Post-WWII Conferences & Cold War

• The Cold War involved the USSR, the USA, and the UK.
• USSR was led by Stalin, the USA by Roosevelt, and the UK by Churchill originally, then Attlee.

Origins

• Tehran Conference occurred in 1943.
• USSR would wage war against Japan once Germany was defeated.
• The UN was to be set up after the war.
• Area of eastern Poland was added to the USSR based on agreements.

Yalta Conference

• The Yalta Conference was held in February 1945.
• Poland gained land from Germany.
• Germany and Berlin were divided into 4 zones.
• Countries liberated from German occupation were allowed to hold free elections.
• Soviets would join the UN and attend the first meeting

Potsdam Conference

• Potsdam Conference took place in July-August 1945.
• There was disagreement on reparations.
• Germany and Berlin were divided and demilitarized.
• Democracy was instituted in Germany with no more Nazi policies.
• There was disagreement on reparations.
• The USA announced they had the atomic bomb.

Superpower relations

• A US diplomat believed relationships with the Soviet Union would collapse, as reported in Kennan's long telegram, comprised of 8000 words, sent February 22, 1946.
• The telegram influenced US policies toward the USSR, emphasizing containment.
• Novikov's telegram from the Soviet ambassador stated that the US wanted to dominate the USSR.
• Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech in Missouri on March 5, 1946 promoted a tough stance against the USSR. There was a conviction that USSR wanted to dominate.

British Zone tensions

• The British zone had a large population dependent on aid from the US.
• Bizonia aimed to strengthen West Germany and comprised the merge of the UK and US zones by January 1947.
• Trizonia saw France join in March 1948, creating distinct West and East German states by 1949.
• The West was led by Adenauer, and the East by Pieck.

Berlin Blockade

• The Soviets aimed to cut off all transport links to West Berlin in June 1948, causing strained relations.
• The West responded to the blockade with an airlift of food, fuel, and supplies.
• The blockade lasted for 10 months, after which Stalin ceased the effort in May 1949.
• 2,000 tons of supplies were delivered a day.
• Berlin was a symbol of the struggle against Communism.
• The Berlin Blockade shows capitalism was drawing people away from communism.

Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan

• Truman Doctrine in 1947 committed the US to preventing the spread of communism.
• The Marshall Plan, also in 1947, saw the USA provided economic aid of $12.7 billion between 1948-1952 to poor countries in Europe to prevent them from turning communist.

Cominform and Comecon

• Yugoslavia protested, in 1947, the Stalin led Cominform which organized all communist parties and encouraged them to ignore the Marshall Plan and included the France and Italys communist party.
• Comecon was an economic organization created in 1949 aimed to support growth of communist countries.
• COMECON countries were USSR economic favors they did us economic favors.

Refugee Crisis

• By 1958, 4 million East Germans left for West Germany due to communist rule there, and lack of freedoms.
• Khrushchev delivered the Berlin Ultimatum, where the Western powers given 6 months to leave Berlin in 1958.

Berlin Crisis

• In May and September 1959, Geneva attempted to negotiate.
• Camp David conference 1959 still couldn't come agreement - withdrew ultimatum during
• The Paris Summit in 1960 saw Eisenhower refuse to apologize for US plane spying on Soviets.
• In 1961, Vienna saw Kennedy refused to give into the reissued ultimatum and prepared for war.
• Kennedy was put into office in 1960.

Berlin Wall

• In August 1961, barbed wire placed by East German soldiers was the initial barrier.
• Concrete wall replaced fences by October 1961.
• 140 people died trying to cross the Berlin Wall.
• Kennedy visited West Berlin and made a speech in 1963 stating Berlin was a symbol of the struggle against communism.

Hungarian Revolution of 1956

• The 1956 Hungarian Revolution featured a lack of political freedom and fuel shortages.
• Students and workers rioted, leading to the appointment of Nagy as Prime Minister.
• Nagy introduced freedom of speech and announced Hungary would leave the Warsaw Pact.
• In November 1956, 4,000 Soviet tanks surrounded Budapest.
• Truman and Eisenhower strengthened Khrushchev and new gov introduced.
• 200,000 refugees fled to Austria showing west would not provide aid.

Bay of Pigs

• The Cuba Bay of Pigs crisis happened in April 1961.
• The USA sent around 1,400 exiled Cuban rebels to overthrow Castro.
• The Cuban rebels were defeated.
• It was a humiliation for the USA.
• Castro was seen doing what the people of USSR were accused the US of doing.
• This forced Castro to turn to the USSR for protection and weapons to overthrow communism.

NATO and Warsaw Pact

• NATO was formed in 1949.
• The Warsaw Pact was signed in 1955.

Explore the pivotal conferences and events shaping the post-World War II era and the emergence of the Cold War. Examine the establishment of the United Nations, the Marshall Plan, and the growing divide between East and West. Investigate key figures and events, including Castro's alliance with the USSR.