Origins of the Cold War

A Clash of Interests

• Even before World War II finished, signs of strain appeared in the wartime alliance between the US and the Soviet Union.
• President Roosevelt hoped victory over the Axis and the UN's creation would foster a more peaceful world.
• Instead, the US and the Soviet Union grew increasingly hostile after the war.

Soviet Security Concerns

• The Soviets aimed to keep Germany weak and control the countries between Germany and the Soviet Union.
• Tensions rose between the US and the Soviet Union because of differing goals.
• Soviet leaders were concerned about security as Germany had invaded Russia twice in under 30 years.
• Soviet leaders were communists
• They considered communism a superior economic system that would replace capitalism, and that the Soviet Union should promote communism internationally.
• Soviet leaders were suspicious of capitalist nations, seeing the possibility of capitalist countries attempting to destroy communism

American Economic Concerns

• American leaders focused on economic problems, while Soviet leaders focused on securing borders.
• Numerous American officials thought the Depression had caused World War II.
• Hitler would not have risen to power, and Japan would not have expanded its empire without it.
• When nations seal themselves off economically, they must go to war to get resources.
• By 1945, President Roosevelt and his advisers believed economic growth was crucial for world peace.
• They sought to foster economic growth by increasing world trade.
• American leaders thought democratic governments protecting people's rights made countries more stable and peaceful.
• The free enterprise system was considered the best path to prosperity.

The Yalta Conference

• In February 1945, Allied leaders Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met in Yalta to plan the postwar world.
• Stalin reaffirmed the Soviet pledge to enter the war against Japan after Germany's defeat.
• Agreements reached at Yalta later played a significant role in causing the Cold War.

Poland

• Polish government leaders fled to Britain after the German invasion.
• In 1944, Soviet troops drove back the Germans and entered Poland.
• Discussions at Yalta focused on Poland's future.
• As the Soviets liberated Poland from German control, they encouraged Polish Communists to form a new government.
• This resulted in two governments claiming the right to govern Poland: one Communist and one non-Communist.
• Churchill said that Poland should be free and sovereign
• Roosevelt and Churchill argued that Poles should freely choose their government and not have one imposed on them.
• Stalin said the Polish government had to be friendly to the Soviet Union and that it was "a matter of life and death."
• Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to recognize the Soviet-established Polish government, and Stalin agreed to include members of the prewar Polish government and hold free elections soon.
• After reaching a compromise on Poland, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin agreed to issue the Declaration of Liberated Europe.
• The declaration stated “the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they will live.”
• They would be allowed "to create democratic institutions of their own choice”
• They promised to create temporary governments that represented "all democratic elements”
• They agreed "the earliest possible establishment through free elections of governments responsive to the will of the people."

Dividing Germany

• Great Britain, the US, the Soviet Union, and France would each control one zone.
• The same four countries would also divide Berlin, despite being in the Soviet zone.
• After agreeing on liberating Europe, the conference centered on Germany and divided it into four zones.
• Stalin wanted to weaken Germany economically, despite being pleased with the decision to divide Germany.
• Stalin demanded heavy reparations from Germany for war damage.
• Roosevelt agreed, but insisted reparations be based on Germany's ability to pay.
• Stalin agreed to Germany paying reparations with trade goods and products instead of cash.
• The Allies could remove industrial machinery, railroad cars, and other equipment from Germany as reparations.
• Arguments about reparations and economic policy in Germany increased tension between the US and the Soviet Union, becoming a major cause of the Cold War.

Tensions Begin to Rise

• Two weeks after Yalta, the Soviets pressured the King of Romania into appointing a Communist government.
• The Yalta decisions shaped US expectations.
• The US accused the Soviets of violating the Declaration of Liberated Europe.
• The Soviets refused to allow more than three non-Communist Poles in the 18-member Polish government soon after this.
• There was no indication of planning free elections in Poland as promised.
• President Roosevelt informed the Soviets on April 1 that their actions in Poland were unacceptable.
• President Roosevelt died eleven days later, as Soviet-American relations declined, and Vice President Harry Truman took office.

Truman Takes Control

• The Allies defeated Germany and Japan in World War II.
• The beginnings of the Cold War will be examined here.

Not Making the Same Mistake

• Truman believed World War II started because Britain appeased Hitler.
• He was determined not to make the same mistake with Stalin.
• Truman was strongly anticommunist and suspicious of Stalin.
• During a meeting with Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov, Truman raised Poland and demanded Stalin keep his promise for free elections at Yalta.
• Molotov delivered the unexpectedly strong message back to Stalin.

Truman Concern

• Truman and Stalin met at Potsdam near Berlin to work out a deal on Germany.
• By July 1945, war against Japan was still ongoing.
• Truman believed a revived German economy was vital for Europe's recovery and to prevent Germans from turning to communism out of desperation.

Stalin Concern

• Stalin and his advisors believed they needed reparations from Germany because the war had devastated their economy.
• Soviet troops began stripping machinery and industrial equipment from Germany to use back home, but Stalin wanted Germany to pay more.
• There was much arguing over Germany; Soviets wanted more money by taking from the Germans, while the US wanted Germans to recover because it was essential to Europe.

Potsdam Conference

• Germany occupied much of northern France and its Atlantic coastline.
• Germany installed a puppet government in Vichy and appointed Marshal.
• Stalin disagreed with Truman's proposal.
• He had to accept the deal because of the possibility of the atomic bomb.
• American and British troops controlled Germany's industrial heartland, so the Soviets could only get reparations by cooperating.
• The Potsdam conference increased tensions between the Soviets and Americans, paving the way for the Cold War.

No More Compromise

• The Soviet army's presence in Eastern Europe ensured pro-Soviet Communist governments would be established in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.
• Although Truman won the argument over reparations, he had less success on other issues at Potsdam.
• The Soviets refused stronger commitments to uphold the Declaration of Liberated Europe.

Satellite Nations

• Eastern European Communist countries became known as satellite nations.
• They had to remain Communist and friendly to the Soviet Union, but were not under direct Soviet control.
• They had to follow policies approved by the Soviets.