Cold War

• Tehran Conference (1943)

  • Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin
  • A second front would be opened in France in 1944
  • The Soviet Union would declare war on Japan once Germany was defeated.
  • Poland's border would be moved westwards.
  • The UN would be established to resolve issues between countries.
• The Grand Alliance (1941)

  An alliance between the USA, the UK, and USSR. It was formed mostly out of mutual convenience when fighting the common enemy of Nazi Germany in WW2.
• Yalta Conference (February 1945):

  • Germany, once defeated, would be divided and demilitarised.
  • Germany would pay $23 billion in reparations to the allies.
  • Europe would be rebuilt along the lines of the Atlantic Charter. Countries would have free elections.
  • The UN would be founded.
  • Once Germany was defeated, Russia would declare war on Japan.
  • Poland would be in the 'Soviet sphere of influence' but be governed on a democratic basis.
• Potsdam Conference (July 1945):

  • Attlee, Truman and Stalin
  • A Council of Foreign Ministers was set up to oversee the rebuilding of Europe.The Nazi Party was banned and war criminals were to be prosecuted.Germany was to be divided up into four zones of occupation governed by Britain, France, the Soviet Union and the USA.Berlin would also be divided up into four zones of occupation.The Soviet Union would receive 23% of the output from the other zones.
• The Grand Alliance breaks down (April 1945):

  When Roosevelt died, the Grand Alliance began to break down. Roosevelt's successor, Truman, was very distrustful of the Soviet Union and at the Potsdam conference, showed hostility towards Stalin. Britain, having ended the war on the winning side, was economically exhausted and could not afford to stand up to Stalin, and instead chose to ally with the US. Therefore, the cold war became increasingly about the relationship between America and Russia.
• Czechoslovakia becomes communist (1946):

  In 1946, the communist party was forcefully elected into power in Czechoslovakia and Klement Gottwald, the leader of the communist party, was forced to decline the Marshall plan. Because of this, many Czechoslovakians became envious of the economic aid neighboring countries were receiving, and grew resentful of their communist overlords.
• The Long Telegram (1946):

  George Kennan, who was the USA's Deputy Chief of Mission at the US embassy in Moscow, grew suspicious of the aggressive Soviet Union. He sent a telegram in which he recommended firm action against the increasing influence of the Soviets. This greatly influenced Truman's policies, particularly the policy of containment, which stated that the USA would use its global influence and military strength to prevent the spread of communism.
• Iron Curtain Speech (March 1946):

  Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech highlighted the divide by claiming that 'an iron curtain has descended across Europe'. Churchill was strongly opposed to communism.
• The Long Telegram (September 1946):

  This was a retaliation to the Long telegram and was written by Nikolai Novikov, who was the Soviet ambassador to the USA. In the telegram, he accused the USA of trying to achieve world dominance.
• Bizonia formed (1947):

  In 1947, the USA and British zones in Berlin formed a merged economic unit, known as Bizonia. Berlin was surrounded by Soviet-controlled East Germany, but was still accessible by road, rail, air and canal. Stalin did not want the Allies in Berlin and this led to the first major crisis of the Cold War: The Berlin Crisis.
• Hungary becomes communist (1947):

  Following WW2, the USSR had integrated Hungary into the Eastern Bloc and installed an unpopular communist tyranny. Hungary could only trade with the Soviet Union. Rakosi used terror and brutality to keep control, killing an estimated 2000 people. There was a low standard of living, food shortages and frustrated workers because the goods they manufactured were sent to the USSR. There was much-dreaded secret police that was involved in people's lives.
• Containment introduced (1947):

  This was because the USA, especially Truman, believed that the USSR was trying to spread communism and feared the Domino theory, which was the idea that, if one country in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow.
• Truman Doctrine (1947):

  Truman delivered a speech, announcing his support for Greece and accentuated that he believed that it was the USA's duty to prevent the spread of communism in Eastern Europe. To achieve this, he was prepared to use the USA's political influence and military strength.
• Cominform (1947):

  • Cominform stood for the Communist Information Bureau and was founded by Stalin with the objective to govern all communist parties in Europe.
  • Cominform:
  • Encouraged communist parties in Western countries to block Marshall Plan assistance.
  • Got rid of any opposition to the Soviet Union's rule in satellite states.
• Stalin sets up the Satellite States (1948):

  They decided to expand their influence on Eastern Europe, as they desired security, heightened by the fact that they had suffered vast casualties in two invasions from Germany in the 20th century. Stalin was determined to prevent another invasion from the West and so, by 1948, he had set up Soviet-controlled satellite states all across Eastern Europe. He did this by rigging elections in Eastern European countries, ensuring that the communist party was able to seize power.
• Marshall Aid (1948):

  George Marshall reported the dire economic situation in Europe, where there were economic shortages, unemployment and poverty, as a result of WW2. Truman feared that communism would win support in countries with such conditions. Therefore, he introduced an economic aid plan that aimed to prevent the spread of communism and increase support for the Capitalist west. By 1953, the USA had provided $17 billion worth of economic aid.
• The Berlin Blockade (1948):

  On 24 June 1948, Stalin accused the West of interfering in the Soviet zone and blockaded land access to Berlin, in an attempt to starve West Berlin. Truman, determined to stand up to Stalin, sanctioned the Berlin airlift, which involved resources being supplied into Berlin by air. By April 1949, nearly 13,000 tons of supplies were being airlifted daily.
• The Soviets develop their own atomic bomb (1949):

  By 1949, the Soviets had successfully developed and tested their own atomic bomb. This was earlier than the USA expected. Now that both powers had nuclear capabilities, there was increased spending devoted to the development of larger and more dangerous bombs.
• Comecon (1949):

  • Comecon stood for the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance. Stalin established it as an alternative to the Marshall Plan. The countries included...Soviet UnionBulgariaCzechoslovakiaHungaryPolandAlbaniaEast Germany... and promised to:Build up trade links between Comecon countries.Prevent Comecon countries form signing up to the Marshall Plan.

  Jun 24, 1948, Berlin Blockade
• NATO (1949):

  The Berlin Crisis had confirmed the USA's commitment to Western Europe and the victory had showcased their superiority in strength compared to the Soviets. In April 1949, NATO, which was a formal military alliance with the aim of protecting the freedom and security of member states by preventing Soviet expansion, was formed.
• End of the Berlin Blockade (1949):

  In May 1949, Stalin lifted the blockade, conceding that he couldn't prevent the creation of West Germany. There was increased East-West rivalry. Truman saw West Berlin's survival and triumph over the USSR as a great victory and Stalin was left humiliated. In May 1949, the Allies announced the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany. In retaliation, in October 1949, Stalin announced the German Democratic Republic, thus confirming the separation of Germany. The crisis also led to NATO.
• In what year did Eisenhower succeed Truman?

  1953
• The Hydrogen Bomb (1953):

  In 1953, the USA successfully completed tests of a hydrogen bomb. A few months later, the Soviets completed the same feat. Despite the hope that arms development would slow down, over the next years, both superpowers continued their development of even more powerful military weapons. It became clear that Mutually Assured Destruction would occur in the event of a war between the two sides.
• Imre Nagy comes to power (1953):

  When Georgy Malenkov replaced Stalin in 1953, he replaced Rakosi with Imre Nagy, showing the power the USSR had over Hungary. Nagy promised freedom of the press, freedom of speech on economic and political matters, free elections, and withdrawal from the Warsaw pact.
• In what year did Stalin die?

  1953
• Nagy replaced (1955):

  Nagy was removed and Rakosi's dictatorship returned. The Hungarians were historically imperial powers and so were very proud people. This made them very reluctant to accept Soviet rule.
• The Warsaw Pact (1955):

  In 1955, the Soviet Union set up the Warsaw Pact, which was a military alliance of eight nations and was designed to unite communist Eastern Bloc nations, countering the threat of NATO. The Warsaw Pact gave the Soviet Union direct control over the armed forces of its satellite states, thus strengthening its grip on Eastern Europe The existence of these two rival military alliances led to increased tension and rivalry, as well as the division of Europe and the intensification of the Arms race.
• Destalinisation (1956):

  In 1956, Khrushchev delivered a secret speech, in which he discussed Stalin's crimes for the first time, beginning a process of de-Stalinisation, which included various policies, such as: 

  • The disbanding of the Cominform.
  • The releasing of political prisoners.
  • The re-inclusion of Tito.
  • The dismissal of foriegn minister Molotov.
  • Eastern Bloc countries were allowed greater independence.
• The Hungarian Uprising (1956):

  In October 1956, Khrushchev sent troops and tanks to Budapest to suppress the unrest and restore peace. On 26 October, Nagy was reinstated as prime minister. On 30 October, Nagy released some political prisoners. On 31 October, Nagy's controversial reforms were published, notably the intention to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact. On 4 November, Khrushchev decided that Nagy had gone too far and 200,000 Soviet troops and 6000 tanks returned to Hungary.
• International Reaction to the Hungarian Uprising (1956):

  • The UN condemned Soviet actions. Some boycotted the 1956 Olympics in protest, but stronger actions did not happen. 
  • The USA supported Hungary's uprising with money, medical aid, and words. The USA accepted 80,000 refugees from Hungary but did not offer military aid. 
  • Satellite states saw that the USA would not defend them against the Soviet Union. Soviet control retightened across Eastern Europe.
• Novotny becomes the leader of Czechoslovakia (1957):

  Antonin Novotny became the Czech leader. He was extremely unpopular because he was a hardline communist, who refused reform. During the 1960s, the Czech economy fell into serious decline. As a result, many Czechoslovakians had low standards of living and led very controlled lives; they lacked even the most basic freedoms. The secret police was also a source of mass resentment. There was mass discontent with de-Stalinisation and central control. Many Czechs began to demand greater democracy.
• Sputnik (1957):

  In 1957, The Soviets launched Sputnik, a satellite that could orbit the Earth in one and a half hours. The USA saw this as a military threat and increased its spending on missiles. They also placed missile bases in European countries. Sputnik accelerated the arms race as the USA feared that the USSR was overtaking them.
• In what year was Imre Nagy executed?

  1958
• The Berlin Ultimatum (1958):

  In 1958, Khrushchev issued the Berlin Ultimatum, in which he accused the Allies of violating the Potsdam agreement. He demanded that they leave Berlin within six months. US president, Dwight Eisenhower, did not want to risk a war, and so was prepared to negotiate. The USA didn't formally recognize the existence of East Germany and wanted to reunify Germany. As a result, East Berliners grew resentful of the USSR and relations with the West worsened.
• Castro seizes power in Cuba (1959):

  In 1959, Fidel Castro led a successful revolution against the unpopular and repressive military dictatorship of General Batista, who was under the influence of the USA. Castro promised and delivered on bringing greater independence from the USA. He took all American property located in Cuba and removed all US political influence. Castro signed a trade agreement with the USSR, trading their sugar for machinery and oil.
• Geneva Summit (1959):

  The summit involved foreign representatives only. Whilst no solutions were agreed upon, a further meeting was arranged for Camp David in the USA.
• Camp David Summit (1959):

  Involved Eisenhower and Khrushchev. Whilst disarmament was discussed, no solutions were agreed but a further meeting was arranged in Paris.
• Paris Summit (1960):

  Khrushchev and Eisenhower were set to meet but 9 days before the scheduled date, the Soviet Union announced that it shot down an American U-2 spy plane flying over the USSR's territory. Khrushchev demanded that all such flights be canceled and demanded an apology. However, Eisenhower refused to take ownership of the incident, storming out of the first meeting. This undid all of the diplomatic progress made between the USA and USSR in 1959 as superpower tensions once again increased.
• When did J.F. Kennedy come to power?

  1961
• Vienna Summit (1961):

  Involved Khrushchev and Kennedy.Neither was willing to back down. Khrushchev saw Kennedy's inexperience as a weakness and reissued his ultimatum for the USA to remove its troops from Berlin but this was refused.