The Cold
War
The Cold War - Origins
Conflicting goals and ideologies
linked to origin of Cold War
U.S.S.R. - security a priority for
Stalin, his regime, Soviet
ideology and Soviet Union
Stalin sought, by political
means, to spread communist
influence across Europe
pursued policies which
assumed that the “imperialist”
powers would compete with
each other
U.S. goals - achieve victory in
war; remove causes of war;
build collective security through
United Nations; reject
isolationism
Roosevelt assumed Soviet and
western interests could be
compatible
both Churchill and Roosevelt
hoped to maintain balance of
power, but also embrace
principle
Britain’s goal - survive;
strengthen Anglo/American
alliance
the Soviet war effort was vital
to the U.S. and Britain in their
struggle against Nazi
Germany
hatred of the Germans and a
need to defeat Germany
shaped the policy of the
Grand Alliance
Casablanca 1943 - demand
for Germany’s unconditional
surrender
Teheran - agreement on the
post-war dismantling of
Germany; Polish/U.S.S.R/
border and Tito
October 1944 Churchill’s secret
deal - % agreement on
British/Soviet influence in eastern
Europe
Yalta - Feb. 1945
Yalta became a synonym for
western betrayal - Poland and
other eastern European countries
allowed to fall under Soviet
domination
nothing new decided at Yalta;
most important issue, the German
question. not on the table
at Yalta the priority was to defeat
Germany - no reason to
antagonize Soviets
so, little protest at Soviet failure to
assist Poles in August 1944 Warsaw uprising
shape of post-war Europe
dictated not by wartime deals and
accords, but by the whereabouts
of occupying armies when
Germany surrendered
by end 1944 Soviets in northern
Balkans; by May 1945 Soviets in
Germany and Eastern Europe
at Yalta Stalin had gained
acceptance from the U.S.
and Britain for a Soviet
sphere of influence in
eastern Europe
however, free elections
would not be held in the
countries now occupied by
the Red Army
shortly before his death
Roosevelt stated “ Stalin has
broken every one of the
promises he made at Yalta”
with the defeat of Nazi Germany
the Allied Powers divided Germany
into four zones of occupation American, Soviet, British and
French
Stalin hoped that all of Germany
would come under communist
control, but Soviet actions in
Germany alienated the German
population
however, the western Allies
pursued a policy which would
effectively protect western
Germany from Soviet
encroachments
American possession of the atomic
bomb freed the U.S. from dependence
on the Soviet Union in its struggle with
Japan
Stalin realized how the bomb altered the
power equation between the U.S. and
the S.U., stating
“ The balance has
been destroyed ......That cannot be.”
and “A-bomb blackmail is American
policy.”
Truman’s use of the bomb encouraged
Stalin to adopt a harder line in
negotiations
increased mistrust and a growing sense
of insecurity characterized relations at
the close of WW II
having gained a Soviet
sphere of influence in
eastern Europe Stalin
attempted to secure
territorial advantage in Iran
and Turkey but Truman
stood firm
Stalin had to back down
in March of 1946, an
American diplomat in
Moscow, George Kennan
sent what would become his
famous “long telegram”
explaining Soviet political
thinking and strategy
the “long telegram” became “the basis
for the United States strategy towards
the Soviet Union throughout the rest of
the Cold War”
Kennan claimed that Soviet foreign
policy was shaped by “ the internal
necessities of the Stalinist regime”;
outside world would always be regarded
as hostile
Kennan advised that the U.S. should
respond with a “long-term, patient but
firm and vigilant containment of Russian
expansive tendencies.”
March, 1947 Truman announced an
aid package for Greece and Turkey.
U.S. would now take over obligations
previously carried by British
Truman stated “ We must assist free
peoples to work out their own
destinies”
June, 1947 George C. Marshall
announced the European Recovery
Program ( Marshall Plan )
Aims: to rebuild Europe and in doing
so help block the possibility of a
communist takeover
Stalin responded by rejecting
offers of aid , either to the
Soviet Union or to the
satellite states of Eastern
Europe
he also enforced stricter
control over the governments
of Eastern Europe - in
February, 1948 a communist
government was imposed on
Czechoslovakia
Tito in Yugoslavia would
remain the only communist
leader independent of
Moscow
1948 - Berlin blockade - Stalin
blocked access to West Berlin.
Allied Berlin airlift, however,
succeeded in bringing an end to
the blockade by early 1949
communist takeover in
Czechoslovakia, together with the
Berlin blockade convinced many
Europeans of the need for U.S.
military protection
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty
Organization was formed in 1949
August, 1949 Soviets
test first atomic bomb changes military
situation in Europe
Truman responded
with a series of
measures - U.S. forces
would now be based in
Western Europe,
especially West
Germany; the
hydrogen bomb would
be developed
October, 1949 the People’s
Republic of China is
proclaimed. Mao’s communist
forces had defeated the
Nationalist forces of Chiang
Kai-shek
Mao proclaims solidarity with
the Soviet Union and
international communism
increased fears within the U.S.
Sino-Soviet Treaty signed
between Stalin and Mao