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Origins of the cold war: 1945-1949 - Coggle Diagram
Origins of the cold war: 1945-1949
US, British and USSR relations
Conflicting ideologies
US and Britain democratic/capitalist. USSR communist/socialist
Different aims for post war Europe
USSR
Security. Reparations from Germany (as most affected by WW2). Keep Poland and give Poland some German territory. Integrate Baltic provinces into the USSR. Pro-USSR Eastern governments. Eastern zone-intermediate zone- Western zone of influence.
US
Large free trade are with no tariffs or economic nationalism. Democratic Europe. Decolonisation of European Empires. Atlantic Charter - August 1941- foundation of the UN.
Britain
Survival of empire. Friendly terms with both nations. Security in Suez canal and democratic Poland. Democracy in Europe
Moscow Conference - October 1943
Meeting of foreign ministers.
Established European Advisory commission - to finalise post war occupation of Germany
Issued 'declaration on general security' proposing organisation for global peace.
Tehran Conference - November to December 1943
Decision and launch of 'operation overlord' to liberate Europe.
Russia wanted to liberate E Europe and SE Europe alone.
Poland compensated for territory lost
Liberation of Europe and ACC's
Allied control commissions set up in previously occupied territories until elections could take place. ACC's ran alongside governments. Provided source of tension and uncooperation
GB and US set up ACC's in Italy in 1943. USSR had no troops in Italy and so had no representation on the council
USSR dominated ACC's in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland (set up in 1944, Hungary in 1945)
Stalin advised local communist parties in liberated territories and this was eventually how communists seized power in many of the countries.
Lublin Committee: July 1944: Set up in occupied Poland to make it a satellite state. Put down Warsaw Uprising
Percentages Agreement October 1944
Churchill and Stalin discussed division of SE Europe into spheres of interest.
Britain 90% in Greece
USSR 90% in Romania and 75% in Bulgaria
Equal Yugoslavia and Hungary
Agreement dismissed by Churchill as didnt want to cause tension with thte US. Stalin continued to recognise GB interests.
Highlights determination to control Soviet expansion throughout Europe.
Relations
Relations going into Yalta and Potsdam/ Different aims
USSR/ Stalin
Soviet security
E.Europe within a soviet sphere of influence
Open co-operation with the West
Roosevelt/ US
Democratic Europe
Eradicate communism
International peacekeeping organisatiion
Free trade
Churchill/UK
Prevent soviet expansion
Protect interests of empire
Close alliance with the US to protect threats.
Democracy in Europe and free from Nazi rule
Britain and US wanted tp prevent soviet expansion but were willing to cooperate with Stalin. Big alliance
Yalta conference February 1945
Attended by Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. Represents high point of cooperation. To create plans of finishing the war in Europe and E Asia, lay foundations for peace.
Decided on the 4 occupation zones of Germany and Berlin.
Tensions at Yalta
Main disagreement was Poland. Soviets had liberated and set up Lublin Committee with the government in exile ready to return
Agreed on Establishment of the UN, Division of Germany, Free elections in Eastern Europe, Commission to look into reparations, substantial polish borders given to USSR.
West hoped that Stalin's promise to uphold free elections would reduce communists influence in government of Poland.
Potsdam Conference: July to August 1945
Truman, Atlee and Stalin
Main aims of denazification, demilitarisation and democratisation of Germany
Agreed on: Dividing and demilitarisation and disarmament of Germany, Reestablishment of democracy in Germany, Polish frontier to be moved west
Disagreed upon: Compensation and reparations. USSR wanted to cripple Germany, as they had been most affected by WW2. US and GB didn't want Germany reliant upon and draining their economies. Free elections. Did not enforce international cooperation, failed to address growing suspicion, ideological difference, personalities and war time alliances broke apart
US had first successful atomic bomb test day before, which gave Truman diplomatic leverage.
Developing tensions
The USSR in Eastern and Southern Europe
By 1948, a buffer zone between East and West was in place as Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia all had pro-soviet governments in place.
Poland
Lublin Committee set up in July 1944.
Provisional Government of national unity in June 1945. Parties from both ends of the spectrum
Stalin did not impose a communist government and appeared to allow free elections but with his desired outcome
Peasant party was weakened. Socialist and Peasant parties merged in January 1947 and communists dominated
Gomulka replaced in 1948
Romania
Red guards supported and so easy for Stalin to take over as little opposition
Bulgaria
manipulated elections and forced removal of opponents
October 1946 - Agrarian party won 20% of vote. Party absorbed into communists in April 1947 and all other parties banned
Hungary
Elections rigged for communists. Communists were loyal to Moscow and formed links with Yugoslavia
1949 leader executed and all opposition to moscow disappeared
Czechoslovakia
Communist leader accepted Western aid in 1947. Leader resigned in 1948, leaving pro-Moscow communists in complete control
Yugoslavia
Tito refused to conform to Stalin's policies. Expelled from cominform in 1948 - Accepted US aid as any enemy of the USSR was a friend of the US
Kennans Long Telegram
22 February 1946
8000 word telegram from US embassy official in Moscow; George Kennan
"malignant parasite" Saw USSR as aggressive and expansionist. Hard line approach needed.
Outlined
Soviet expansion an increased power
Wish to weaken the western influence and power
Soviet Union did not see possible to live with peaceful coexistence long term and the best strategy would be to contain expantions
Soviets would backdown against a show of force
Formed basis of US foreign policy for 25 years
Churchills' Iron Curtain Speech
5 March 1946, Fulton, Missouri
Direct attack on Soviet policies. Warned of Soviet Expansion and the need for Us intervention
"An Iron Curtain had decended on the continent"
Supported Long Telegram and backed up idea of need for US change in foreign policy
Greek Civil War
Monarchists vs communists. Monarchists supported by GB.
March 1946- Monarchists elected, and war restored by communists. GB could no longer afford to support monarchists by February 1947 and defence of greece taken over by US (Truman Doctrine)
Catalyst to change in US Foreign policy; to prevent Greece becoming a communist satellite state
50k died, 500k displaced. Communists aided by Stalin
Truman Doctrine
12 March 1946
Policy of containment. Announced in speech to congress, showing need for US intervention to stop spread of communism
Unofficial declaration of war on Soviet Union, that US wouldn't allow expansion
Basis of relations for 25 years. Demonised the USSR to the public and presented the US as protector
First step in creation of containment in US foreign policy- ACTUAL STEP.
Tensions with USSR
Further developing tensions
Marshall Plan
June 1947
Asked congress for $17 billion in aid, $13 billion given to European countries
Fuel, Raw materials, goods, loans, food, machinery, advisors etc
Britain main recipient - $3 billion. Offered to France, Netherlands, Italy, Wes Germany. Offered to all E European nations
Had huge effect as 1948 to 52 had huge economic growth
Stopped spread of communism by reducing nations reliance on the USSR and allowed to be self sufficient
Into effect April 1948
USSR saw it as interference and drove divisions between the 2
Cominform
September 1947
USSRs response to truman doctrine and marshall aid- thought US were forming an anti soviet alliance
All communists representatives summoned to meeting for the creation of the communist information bureau. Purpose to unite and coordinate soviet actions across europe under Moscow. Consolidate the Eastern Bloc
Stalin now saw 2 separate camps - east and west
Comecon 1949- economic organisation creating even further division of europe
US policy towards Britain and Europe
US did not initially see itself involved in the long run
July 1945- Acheson warned of instability in Europe and deterioration due to mass-starvation
1947 Clayton argued that without increased aid, Europe would experience disintergration.
US route into Europe was with Britain, which was politically stable and could do business with each other. US needed Birtain for influence and Britain needed US for international status
US attitudes to Germany and Berlin
Bizonia January 1947
Merging of British and US occupation zones of Germany
Reinforced that US wanted a clearly defined West Germany and unification of western bloc
Deutschmark introduced February 1948, activated June 1948. Marshall plan had showed that a strong economy in West Germany was vital.
London Conference, June 1948: reached conclusions that Germany should have its own consitituent assembly
US wanted to strengthen Germany for a united Western europe
Developments in the zones
Bizonia formed January 1947
reinforced that US wanted a clearly defined West Germany and economically stable europe
Deutschmark in June 1948: strengthened the economy as old reichsmark was devalued and russians printed too much money
Caused huge tension and uncooperation with the west, leading to berlin blockade
Berlin Blockade
June 1948- May 1949
First physical act of division
24th June 1948 (day after deutschmark) all rail and road links to West Berlin were blocked in an aim to oust western powers. West did not use military force. Showed breakdown in relations and divisions over Germany
West responded with the Berlin Airlift: 1300 flights a day delivering 4000 tonnes of fuel and aid.
needed to stop berlin collapsing and keep it running. Old C-47 planes used. Response showed that there couldnt be eastern control over the west
East and West Germany
FRG: West Germany: Federal Republic of Germany
GDR: East Germany: German Democratic republic
Officially formed in October 1949. Highlighted division and differences between East and West in the running of ideas over Germany
2 separate states established in June 1948, with a western constitution created in 1949.
NATO
Formed April 1949: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Convinced US of need to commit to defence of Western Europe. Western European military alliance
Military assisstance, peaceful means of dealing with issues. NATO gave the US a regional organisation that would assist containment, prevent spread of soviet influence through the united west
Soviet Response: Saw it as an aggressive organisation designed to pressurise states into complying with the west. Relations between East and West entered a new phase of hostility and highlighted a divide between East and Western Bloc