The Cold War

• What is Capitalism?

  Capitalism is the belief that everyone should be free to own property and business and make money. The USA's economic ideology was capitalist. These countries also tend to be democratic (the people vote for their leaders)
• What is communism?

  Communism is the belief that all property, including homes and businesses should belong to the state, to ensure that every member of society gets a fair share. It's based off of the writings of Karl Marx.
• How did Albania become communist?

  In the year 1945 a communist government took power at the end of WW2.
• How did Bulgaria become communist?

  In the year 1946 the Bulgarian monarchy was abolished and later that year a communist government was elected and gradually eradicated its opponents.
• How did East Germany become communist?

  East Germany was part of the soviet zone of occupation agreed at the Yalta Conference, and in the year 1945 the Soviets set up a communist regime.
• How did Romania become communist?

  In the year 1945 the elections led to a communist led coalition government being elected. The communists gradually removed their coalition partners and abolished the Romanian monarchy.
• How did Poland become communist?

  Fearing that a non communist government would be elected in 1947, Stalin invited 16 non communist politicians to Moscow where they were arrested. With their political opponents removed, the Polish communists won the election.
• How did Hungary become communist?

  Although non communists won the election, a communist politician Rakosi, took control of the secret police and used it to arrest and execute his political opponents. By 1948 the communist party was in complete control of the country.
• How did Czechoslovakia become communist?

  In the 1948 elections only communists were allowed to stand, so a communist government was elected.
• What happened at the Tehran conference?

  The conference took place in November 1943, with Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt present. The USA and Britain agreed to open a Second Front by attacking Germany in Western Europe, which would take pressure off of the Soviets. Stalin also agreed to declare war on Japan once Germany were defeated. However, Churchill and Stalin disagreed on where to open the second front, and Churchill was worried that the Soviets would try to take over lots of Eastern Europe after the war.
• What happened at the Yalta conference?

  The conference took place in February 1945, with Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt present. It was agreed that Germany would be split into 4 zones after they were defeated, and they would pay $20 billion in reparations. However, Stalin wanted Poland to be pro communist, and Britain wanted Poland to be non communist.
• What happened at the Potsdam conference?

  The conference took place in 1945, with Clement Attlee, Harry Truman and Stalin. It was agreed that Germany would still be split into 4 zones, but also Berlin would be divided into 4 zones. However, Stalin was furious that the USA had not shared the technology of the atomic bomb with them.