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Book 4 Chapter 1: Reasons for the Cold War in Europe (Reasons for the Cold…
Book 4 Chapter 1: Reasons for the Cold War in Europe
Introduction
Occured immediately after WW2
1945-1989
Focused on the tension between the USA and Soviet Union.
Conflict manifested in Europe and in other parts of the world, such as Asia and Latin America.
Reasons for the Cold War
Before WW2
Ideological conflict between the USA and the Soviet Union
Communism vs. Capitalism
USSR: One-party communist state
Feared that the West was trying to
undermine their survival
.
Communist International (Comintern) founded in
March 1919
.
It was set-up in order to create an international Soviet republic.
Not afraid to use force.
USA: Democratic capitalist countries
Viewed Russia as
a threat
to their political and economic security and influence.
Feared that communism would
spread and cause more revolutions
.
Aided the anti-communist forces during the Russian Civil War.
During WW2
Perceived delay in opening a second front.
Pressured by Germany's continuous attacks
, Stain asked the Allies to open a second front in France.
USA and Britain
provided economic aid and military supplies
and invaded Italy in
1943
.
However the second front was only opened in
June 1944
during the D-Day landings.
USA wanted to ensure that
the likelihood of success was high
.
Caused Stalin to
distrust
the west.
Stalin also suspected that USA and Britain wanted Germany and the Soviet Union to destroy each other.
Stalin felt that the west did so in order to
reap maximum advantage
while
suffering from minimal loss
.
Disagreements during negotiations
for a post-war settlement
Yalta Conference
February 1945
Fate of Poland
West wanted Poland to be able to
hold free elections
to chose its own government.
Soviet Union wanted to
control Poland
.
To
prevent further attack
from other countries.
Fate of Germany
Soviet Union wanted to
weaken Germany
.
Prevent Germany from threatening them again.
West wanted to
revive Germany's economy
.
Believed that it was important for Europe's recovery.
Potsdam Conference
July 1945
.
Allies agreed that
Germany was to be split
into 4 zones of occupation.
There was difficulty in allocating the zones,
No agreement regarding
Germany's reparations
.
The political field of Eastern Europe and the extent of Soviet influence
remained undecided
.
Stalin wanted
pro-communist governments
to be established in those countries.
Fueled
more suspicions
between the 2 sides.
American nuclear monopoly
1st atomic bomb was developed by the USA
without Soviet knowledge
.
In
August 1945
, the bombs were used on Japan.
Showed the
military superiority
of the USA.
Truman hoped that it would give the USA
political leverage
.
The Soviet Union feared that the bomb would be
used to destroy communism
.
Triggered the arms race.
After WW2
Devastation of Europe & the rise of the superpowers
40 million people
died in Europe
Huge amounts of infrastructure and property, such as cities, factories and harbours were
nothing but rubble
.
Europe's agricultural and industrial output was
halved
.
Europe
required external
help to rebuild.
USA emerged
unscathed
with a
powerful economy and military
.
Soviet Union did not want to be surrounded by capitalists which would
threaten its survival and security
.
Soviet Union had established
a sphere of influence
in Eastern Europe.
USA feared that Soviet Union would
bring the whole of Europe under communism
.
This would make it
difficult for them to conduct normal relation
s with Europe.
Establishment of Soviet satellite states
The Soviets had liberated countries in Eastern Europe and set up communist governments there.
Albania
Bulgaria
Hungary
Poland
Romania
This was to
defend themselves
against any western aggression.
USA saw it as the Soviet Union
trying to spread communism
and
achieve world domination
.
American adoption of the containment policy
9 February 1946
, Stalin made a spoke about the conflict between capitalism and communism.
George Kennan, the deputy head of the American mission in Moscow, interpreted the speech as
hostile
.
Kennan's Long Telegram
justified the US policy
of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant contaiment' of Soviet expansion.
Around the same time, Churchill made his Iron Curtain speech which was a metaphor for the divide between the Soviet Union and Western Europe.
Truman Doctrine
March 1947
Marshall Plan
June 1947
Soviet Union set up the Cominform in
1947
.
Was the Cold War inevitable?
No
The West and Soviet Union were
allies during most of WW2
.
Stalin had signed the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact in
1939
.
Stalin was caught by surprise when Hitler invaded Soviet Union in
June 1941
Britain and Soviet Union formed a military alliance in
July 1941
.
Churchill wanted to make use of Russia's resources and manpower.
Soviet Union wanted to avoid defeat.
There were agreements during the Post War Conferences
Yalta Conference
February 1945
Agreed on how to
administer post-war Germany
.
Germany was split into 4 zones.
Nazi war criminals were to be brought to trial.
UN was set up to replace the League of Nations.
Potsdam Conference
July 1945
All Nazi influence would be removed and democratic ideals would be encouraged.
Polish Provisional Government of National Unity was recognised and free elections were to be held in Poland as soon as possible.
Manisfestations of the Cold War
Truman Doctrine
12 March 1947
Overview
Under the Truman Doctrine, the USA would
lend aid
(monetary and military) to
any nation that was threatened by communism
.
Reasons
Response to the Greek Civil War
Political
If Greece was lost, Turkey would be surrounded by
a sea of communism
.
If Turkey were to fall to the Soviet's, Greece would be
in danger
.
Losing the civil war would demoralise democratic countries, making them
more vulnerable to communism
.
Military
Winning the Greek Civil War would give them
military advantage
over the Soviet Union.
Losing would
strengthen the Soviet's ability to cut off Allied supplied and assistance
in the even of war.
To keep US engaged with the rest of the world
After WW1, the USA had followed
a policy of isolationalism
which
contributed to the slide
towards WW2
The USA wanted to avoid such repetition by pursuing
an active foreign policy
.
The doctrine was intended to
scare the American people
.
To contain Soviet expansion
The Soviets had
expanded their borders
West.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
1940
Poland
1939
Romania
By
1948
,
most of Eastern Europe
had communist governments.
Truman believed that Stalin was trying to spread communism throughout Europe.
The doctrine was meant to
warn the USSR
against any further attempts at expansion.
Impact
Limited effect on Greece
Communists in Greece were defeated
due to the actions of General Tito
, the communist leader of Yugoslavia.
Tito had been
allowing the Greek communists to enter Yugoslavia
and use it as a base for action.
However Tito had a falling-out with Stalin and
shut the border to Greek communists
, afraid that Stalin would use them against him.
The Greek communists were then
captured and destroyed
.
Intensified the Cold War
Truman believed that
no free nation would willingly turn communist
, ignoring the fact that Soviet Union faced difficulty reining in most other communist leaders.
The doctrine
declared Cold War
between the USA and Soviet Union.
Marshall Plan
July 1947
Overview
Meant to
rebuild and create stronger foundations
for the Allied countries in Europe.
US$13 billion was spent on economic and technical assistance in Europe.
Lend-lease agreements
American effort at restoring infrastructure and aiding refugees.
Reasons
To help Europe recover from the war
Most
major cities
had been damaged.
Warsaw
Berlin
London
Rotterdam
Industrial factories had been hit-hard.
By
1947
, there was still
little progress
.
There were
shortages
of all goods
Bread was still being rationed.
Due to the shortage of coal, electricity was turned off for a period each day during the winter of
1947
.
Hundreds in Germany froze to death from
1946 to 1947
.
To contain the Soviet Union
The USA feared that the
collapse of economies
would lead to
the spread of communism
.
Communist ideals were
already apparent in Italy and France
.
The communist parties in both countries had found significant electoral success in the postwar elections.
The French communist party became the largest single party in France.
Bolstering the Western European economies and governments would create
stable capitalist governments and reduce the attractiveness of communism
.
It was also hoped that some Eastern European nations would pull out of the Soviet bloc to join the Marshall Plan.
To increase US prosperity by ensuring markets for the US
Americans feared that the
financial troubles and unemployment
of the
1930s
would recur.
There was a need to
increase exports
and
ensure foreign markets
for US industries.
European recovery would
facilitate international trade
.
This would
create jobs
for the American workers.
Impact
Economic
Accelerated European recovery
Expenditure
Machines, vehicles, and equipment: US$1.9 billion
Fuel: US$1.6 billion
Imports of raw materials and semi-manufactured products :US$3.4 billion
Food, feed and fertilizer: US$3.2 billion
1948-1952
saw
the fastest period of growth
in European history.
Industrial production increased by 35%
Agricultural production substantially surpassed pre-war levels.
Poverty and starvation of the immediate postwar years disappeared as the standards of living increased dramatically.
Increased US prosperity by ensuring markets for the US
Political
Reduced communist influence and threat
It
reduced discontent
and brought political stability.
Popularity of the communist parties faded.
Western European integration
The Marshall Plan
mandated free trade
throughout the region.
The European Coal and Steel Community would eventually grow into he European Union.
European cooperation and Us engagement facilitated the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in
1949
.
Division of Europe
The Russians knew that there was
more to the Marshall aid than pure benevolence
.
Russian Foreign Minister Molotov denounced the whole idea as 'dollar imperialism'.
They believed it was a means to
gain control of Western Europe
as well as
interfere with Eastern Europe
.
In response, the USSR formed
the Communist Information Bureau (COMINFORM)
which was to oppose the expansion of American domination.
Coordinated the activities of the communists in Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, the USSR and Yugoslavia.
Berlin Blockade
Overview
In
1948
, both sides came dangerously close to war during the Berlin Blockade.
Reasons
Disagreements over the treatement of Germany
Stalin wanted to
destroy Germany's military capacity
and had been stripping East Germany of its wealth and machinery.
Allies wanted to
rebuild Germany as the economic centre
of a stable Europe so as to not repeat the mistake of the Treaty of Versailles.
The Soviets started
campaigns against American policy
and
obstructed the administrative work
of all four sectors.
Suspicions over American intentions
February 1947
, the US, British and French zones
combined to form Bizonia
.
The western zones
became more prosperous
while the Soviet zone
remained poor
.
This was
seen as a threat
to the USSR.
Stalin saw it as a means of
hindering the spread of communism
.
Thus Berlin became a focal point for both sides to align Europe with their respective visions.
The Berlin Blockade was set up to
stem the threat
of Bizonia.
Currency crisis
On
21 June 1948
, the Western powers
introduced Deutschmark
into their occupation zones.
The Soviets
refused to honour
the currency.
This caused East and West Germany to be
seperated economically
.
The presence of the Deutschmark in West Berlin risked
economic resurgence
deep within the Soviet zone.
The blockade was an attempt at
driving the Allies out of Berlin
.
Developments in Germany
In
1946
the Berlin public elected democratic members to the city council with an 86% majority.
It appeared as though any effort to reunite Germany would lead to
Soviet expulsion
.
Thus, Stalin felt the need to
stamp his authority
on Berlin.
Impact
Psychological boost
The Berlin airlift
showed the determination of the western powers
and became a symbol of communist resistance.
The airlift
removed any animosity
between the western Allies and the people of West Germany.
Political
Division of Germany
The western powers were convinced that
it would be impossible to re-unite the whole of Germany
.
West Germany became the Federal Republic of Germany (Democratic).
East Germany became the German Democratic Republic (Communist).
Germany remained divided until the fall of the of communism in East Germany
November-December 1989
.
In
early 1990
, the reunification of the two states was once again made possible.
Worsened tensions between the superpowers
West Berlin was viewed as
an oasis of democratic freedom
within a communist repression by the Americans.
The Soviets saw West Berlin as
an invasive cancer
growing in the workers' paradise.
The blockade showed
how suspicious they were of each other
and
how they would obstruct the other in any way possible
.
This established
a tense balance
between the superpowers.
Military
Formation of NATO and Warsaw
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
1949
USA
Canada
Britain
France
Belgium
The Netherlands
Luxembourg
Portugal
Denmark
Iceland
Italy
Norway
Members were to help anyone who is attacked.
Warsaw Pact
1955
USSR
Albania
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
East Germany
Hungary
Poland
Romania
Provided mutual defence with Soviet military units stationed in each satellite state.