IGCSE History Revision: Causes of the Cold War 2023 PDF

IGCSE History Revision Core Unit 4: Causes of the Cold War Key Questions Why did the US–Soviet alliance begin to break down in 1945? How had the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948? How did the United States react to Soviet expansionism? What were the consequences of the Berlin Bl...

IGCSE History Revision Core Unit 4: Causes of the Cold War Key Questions Why did the US–Soviet alliance begin to break down in 1945? How had the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948? How did the United States react to Soviet expansionism? What were the consequences of the Berlin Blockade? Who was more to blame for starting the Cold War: the United States or the USSR? ​What was The Cold War? By 1946 it was clear wartime friendship ended → suspicion & accusation Increased stock of weapons (But - money + economy → huge business) Propaganda war MISTRUST → Only war held their alliance → Different ideology (beliefs + ideas) → US troops fight against Communists in Russian Civil War → Opinion poll: trust Nazi more than Communists → US don’t support USSR in war: Nazi invasion USA scared of communism - Bad for trade → no one will trade → government destroyed USA: Capitalism USSR: Communism Vote: democratic - free elections Vote: Communist - One party state Industry: Private Industry: State owned Individual rights: Poor and rich Individual rights: Everyone equal Richest Country but lots of poverty Lower standard of living BUT rare Believe in free trade - can’t trade with unemployment & poverty Communist countries repressive governments Freedom of religion and speech No freedom of speech or religion Inequality Atheist Free market ​USA No more isolation (USA) - mistakes of WW2/ appeasement/ not in League of Nations - will now take an active part in UN No more appeasement: Every Communist action will meet US reaction Economic needs - must avoid a post war depression ​USSR Security issues - needs a buffer zone to defend (invaded WW1 and WW2) Soviet ‘sphere of influence’ → Complete domination By 1948, only Greece & Czechoslovakia were not controlled by Communist governments (in E. Europe) 1 The Yalta Conference, 4-11 February 1945 Big 3 (Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill) met at Yalta, Ukraine when it was clear Germany was losing. AGREEMENTS: Stalin agrees to enter war with USA against Japan Germany divided: US, USSR, British, French → Berlin also divided Hunt down and punish war criminals (genocide, concentration camps) Free elections for the countries liberated from occupation of Germany Join United Nations Organisation to be set up Eastern Europe: Soviet ‘sphere of influence’ Reparations for USSR agreed in principle What did Stalin gain from Yalta? E. Europe as Communist ‘sphere of influence’ Agreed to shift borders West into Poland Got a share of Berlin and Germany Reparations in principe (10 billion USD for USSR) Got a place in UN Security Council (VETO) Allowed to join war vs Japan Russian prisoners to be returned home Hunt down war criminals making USSR look dedicated to JUSTICE + Good Reputation for Stalin Why were the allies able to agree on so much at Yalta? War still raging - they needed each other to defeat Germany and Japan. Ussr needed lend lease and USA needed Soviet army Good working relationship between the leaders (Stalin and Churchill Percentages Deal/ respect for Soviet hardships and position) Red Army in Eastern Europe and o there was no point USA/UK pushing too hard for rights there War time cooperation spirit still there 2 The Potsdam Conference, July-August 1945 CHANGES SINCE YALTA: ○ Germany is defeated; Stalin’s army occupying most of Eastern Europe → Fear of Communists Left his troops there and controlled all countries (Baltic States, Finland, Romania, Poland, Hungary etc) Insisted it was a defensive measure for USSR No need for the alliance any more ○ America had a new president: Harry S. Truman More anti-communist Suspicious of Stalin - thought Stalin’s actions = takeover of Europe No experience of international diplomacy and anti-appeasement ○ Allies tested an atomic bomb → THREAT Truman informed Stalin about it at the Conference Gave Truman confidence to stand up to Stalin DISAGREEMENTS: → Germany: o USA - Don’t want to repeat mistakes of Treaty of Versailles o USSR - Cripple Germany for security reasons → Reparations: o USA - Don’t want to repeat mistakes → want to give aid to Germany and not 10 billion USD reparations to USSR o USSR – Compensation needed from Germany for 27 million dead etc → Soviet policy in Eastern Europe: o USA - ‘Get tough’ attitude vs USSR. No appeasement. o USSR: Need to occupy Eastern Europe for security Why did tensions between the USSR and the Western allies increase at the Potsdam Conference? USSR was not giving free elections in Poland + E. Europe as they had agreed at Yalta USSR treating political prisoners BADLY in E. Europe → looks like USSR stamping its authority During Potsdam Churchill voted out, Attlee in → weaker → Bipolar discussions → BIPOLAR WORLD Roosevelt dies → Truman took over: more anti-communist/less cooperative/completely inexperienced Bomb tested: Truman less cooperative → Scares Russians → Mistrust → Tension Now Germany gone: power vacuum, worse due to British decline → Bipolar → Tense Serious Disagreements over reparations (USSR - cripple, US + WEST - Easy) The Russian army stayed in E. Europe! Tension – West feels it’s a threat 3 ​Iron Curtain Speech – Churchill: 5 March 1946 ​ Term introduced by Churchill About border between Soviet-controlled countries and West Europe → ‘Iron Curtain’ The idea of West Vs East Separation of Capitalism Vs Communism Guarded border: mythical division of Europe into 2 halves USSR dominated countries following Potsdam Spoken to encourage US help for Western Europe Truman invited Churchill to his hometown of Fulton, Missouri to give the speech USA preparing the American people for conflict Why, by 1946, were the wartime Allies less united? USSR frustrated by: 2nd Front opened up late (D-DAY 1945): USSR resent this Around 27 million Russians died! Affected most: USA & Britain less than 1 million! Potsdam and Truman’s behaviour (rude, no reparations) Iron Curtain speech USA using the bomb in Japan without warning Russia of the specific day Greece 1946 and British involvement therein - USSR complain to UN USA frustrated by: Soviet troops staying in E.Europe - enforcing Communist regimes and not allowing free elections Katyn massacre: USSR massacred Polish offices Warsaw Rising 1944: USSR allow Poles to be slaughtered STRUCTURAL FACTORS: Defeat of Germany & Japan → no enemy anymore → only war kept their alliance Bipolar World as Britain and France on the decline ​ ominform (Communist Information Bureau) - October 1947 C Gives E. European countries advice (briefed by Stalin) Keeps close eye on Communist parties of Eastern Europe Choosing Eastern European leaders - Tito escaped control (Yugoslavia) 4 Communist takeover in Eastern Europe Gradually turned Communist - by coalitions, ‘mysteriously disappearing’ opposition, taking over police etc. to gain control fully East Germany: Under Red Army until 1949 and creation of GDR Yugoslavia: Marshal Tito president 1945 - Communism in his own way → expelled from Cominform 1948 Albania: In power after war - little opposition Poland: Nazi-Soviet Pact: USSR entered Poland from the East 1939. Nazis attack USSR & push them out 1941. In 1944 Warsaw Rising: Soviets allow Polish to be massacred by Nazis. WW2 Soviets “liberate Poland” By Jan 1945 all Poland under Soviet occupation At Yalta: Poland’s borders moved West + Stalin allowed to keep Poland as a sphere of influence (1945 Feb). During the war, the government in exile in London (London Poles). Stalin made a communist government (Lublin Poles). Communist coalition government after 1945 → forced non-communist leader into exile eg Mikołajczyk after a rigged election in 1947 Romania: Communist Prime Minister 1945 in left wing coalition → 1947 abolish monarchy and exiled KIng Michael I Hungary: 1947 elections: communists largest single party → imprisoned opposition/attacked Church leaders. Bulgaria: Coalition 1945 → Communist members executed leaders of other parties Czechoslovakia: Left wing coalition in 1945 → 1946 communists biggest single party in coalition → 1948: coup. They threatened and banned other ;parties. Exiled leaders. Masaryk defenestrated in 1948. Communist one-party state Western Europe battles communism Greece: USA/Br. support Royalists vs Communists Italy: Strong Communist party in Cominform. CIA rig election in Italy against Toglaitti in 1948 ​Why was Eastern Europe largely in the hands of the USSR by 1946? ​ Decided at Yalta: E. Europe – “Soviet sphere of influence”. USA let USSR take over Stalin ‘liberated’ them in WW2 and kept his soldiers there as a Defence line from the Western Allies. Eastern Europe crushed by WW2 and Too weak to oppose him Power vacuum – Germany gone, Britain/France weak after WW2 5 Greece Germans retreat in 1944: Monarchists (return of the King) & Communists (Soviet Republic) Churchill sent British troops in 1945 to ‘help elections & restore order & supervise’ Supported monarchists → King comes to power 1946 USSR protests to UN (UK & USA) that British are a threat to Greece → UN takes no action Communists try to take control by force → CIVIL WAR British can’t afford to fight → Announce withdrawal of troops on 24th February 1947 Truman sends money to try and keep British there + prop up King’s government By 1950 Royalists in control (but weak with crisis) It draws the USA into giving aid to Europe Truman Doctrine 12 March 1947 Based on George Kennan’s Long Telegram of 22 February 1946 - containment “I believe it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” Truman’s policy of SENDING MONEY, EQUIPMENT & ADVICE to countries threatened by a Communist takeover Aim: Stop spread of Communism Started the Containment policy Some thought it meant: Soviet expansion beyond limit is met with military force Why was the Truman Doctrine significant? Highlights ideological clash: prevent spread of Communism at all costs → helps start the Cold War. Led to problems eg As a response to Truman Doctrine, USSR tightens control over E. Europe eg. Masaryk/Czechoslovakia communist by 1949 + USSR implements Cominform and does Berlin Blockade Symbolises the US not going to be isolationist: Money to the West puts them in debt to US, giving the USA control. Saves Greece from Communism: UK pulled out of Greece as could not afford it: US fund UK troops and take over operations Increases US economic and political control over W. Europe. The US is trying to avoid recession because Truman helps improve trade. By aiding countries $ → they could buy weapons to defend themselves. See Marshall Plan. Established CONTAINMENT as the key US foreign policy. Truman accepts USSR sphere of influence in E.Europe, won’t roll it back, will just contain it. Marshall Aid Part of Truman Doctrine - Truman believed Communism succeeded in poverty + hardship US General George Marshall sent to assess economic state of Europe Finds ruined economy: Europe owed $11.5 billion, food/bread/coal/electricity shortages Marshall suggests $17 billion is sent to Europe December 1947 - Plan put to Congress → Declined Accept April 3 1948, after Masaryk’s death in Czechoslovakia → $17 billion over 4 years → Generous act by American people or American self interest (trade, markets) 6  → Stalin: Suspicious → forbade E. Europe to apply (US weaken his hold on E.Europe & try to dominate countries → dependent on $) Money to other countries →Help rebuild → Like USA → Less chance to turn Communist Indebted to USA → US control → Less likely to help USSR/turn Communist IMAGE! US looks charitable → Discredits USSR → Less likely to turn Communist $ → Content population → Less chance of them voting Communism $ → Richer European countries invest in weapons to help defend against Communism Berlin Blockade Br/Fr/USA combine zones - Bizonia, then Trizonia 1948 reformed currency: new one based on the dollar → W.Berlin and W.Germany recovering Berlin deep in Soviet zone, linked to Western zones by vital roads/canals/railways June 1948: Stalin blocked all supply lines, cutting off 2 million people from Western help → Dependent on USSR (blame US - ‘self blockade’) If US try to ram roads → act of war → Go into Berlin by air for 10 months every 3 minutes → supply people of West Berlin → If shot down → act of war → no shots → May 1949, clear blockade won’t make Western Allies give up → reopen Why did Stalin blockade Berlin? Provoked by the USA: US and Britain and France had joined zones and seemed to be creating a new West German state without Soviet discussions, which was against the unification promise made at Yalta. West Berlin is a haven for Communist refugees and this was embarrassing → stop his best people from leaving US changed CURRENCY in West Germany: flooded East with New currency based on capitalist dollar Prevent UK/US SPIES using West Berlin as a centre for their operations or Missiles/Army To prevent possible resurgence of NAZISM in West Berlin RETALIATION FOR TRUMAN DOCTRINE + MARSHALL PLAN/Greece → US trying to block Communist expansion, therefore Stalin tries to take West Berlin To get a victory over capitalist USA: Show USSR is stronger Show Capitalism won’t work in East Germany To try to annex West Berlin By blockading West/stopping supplies, he hoped to starve the West into submission so they would join the East, becoming Communist and have the whole of Berlin (capital city, industry, use people) Test Truman’s resolve Spread communism 7 ​Germany split into two, East and West ​ May 1949, Br/Fr/USA zones → Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) October 1949, Soviet zone → German Democratic Republic (East Germany) Divided Germany/Berlin → 41 Years US opinion: ‘Oasis of Democratic freedom in the middle of a Communist repression’. USSR opinion: ‘Invasive cancer growing in the worker’s paradise of East Germany’. NATO Response to Communist Unity as shown in Cominform Response to Berlin Blockade - Fear of possible War: NATO makes USA stronger + protect Europeans To help Contain Communism: → back up the Truman Doctrine → more countries to help if necessary Army: Article 3: Military force must be kept up by members → stronger force to fight the USSR if necessary → might scare Russians/force Russians to spend more money on army → not enough money for people → people unhappy US need allies in Europe to give them Bases in Europe which they can then use To protect European countries who fear Soviet invasion Who was to blame for the start of the Cold War? USA Provocative Money to UK to stay in Greece to fight Communists Truman Doctrine Marshall Aid NATO 1949 West Berlin: new currency, Bizonia, Trizonia Creation of CIA in 1947 and the election tampering in Italy to stop communist Togliatti getting in All these provocative actions forced the Russians into a conflict and made them react with more and more desperate measures, ultimately causing the Cold War Laked understanding WW2 Lack of help for USSR in War but take glory/ late second front (1944 D Day) Truman → Treatment of Stalin at Potsdam Atomic bomb on Hiroshima without proper warning No reparations from Western area for USSR after 27 million dead By ignoring Russia’s legitimate security needs and weaknesses, as the USSR had lost 27 million people in WW2, the American actions listed above made the Soviets think the USA was against them and forced them into a Cold War. 8 USSR Aggressive in E.Europe Berlin Blockade 1948-9 Forcing E. Europe to become Communist eg. Czechoslovakia (Masaryk’s death), Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary etc. Such aggression in Eastern Europe scared the USA, who felt they must defend Western Europe and so brought in defensive measures like The Truman Doctrine and NATO, ultimately leading to the conflict. Badly behaved Stalin’s Read Army in Germany Katyn Massacre, Warsaw Uprising Cominform → Choosing E. European leaders The Western democracies just could not understand the terrible behaviour of the Russians in Europe, which turned public opinion against the Soviet Union and ensured the governments had to take tough measures, leading to the Cold War. Untrustworthy Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 Broke Yalta promise of free elections in liberated countries The West felt the Soviets were not to be trusted and so Truman decided to get tough; after Yalta there were no more serious agreements and the relationship broke down, ultimately leading to the conflict. OTHER Power vacuum Germany completely destroyed (9 million dead) No strong governments in central Europe due to effects of war Whole of Europe split between Soviet and allied forces This meant that both sides were sucked into Europe and felt they could not leave. They faced off against each other, each thinking that if they left, the other would move into the area. This vacuum sucked them in and kept them there, ultimately causing the conflict. British actions Appeasement pre WW2 Iron Curtain speech 1946 Fighting in greece vs communist forces The British never trusted the Russians and it was Bevin that asked for US aid in Greece and then money to recover, pulling the Americans into the conflict as Britain sought to leave it and focus on internal issues. They manipulated USA into facing off against the Soviets, causing the Cold War. Ideological clash communism vs capitalism free elections vs 1 party state no compatible economic systems and therefore no trade freedom of religion vs atheism It could be said that the differences between the two systems were so huge that as soon as the German enemy was beaten and they had to organise how to set up a new German state they would come to blows immediately. The two ideologies were against each other, and the Cold War was therefore inevitable. 9