The Cold War

ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR

• The Cold War was a 'war' involving the USA and the USSR in which no direct fighting actually occured between the two countries, but tensions were very high. 
• The USA and the USSR in 1945 were two very different countries with very different beliefs.
• USA = CAPITALIST 
• USSR = COMMUNIST

Why did the alliance break down between the USSR, USA and the UK?

• Great Britain and USSR hated Germany.
• Germany defeated - no common enemy to fear.
• West intervened with Whites in Russian Civil War.
• The West ignored requests by Stalin for a union in the 1930s - hoping a war would take place between communist Russia and fascist Germany.
• Stalin felt the West delayed their role in the Eastern Front against Germany - leaving it up to Russia to do most of the fighting.

The Yalta Conference, February 1945

• By Feb 1945, it was clear Germany was losing…