he had a weapon that worked, told Stalin

  However, Stalin already knew about it as his spies have been keeping him informed since 1942
• How did the atom bomb create tensions?

  Stalin was told about it by his spies, not officially by Truman

  Atom bomb gave power to countries and made them feel threatened by each other and a nuclear war

  Shows mistrust and secrecy between superpowers

  They also disagreed over: Germany, reparations and Soviet policy in EE
• Hiroshima and Nagasaki

  Japan refused to surrender to USA

  6th August 1945 - US dropped 1st weapon on Hiroshima then on the 9th August 1945 - 2nd attack on Nagasaki

  The devastation showed the horrific power of this new weapon
• Why did Truman drop the bomb?

  He wanted to end WW2 quickly in the Pacific

  Make Japan surrender so they don't need Soviet troops in Pacific

  Sent messages to USSR about their capabilities

  Save American lives

  Warning to Stalin

  Debate whether US is justified by dropping it at that time
• Consequences of atomic bomb

  75000 killed instantly and thousands died from radiation poisoning in years that follow - Truman justified it as a way to save lives that would have been lost in a prolonged war

  Forced Japan to surrender - ended war

  Enemy had changed for US - now USSR
• Consequences of Atomic Bomb

  Long term - increased risk of cancer and health issues for survivors and descendants

  Had lasting impact on international relations as it marked beginning of nuclear arms race between USA and USSR

  Heightened tensions during cold war (said to have started it) and shaped global politics for decades to come
• Allies falling out in 1945:

  Potsdam ended without agreement on issues like EE but Stalin didn't wait - in a few months he achieved the domination of EE he desired

  No more common enemies for allies - Roosevelt died, Truman came - more anti communist and suspicious of Stalin - Atlee became UK PM

  Disputes over territories and influence in EE - USSR wanted to establish Communism which US and allies opposed
• Allies falling out in 1945


  Different ways to handle Germany - USSR wanted to weaken Germany to prevent future aggression while US and allies believed in rebuilding a strong and democratic Germany

  Ideological and politic divide along with territorial disputes and differing economic systems led to a breakdown in trust and cooperation between allies

  US and USSR had conflicting visions for post war world with US supporting democracy and capitalism while USSR leaned towards Communism
• Reason for Atomic Bomb

  Communism vs Capitalism was the most important reason due to 2 powerful emerging countries threatening each other and disrupted the power balance which led to mistrust, secrecy and lack of communication between the allies.
• Iron Curtain and start of East/West rivalry

  By 1946 there was a clear division between EE(with countries falling under Stalin's control) and Western Europe(with governments fearful of further Communist advance).
• Iron Curtain and start of East/West rivalry


  Potsdam ended without complete agreement on major issues like EE, but Stalin didn't wait to implement his ideas. Over 9 months he achieved full domination of EE. By 1946 Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania all had Communist governments which owed loyalty to Stalin. Churchill described the border between Soviet controlled countries and the West as an 'Iron Curtain'. The name stuck and so did Stalin's control.
• Iron Curtain Daily Mail 6th March 1946 cartoon - what does it tell us?


  Europe is cut off from USSR

  Joseph Stalin is enemy

  Churchill spying on them so they can prepare - Stalin hiding everything and Churchill has to look to protect UK and Europe

  After the alliance, UK still got betrayed

  Behind the veil USSR is making progress and industrialization is happening

  Infer that the Curtain is raising tensions
• Iron Curtain cartoon - What doesn't it tell us?

  What's happened in the USSR and why are they hiding?

  Why weren't Stalin and Churchill allies anymore?
• Iron Curtain cartoon

  Daily Mail 6th March 1946

  
• Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe

  Communists in EE 1945 - 1948