Cold War: Division of Germany

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Questions and Answers

When was the ceasefire agreement signed between the UN forces and North Korea?

July 1953 (correct)

1954

1955

1952

Who was the young Vietnamese nationalist leader who asked for help from the Communists?

Ho Chi

Minh Chi

Ho Chi Minh (correct)

Eisenhower

What happened to Vietnam after the Japanese left in 1945?

It was occupied by the US

France reclaimed its territory (correct)

It was divided into two parts

It gained independence

What was the assumption that President Eisenhower believed in?

The domino theory Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Americans increase their military presence in South Vietnam?

To provide aid to the South Vietnamese government Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of the Geneva conference in 1954?

Vietnam was divided into two parts Signup and view all the answers

What was the main concern of the Americans regarding Vietnam?

The spread of communism Signup and view all the answers

Who surrendered to Ho Chi Minh's forces in 1954?

The French Signup and view all the answers

What was the number of zones Germany was divided into after World War II?

Four Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Soviets prevent the creation of a West German government?

To maintain control over West Berlin Signup and view all the answers

How did the Americans and British respond to the Soviet blockade?

They transported food and supplies through airplanes Signup and view all the answers

When was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed?

April 1949 Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of the West in creating a West German government?

To create a buffer against Soviet expansion Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Soviet blockade?

The blockade was lifted and the West continued to supply West Berlin Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic that defines the Third World countries?

Low gross national income and poverty Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following countries is NOT considered part of the Third World?

Japan Signup and view all the answers

What is the Human Development Index (HDI) a measure of?

Basic dimensions of human development Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of the Third World economies?

Immense dependence on economically stable countries Signup and view all the answers

What is the general location of the Third World countries?

In the tropics Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the military alliance formed by the United States and Canada with other European nations?

To provide mutual help when one of them was attacked Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the treaty organization formed by the Soviet Union in 1955 in response to the military alliance of United States and Canada?

Warsaw Pact Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the people in the Third World?

Low standard of living Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following countries was NOT a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)?

India Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO)?

To block the Soviet’s expansion in South Asia Signup and view all the answers

Who replaced Fulgencio Batista as the leader of Cuba in 1959?

Fidel Castro Signup and view all the answers

What was the response of the United States to the Soviet Union's support of Fidel Castro's government in Cuba?

The US supported a secret mission for Cuban exiles to revolt against Castro's government Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason behind the formation of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)?

To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following countries was a member of both the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO)?

Pakistan Signup and view all the answers

What event in 1964 led to the US involvement in the Vietnam War?

Attack of North Vietnamese patrol boats at the Gulf of Tonkin Signup and view all the answers

What was a major challenge faced by the American forces during the Vietnam War?

Fighting a guerrilla war in a jungle terrain Signup and view all the answers

Why did President Nixon agree to withdraw US forces from Vietnam in 1973?

Due to intense public pressure from anti-war movements Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Vietnam War in 1975?

Vietnam was reunited under the Northern Vietnamese government and became a Communist country Signup and view all the answers

Who coined the term 'Third World' during the Cold War?

Alfred Sauvy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following countries are classified as First World countries?

Those that are highly industrialized and aligned with the United States Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of Third World countries?

They are aligned with neither the United States nor the Soviet Union Signup and view all the answers

What is the main distinction between the First World and the Second World countries?

Their political ideology Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Division of Germany

After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones occupied by the Allies: the United States, Soviet Union, France, and Great Britain.
In 1948, Great Britain, France, and the United States planned to unite their zones to create a West German government, including West Berlin.
The Soviet Union opposed this idea and blocked West Berlin, leading to the Berlin Blockade, which caused starvation for 2.5 million people.
The United States and Great Britain responded with the Berlin Airlift, transporting food and supplies to West Berlin.
In May 1949, the Soviet Union lifted the blockade.

New Alliances During the Cold War

NATO (North-Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Formed in April 1949, NATO was a military alliance between the United States, Canada, and European nations (Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Norway, Luxembourg, Portugal, Denmark, and Iceland).
Member countries vowed to provide mutual help in case of an attack.

Warsaw Pact

Established in 1955, the Warsaw Treaty Organization (Warsaw Pact) was a military alliance between the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies (Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania).
Member countries vowed to support each other.

SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization)

Formed to limit the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, SEATO was an alliance between the United States, Great Britain, France, Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.

CENTO (Central Treaty Organization)

Formed to block Soviet expansion in South Asia, CENTO was an alliance between Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Great Britain, and the United States.

Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1959, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista was replaced by Fidel Castro, who was supported by the Soviet Union.
The United States supported a secret mission to revolt against Castro's government.

Vietnam War

Ho Chi Minh, a Vietnamese nationalist leader, asked for help from communists to gain independence from France.
After World War II, France tried to regain its territory, but Ho Chi Minh's communist forces defeated the French army in 1954.
The Geneva Conference divided Vietnam into North and South, with Ho Chi Minh's communist forces controlling the North.

Domino Theory

The Domino Theory assumed that if communism succeeded in Vietnam, other countries in Asia would also fall to communism.
This theory became a key aspect of US foreign policy during the Cold War.

The Three "Worlds"

The "Three Worlds" concept classified countries into three geopolitical groups during the Cold War.
The First World comprised highly industrialized capitalist nations aligned with the United States and Western Europe.
The Second World comprised communist countries aligned with the Soviet Union.
The Third World comprised non-aligned, less-industrialized nations, often colonized by foreign powers, with low gross national income and a low Human Development Index.

Characteristics of the Third World

Low gross national income, indicating high poverty rates and a lack of basic social services.
Dependence on economically stable and technologically advanced countries.
Low Human Development Index (HDI), which measures life expectancy, education, and standard of living.

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Description

Learn about the post-WWII division of Germany into four zones occupied by the Allies and the subsequent plans to create a West German government.