Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Developing tensions up to 1948 - Coggle Diagram
Developing tensions up to 1948
The Greek Civil War and the Truman Doctrine on Containment, 12 March 1947
Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan = Real beginnings of Cold War and of US military and economic engagement in Western Europe.
-Fundamentally important from 1947
International relations would be founded upon division, each side suspicious of the other.
Truman Doctrine institutionalised this as the working basis of East-West relations for at least the next 25 years.
-Stalin had agreed Greece remain in Western sphere of influence
-Civil war between monarchists and Greek communists after liberation December 1944
-1946 Stalin allows Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania to help Greek communists
-Britain had been providing aid to the anti-communist forces but Feb 1947 no longer available, appealed to US
Increased US involvement in Europe
-$13 billion from congress
Britain received $3 billion
1948-1952 economic growth and stopped the spread of communism
Fuel, raw materials, goods, loans and food
Increased Soviet control, E European states that expressed interest ordered t reverse decisions, stopping states getting closer to western democracy
Accelerated division of europe and further undermined possibility of international relations being based on cooperation and consensus between east and west
Cominform, September 1947
Walked out of Paris Peace conference
USSR's response to truman doctrine and marshall plan
There was a certainty that the USA were now forming an anti soviet US led global alliance
Purpose was to unite and coordinate role and actions of communist groups throughout Europe so that the communist parties functioned as a united whole under the direction of Moscow
Kennan’s ‘Long Telegram’ and Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech
George Kennan 8000 word
Hated communism and Soviet gov, lived in Moscow since 1933. FORMED BASIS OF AMERICAN POLICY TOWARDS RUSSIA.
Feb 1946 State Department cabled US Moscow Embassy and asked for analysis on number of things such as how Soviets viewed [post war world and what they would do
emphasised that the USSR viewed the west as hostile and menacing. Argued that the US must be prepared to threaten the use of force and ensure unity among allies. Proactive role in Europe
Fundamental in shaping of US policy towards the Soviet Union and ultimately determining USA's role as a global power
Containment
IRON CURTAIN SPEECH
-5th March 1946 Churchill not PM. American audience in Missouri, trying to stop USA's complacency
The Soviet Union and Eastern and Southern Europe, 1945-1948
1945-Influence rather than expansion aim
Committed to power before ideology
Level of commitment and loyaty gave power
Buffer Zone in 1948
Poland Hungary Bulgaria romania and Czechoslovakia had pro soviet communist regimes in place
Already some support, not all elections manipulated e.g. Czechoslovakia communist party won largest vote-38% May 1946
Romania, alternative to pre war regime and red army occupied
Had to stay loyal to Moscow to survive
One by one E sttes gradually brought into Stalinist fold
Allying with other political groups to challenge power, political opponents arrested and elections rigged
Communists weakened Peasant party by strengtening links with Polish socialists. Jan 1947 merged and communists became dominantgroup within merger. Deputy Prime minister Gomulka not fully pro-Moscow. Against Sviet policies and said poland fought for liberation. In 1948 accused of nationalist deviation and replaced
Hungary-not degree of loyalty to Moscow wanted 1949 leader executed and all political opposition to Moscow backed Hungarian communists had disappeared
Yalta and percentage agreement-E Europe in soviet sphere of influence and states USSR liberated