Origins of the Cold War

• Stalin becomes leader of the USSR.
• Ruthless, manipulative and effective administrator.
• Obsessed with protecting own power.
• Suspicious of west and wanted to protect Soviet territory from them.
• Wanted to ensure Eastern Europe was part of Soviet Sphere of Influence after the loss of 27m during WWII.
• Particularly concerned with Poland and Germany which he didn't want to re-emerge as a military threat.
• Pragmatist and wanted to cooperate with West.

• Roosevelt (Democrat) becomes President of The USA.
• Willing to directly negotiate with Stalin during WWII to defeat Nazi Germany- optimistic this would continue after war but misread Stalin's intentions and underestimated the security needs of the Soviets.
• Wanted cooperation but also wanted democracy in Eastern Europe.
• International Affairs go through UN.

• Churchill (Conservative) becomes Prime Minister in Britain with Atlee as Deputy.
• Anti-Communist but worked with Soviets against Nazi Germany.
• Established a working relationship based on respect with Stalin but didn't trust him as convinced he intended to expand Soviet power in post war Europe.
• Wanted pro-West Polish government and a close alliance with US.

• Katyn Massacre:
• The USA didn't like Soviet incidents like this. (Potsdam).
• 10000 Polish officers murdered by the Soviets.

• The Atlantic Charter:
• Joint declaration between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill that was a statement of liberal principles which postwar international statements were based on.
• Roosevelt aimed for free trade, the UN and national boundaries to be drawn in accordance to local population.

• The Tehran Conference:
• Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt met together in Tehran in Iran with a common aim to defeat Nazi Germany.
• Roosevelt recognised Soviets need for lend-lease and second front (1944).
• Stalin though that West wanted Russia and Germany to destroy each other to rid Europe of communism and fascism.
• R tried to appease S and compromise over Poland and Germany but there were strains in the relationship and disagreements over:
• The Second Front- US/UK refusal to do so until the time was right left Stalin suspicious of their motives.
• Poland- Issues over borders and government.

• Truman becomes Vice President.

• Britain and the USA delay launching the Second Front- Leads to mistrust at Potsdam.

• The Percentage Agreement:
• An effort to limit the influence of the USSR and uphold Britain's. (Greek Civil war)
• Churchill referred to it as the naughty document.
• Roosevelt disliked as went against his principles of democracy and freedom of all nations.

• The Greek Civil War:
• Between royal government (British forces) and communists.
• Staling did not become directly involved to help the communists due to the percentage agreement (agreed that B would have 90% of Greece)- Yugoslavia and Albanian governments sent aid which was regarded at Soviet expansion.
• Britain faced a crisis in January 1947 due to: Unrest in India, Palestine and Egypt, need of large amounts of troops in Germany,The Middle East, Italy and Asia, B govt owed £3bn in debt for WWII, post war loan from USA was £3.75bn and Britain was facing a severe winter (46-7).
• Feb 47- B informed US that financial and military aid to Turkey and Greece would end by the 31st March 1947.

• Churchill and Roosevelt's leaderships end.

• Yalta Conference:
• The Big Three leaders attended to discuss the end of the war but have different priorities. The Declaration of Liberated Europe published at the end of the conference.
• Tensions over delay in the second front and Soviet forces advancing into Eastern Europe and occupying Poland in August 1944.
• Germany, Berlin and Austria- divided amongst USSR, B, US and F. USSR are allowed sphere of influence. No agreement over Germany and how it would be economically/politically structured. Agreed to put Nazi war criminals on trial.
• The UN- Roosevelt obtained agreement to establish UN with intention to promote peace with collective security.
• Free elections in Eastern Europe- Roosevelt persuaded Stalin and Churchill to agree and commit to assist liberated states and set up interim govts. Declaration of Liberated Europe.
• Poland- difficult as only ambiguous compromises made as Stalin wanted to maintain influence. Stalin reclaim territory and Poland would take land from N/W Germany and Democratic politicians would be involved in provisional govt and free elections held asap.
• Japan- Roosevelt wanted Stalin's help in the war and Stalin agreed in return for territoy nd economic rights in Manchuria.

• The USSR gained control of Romania with little opposition.
• Communism popular as offered alternative for pre-war regime.

• Truman (Democrat) replaces Roosevelt as President of the USA.
• Knew little about foreign affairs.
• Suspicious of Stalin and disliked the idea of working with him.
• Adopt a hard-line approach- Iron Fist.
• Wanted self determination and open economic system.
• Strongly criticised Soviet policy in Poland and abruptly ended the lend-lease programme ($50bn by 1945).

End of the War in Europe. 

• Atom Bomb:
• Scientists successfully tested the USA's atom bomb in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
• Truman informed of bigger potential than expected and ready to use immediately on Japan.

• Potsdam Conference:
• Issues of distrust, Poland, Germany and Reparations.
• Poland- Stalin reclaimed territory from Poland that had been taken by them as part of the Nazi-Soviet Pact. Soviets also handed Poland and West Germany up to the Oder-Neisse Line (5mil Germany expelled). Hoped to persuade Stalin to adopted a liberal approach in Poland.
• Germany- Disarmament and demilitarised, de-Nazification, freedom of speech/press restored. No long term plan so Allied Control Council established.
• Reparations- USSR stripped zone of raw materials and plant and Britain and USA wanted to build economy to pay for imported food and materials. Britain and USA gave USSR 25% of their reparations.
• Truman and Stalin failed to compromise and meet each others vital interests.

• Hiroshima and Nagasaki:
• The USA used an atom bomb to bomb two places in Japan.
• Aimed to:
• End war with Japan with minimal US casualties, stop Soviets joining up with Japan, Bargaining chip with Soviets, showed US military superiority.
• Stalin regarded as bluff that wouldn't be used in Europe and was now more determinded to build Soviet nuclear superiority.

• The USSR gained control of Albania with little opposition.

• Kennan's Long Telegram (Boloshoi speech):
• Provided an analysis of Soviet foreign policy and emphasised the role of communist ideology.This confirmed Truman's instinct to to provide stern resistance to communist expansion and marked a move towards containment.
• In response in Sept 1946 Niolai Novikov (Soviet Ambassador sent a telegram to Stalin arguing that after Roosevelt's death the USA had turned it back on co-operation and was preparing for war. Stated that US foreign policy was down to economic imperialism.

• Iron Curtain Speech:
• Churchill made a speech in Fulton, Missouri calling for Britain and The USA to form an alliance to prevent the spread of communism. Met with Truman's Iron Fist Approach.
• This was a warning to the USA that Eastern Europe was being threatened by Soviet domination (eg Poalnd).
• Convinced Stalin that USA and Britain were a threat to the Soviets- accused Churchill of being a warmonger and presented to the views that the Soviets wanted security.

• The USSR gained control of Bulgaria though manipulated elections and the removal of opponents.
• Executed Petkov who was leader of Peasants Party.

• Berlin Sectors:
• Spring 1946- Western Zones struggling with large population (22.5 million) due to refugees from Poland and Czechoslovakia. B concerned Soviets wanted influence over industrial Ruhr and disagreements over reparations.
• May 1946- General Clay (military govt of US zone) announced no further reparations would be made until an overall plan for Germany's economy was made- concerned about social/economic deprivation of population.
• January 1947- British and US zones join to form Bizonia and later became Trizonia with France. Opposed by Soviet Union.
• April 1947- Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers- USSR demanded new central administration- no firm decisions on the future of Germany.
• December 1947- London Conference of Foreign Ministers ended in arguments as Soviets accused B and the USA of violating Potsdam agreement. Western powers rejected Soviet proposals for forming a Germany govt to govern united Germany as scared would fall into hands of Soviets.
• February 1948- USA, Britain and France begin talks of a separate Western State.
• June 1948- Introduction of Deutsmark (new currency in the Western Sector) and plans for new West German states drawn up.

• The USSR gained control of Poland through the arrest of non communist leaders and the prevention of free multi-party elections.
• Communists merged with socialists to become dominant party.

• Britain inform the USA that their financial and military aid to Greece and Turkey would stop by the 31st March.

• The Truman Doctrine:
• In response to the situation in Greece Truman gave a speech to congress requesting $400m in aid for Greece and Turkey. US aid and military advisers were sent to Greece- committed US to conflict with the USSR.

• The Marshall Plan:
• General George Marshall (US Secretary of State) offered an aid package to Europe to settle the issue over Germany and restore European trade and bring employment.
• He was shocked by the devastation left in Western Europe after the war and so offered $13bn of assistance over 5 years to (48-52)to rebuild Europe. Offered to East and Soviets but rejected and regarded as Dollar Imperialism and copied through the Molotov Plan.
• Divided Europe into 2 hostile camps (East and West).
• USA did this to undermine communism, establish containment, for markets and due to Kennan.
• Offered to East and Soviets but rejected and regarded as Dollar Imperialism and copied through the Molotov Plan. Stalin encourage Eastern European countries to decline and this formed basis of Comecon.

• The USSR gained control of Hungary through the removal of other political groups (the Independent Smallholders Party) and opponents and rigged elections.

• The USSR gained control of Hungary through the removal of other political groups (the Independent Smallholders Party) and opponents and rigged elections.

• Cominform:
• Tightened Soviet control over Eastern Europe which co-ordinate policies of the communist parties in the satellite states.
• Soviet response to the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan.
• Yugoslavia didn't join as Tito refused to subordinate his foreign policy to Moscow- expelled in 1948 after Stalin accused them of political and ideological crimes.

• The USSR gained control of Czechoslovakia through coup d'etat.
• President Benes forced to resign and replaced by communist leader Jan Gottwald.
• Jan Maryk (foreign minister) 'fell' through the window in March 1948.

Stalin had successfully created a buffer zone of satellite states with friendly governments controlled by salami tactics. (RABPHC).

• Comecon:
• Provided economic assistance to Eastern European countries.

• The Berlin Blockade:
• Stalin used the excuse of the introduction of the Deutsmark to blockade Berlin by cutting off road and rail links and the supply of electricity from the East to the West.
• Agreed that US would transfer 60 B29s to East Anglia to act as a deterrent to the Soviets as it widely assumed that these carried atomic bombs.
• General Clay believed the withdrawal would threaten future democracy in Germany. The US and Britain decided Berlin could be supplied along 3 flight paths. By July they had managed to fly in an average of 2000 tonnes of food and raw materials a day but 5000 tonnes was needed (Operation Vittles).
• By April 49 8000 tonnes were being delivered and as a consequence in May Stalin was forced to back down and an agreement was reached to end the blockade.
• In mid winter of 1949 the daily tonnage hit 5620 tonnes (8000 in April) and by May the amount of tonnes had reached 2.3 million. This caused Stalin to have to cut his losses and agree to end the blockade.
• Demonstrated US commitment to Europe and fighting against communism.
• Stalin recognised he couldn't stop the division of Europe.

• The Berlin Blockade:
• Stalin used the excuse of the introduction of the Deutsmark to blockade Berlin by cutting off road and rail links and the supply of electricity from the East to the West.
• Agreed that US would transfer 60 B29s to East Anglia to act as a deterrent to the Soviets as it widely assumed that these carried atomic bombs.
• General Clay believed the withdrawal would threaten future democracy in Germany. The US and Britain decided Berlin could be supplied along 3 flight paths. By July they had managed to fly in an average of 2000 tonnes of food and raw materials a day but 5000 tonnes was needed (Operation Vittles).
• By April 49 8000 tonnes were being delivered and as a consequence in May Stalin was forced to back down and an agreement was reached to end the blockade.
• In mid winter of 1949 the daily tonnage hit 5620 tonnes (8000 in April) and by May the amount of tonnes had reached 2.3 million. This caused Stalin to have to cut his losses and agree to end the blockade.
• Demonstrated US commitment to Europe and fighting against communism.
• Stalin recognised he couldn't stop the division of Europe.

• The Berlin Blockade:
• Stalin used the excuse of the introduction of the Deutsmark to blockade Berlin by cutting off road and rail links and the supply of electricity from the East to the West.
• Agreed that US would transfer 60 B29s to East Anglia to act as a deterrent to the Soviets as it widely assumed that these carried atomic bombs.
• General Clay believed the withdrawal would threaten future democracy in Germany. The US and Britain decided Berlin could be supplied along 3 flight paths. By July they had managed to fly in an average of 2000 tonnes of food and raw materials a day but 5000 tonnes was needed (Operation Vittles).
• By April 49 8000 tonnes were being delivered and as a consequence in May Stalin was forced to back down and an agreement was reached to end the blockade.
• In mid winter of 1949 the daily tonnage hit 5620 tonnes (8000 in April) and by May the amount of tonnes had reached 2.3 million. This caused Stalin to have to cut his losses and agree to end the blockade.
• Demonstrated US commitment to Europe and fighting against communism.
• Stalin recognised he couldn't stop the division of Europe.

• The Formation of NATO:
• The North Atlantic Treaty was established by the USA and committed them to military alliance with Europe.
• Stalin regarded it as an military aggressive move from USA and a provocative action.

• The FRG (Federal Republic of Germany) was formed. (USSR)

• The GDR (German Democratic Republic) was formed. (West)