IGCSE Revision
Core Content: The C20th – International
Relations since 1919
KQ5: Who was to blame for the Cold War?
Core Content KQ5: Who was to blame
for the Cold War?
Focus:
• Why did the USA-USSR alliance begin to break down
in 1945?
• How had the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe
by 1948?
• How did the USA react to Soviet expansionism?
• What were the consequences of the Berlin
Blockade?
• Who was the more to blame for starting the Cold
War: the USA or the USSR?
What was the Cold War?
O The COLD WAR is the name given to the tension &
O
O
O
O
mistrust that existed between the USA and USSR from
1945-1991.
It first developed in Germany following the Berlin Airlift
(1948-49)
It was largely a war of words, propaganda, espionage and
threats.
There was never any direct military confrontation. Instead
they tried to undermine each other through localised wars
such as the Korean War (1950-53) and Vietnam War
(1946-75)
Both sides competed to build up their nuclear weapons
(arms race) – this made a ‘hot’ war less likely as it would
result it total destruction for both sides.
Two Ideologies:
Capitalism v. Communism
THE USA
o The USA was a capitalist country
that believed in:
 A number of political parties
 The private ownership of
businesses
 The private ownership of property
 Individual people working hard to
make their own wealth – the
government should not have to
provide for its people
 The rights and freedoms of the
individual
o The USA was the world’s richest
country but there were extremes
of wealth and poverty.
o They felt that Communism
threatened their way of life.
THE USSR
o The USSR was a communist
country that believed in:
 One political party
 Businesses owned and run by the
government.
 Property owned by the
government
 A classless society with no
individual profit – profits are used
for the good of all people.
 The importance of society over
individual rights and freedoms.
o Unemployment and extreme
poverty were rare in the USSR but
the general standard of living of
most citizens was much lower
than for the average American.
Soviet distrust of the West
Treaty of Versailles
Russian Civil War
•USSR not invited
•USA, Britain & France sent
•Land taken by the Germans troops to help the Whites
fight against the
not returned.
communists.
Appeasement
The ‘Second Front’
•Stalin believed the Britain & • From 1941-44 the majority
France were trying to push
of fighting took place on the
Hitler eastwards.
Eastern Front.
•Stalin believed the West
was deliberately delaying to
weaken the USSR.
Western distrust of the USSR
Comintern
• Set up to
spread world
revolution.
• This
threatened the
interests of
many within
the capitalist
system.
The Purges
• The West did
not approve of
using fear to
control the
population.
Nazi-Soviet
Pact
• The West
saw that Stalin
would always
act in his own
interests, even
make a pact
with his
enemy.
The Tehran Conference
November 1943
O First meeting of the ‘Big
O
O
O
O
Three’ (Stalin, Roosevelt &
Churchill)
Discussed how to pursue the
war.
Stalin insisted on the
opening of a second front as
soon as possible.
Discussed post-war Europe.
Agreed the need for the
United Nations Organisation.
Strains on the Grand Alliance
The Second Front:
The Warsaw Rising:
O Since June 1941 majority
O Poles want to liberate
of fighting in USSR – Stalin
keen to ease pressure.
O GB & USA had promised to
land troops in Western
Europe since 1942 but
kept delaying.
O This led to much suspicion
& distrust – Stalin was
worried they would sign a
separate peace with
Germany.
O D-Day finally happened in
June 1944
themselves from Nazi rule
before the arrival of
Soviets.
O The Soviet army halted
their advance & refused to
help Poles against the
Nazis.
O Thus the Poles were
crushed by the Nazis and
offered no resistance
when the Soviets arrived.
O This refusal to help seen
as heartless by West.
The Yalta Conference
Churchill
•
•
•
•
February 1945
Attitudes of the Big Three
Stalin
Did not trust Stalin.
Concerned about
Poland & Eastern
Europe.
Britain had gone to
war to protect
Polish
Independence.
Wanted to stop
Stalin imposing
Communism on
territory occupied
by the Red Army.
•
•
•
•
Obsessed by Soviet •
security.
Wanted a ‘buffer
zone’ to protect
•
against future
attack.
Wanted to keep
Polish territory
taken under the
Nazi-Soviet Pact.
Wanted a pro-Soviet
Polish government.
Roosevelt
Wanted to introduce
democracy into
Eastern Europe.
Wanted to remain
on good terms with
Stalin.
The Yalta Conference
February 1945
Agreed:
O USSR agreed to join war against Japan.
O P.O.W. from Soviet territories returned.
O Division of Germany, Berlin & Austria in temporary
zones of occupation.
O Punishment of war criminals.
O Principle of free elections in liberated countries.
O Establishment of the UN.
O Eastern Europe as ‘a Soviet sphere of influence’.
The Yalta Conference
February 1945
Problems: Poland
O Stalin wanted the Soviet border moved westwards into
Poland and the German border moved westwards into
Germany. He also wanted a pro-Soviet government (the
Lublin Poles). This was important to Soviet security.
O Britain had guarantee to protect Polish independence &
wanted the exiled London Poles to form a government BUT
they needed the Soviets to stay out of Greece where the
British were attempting to prevent a Communist take-over.
Eventually…
O Stalin agreed to let members of the London Poles into the
Lublin government. The West hoped that free elections
would reduce the influence of the communists.
O In return for this concession GB/US allowed the border
changes & the USSR kept the areas of Poland gained in
1939.
The Potsdam Conference
July-August 1945
CHANGES SINCE YALTA
Personalities:
• Stalin distrusted the West & was
determined to ensure Soviet
security.
• Truman replaced FDR. He was
much more anti-Communist & very
suspicious of Stalin. He saw Soviet
actions as expansionist.
• Atlee replaced Churchill. He had no
sympathy for the USSR &was very
suspicious of Stalin’s motives. He
wanted a firm alliance with the
USA.
Actions of the USSR:
• The Red Army had liberated
eastern Europe.
• Stalin did not withdraw them &
used them to ensure Soviet
influence.
• This aided the eventual Soviet
take-over.
• Stalin had set up a Communist
government in Poland, ignoring the
wishes of the majority of the Poles.
• This was a source of anxiety in the
West.
• Stalin insisted it was necessary for
security.
The Potsdam Conference
July-August 1945
CHANGES SINCE YALTA
Actions of the USA:
Misunderstandings:
• On 16th July the US successfully
• FDR & Churchill had agreed that
tested an atomic bomb.
eastern Europe could be a Soviet
• Truman informed Stalin of this at
‘sphere of Influence’ – this was
the start of the conference – he
interpreted differently by Stalin.
saw it as a powerful bargaining
• The issue of ‘free elections’ was
tool.
also interpreted differently by both
• On 6th Aug 1945 the US bombed
sides.
Hiroshima in order to bring the war
in Japan to an end with minimum
losses to US lives.
• This increased suspicion &
encouraged the USSR to develop
its own A-Bomb.
The Potsdam Conference
July-August 1945
Disagreements
Germany
•
•
Stalin wanted to
•
cripple Germany
completely to
protect the USSR.
Truman did not
want to repeat the
mistakes made at
Versailles.
•
Reparations
20 million
•
Russians had died
in the war & the
USSR had been
devastated –
Stalin wanted
•
compensation.
Truman did not
want to repeat the
mistakes made at
Versailles.
Eastern Europe
At Yalta they had
agreed to allow
pro-Soviet
governments in
Eastern Europe.
Truman was
concerned about
Russian intentions
& adopted a ‘get
tough’ attitude
towards Stalin.
The Potsdam Conference
July-August 1945
Agreements
•
•
•
Each country would take
•
reparations from its own area of
occupation. The USSR was to
receive some additional industrial
equipment from the western
zones of occupation. (Little of this
•
was ever handed over).
The German-Polish bordered on
the rivers Oder & Neisse were
•
finally agreed. (GB & the USA
disliked this but could do nothing.)
It was agreed that the Nazi Party
should stamped out in all sectors
of Germany.
Disagreements
The USSR wanted to play a
part in the running of the rich
German industrial area of the
Ruhr but the USA rejected this
idea.
The USSR wanted to share in
the occupation of Japan but
the USA rejected this idea.
The USA & GB wanted a
greater say in what went on in
Eastern Europe but Stalin
rejected this idea.
The Soviet take-over of
Eastern Europe
O The Red Army liberated much of Eastern Europe and
O
O
O
O
ensured that territory came under the control of people
friendly to the USSR.
In most countries the Soviets set up a anti-fascist
coalition government, but gave local communists a
leading position.
These governments introduced nationalization and took
land from the landlords.
Opposition parties were gradually undermined &
elections rigged.
Eventually all opposition was destroyed and Soviet
control was complete.
The Soviet take-over of
Eastern Europe
O Poland: a coalition government made up the London
and Lublin Poles was formed. Eventually the London
Poles were forced out by intimidation & rigged
elections.
O Romania & Bulgaria: coalition governments were
formed. Through political maneuvering and rigged
elections the Communists emerged as the dominant
party. The monarchy in both countries was abolished.
O Hungary: Rigged elections allowed the Communists to
assume power and ban all other political parties.
O Czechoslovakia: the Communists seized power by
force in 1948 after failing to win a majority in
elections. Rigged elections then consolidated their
power.
REASONS FOR SOVIET ACTIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE
Level of Soviet wartime sacrifice
 USSR suffered much more than
the other allies during WW2.
 As many as 25 million Soviet
citizens may have died from the
fighting or food shortages.
 Stalin was determined that this
should never happen again.
WW2 – a triumph for Soviet
communism
 10 million Germans (80% of
German losses) had died on the
Eastern Front.
 As the USSR had won the war they
believed they had a right to shape
the future of Europe.
 Stalin saw the war as proof that
communism worked: communist
Russia had beaten capitalist
Germany.
Soviet strategic thinking
 In 1914 and 1941 Germany had
attacked Russia through Poland.
 Stalin believed that sooner or later
there would be another attack
through Poland.
 To stop this he was determined to
control Poland and other East
European states.
US imperialism
 USA was the wealthiest country in
the world in 1945.
 USSR thought that US business
leaders were planning to spread
their power and increase their
profits by buying up companies and
selling their goods wherever they
could.
 In this way America would build a
‘economic’ empire.
US Response: The Truman
Doctrine
O In February 1947 the British government told the USA that they were
going to withdraw their troops from Greece and Turkey meaning that
Greece and Turkey would probably fall under Soviet control.
O Truman decided to offer American financial help to Greece and
Turkey.
O In March 1947 he made a speech to Congress:
“I believe it must be the policy of the United States to support people
who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by
outside pressures. I believe we must help free peoples to work out
their own destiny in their own way.”
O This was known as the ‘Truman Doctrine’. US foreign policy would
now be based on the policy of containment – the USA would use its
wealth and power to stop the spread of communism.
O The USA had officially rejected ‘isolationism’ and made it clear that
they would take an active role in world politics.
The US Response: The
Marshall Plan
O Truman believed that the spread of communism was linked
O
O
O
O
O
to poverty.
Post war Europe was in very bad state: food & fuel were
scarce, unemployment was high, they owed $11.5 billion,
war damage needed repairing.
Truman saw this as a breeding ground for communism.
After his visit to Europe, Marshall estimated that $17 billion
was needed – “Our policy is directed against hunger, poverty,
desperation and chaos”.
Initially Congress refused but after the Soviet take-over of
Czechoslovakia they accepted the Marshall Plan.
It was a great success – over 4 years, $13,000 million of
help was provided. The increase in trade also benefited the
Americans.
The Soviet Response
O Stalin saw the Marshall Plan as an attempt in impose
O
O
O
O
capitalist ideas on European countries & refused to have
anything to do with it.
He encouraged communists in France and Italy to sabotage
the plan through strikes and demonstrations.
He condemned both the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall
Plan in an international conference in 1947.
In 1947 the USSR set up COMINFORM to coordinate the
activities between the communist parties of Eastern Europe.
In January 1949 the USSR created COMECON. This was a
trading organisation of communist countries. It did not involve
economic aid. Instead the USSR used it as a way of controlling
the economies of eastern Europe.
Reasons for the US hostility to the USSR
World’s leading nation
•
•
•
•
The USA emerged from the war as the
richest & most successful country.
US politicians expected to have a say in
how the world was run.
They believed that American style
capitalism and free trade was the way
forward.
They resented the USSR for saying
otherwise.
Memories of the 1930s
•
•
•
•
•
Many people saw the 1930s as a period
of great turmoil.
They blamed the rise of evil dictators and
wanted to stop this happening again.
The US media likened Stalin to Hitler and
portrayed him as a monster & dictator.
Appeasement was seen as a failure then
and the US was reluctant to make the
same mistake.
The US also wanted to avoid another
Depression & protect their economy.
The nuclear monopoly
• In 1945 the USA was the only country
with the atomic bomb.
• They thought it would take 20 years
for the Soviets to develop their own.
• This made US politicians take a more
aggressive line towards the USSR.
George Kennan & the ‘Long Telegram’
• George Kennan was an American
diplomat based in Moscow.
• In February 1946 he sent a report
the US government giving his views
on Soviet foreign policy.
• Kennan said that the USSR was
determined to expand and must be
stopped.
• He also developed the idea of
containment.
The Berlin Blockade
Causes:
O Arrangements made at Yalta & Potsdam were
temporary.
O Creation of Bizonia in 1946.
O Introduction of a new currency in 1948 into the
western zones.
O Impact of the Marshall Aid: by 1948, there was a huge
difference between living standards in the east & west
Berlin:
“an island of prosperous capitalism in a sea of
communism”
O Stalin’s fear of a strong Germany.
The Berlin Blockade
Events:
O On 23rd June 1948 Stalin
cuts all supply lines (road,
rail & canal) with West
Berlin.
O There were about 2 million
people in West Berlin.
O He hoped to starve the
West out of Berlin & gain
complete control.
O The US government
interpreted the blockade
as the first stage in an
attack on West Germany.
Options:
1. Give way to Stalin to avoid
the people of West Berlin
starving BUT Stalin would
gain control of West Berlin
& who knows where
would be next…
2. Use tanks to blast
through the blockade BUT
seen as act of war.
3. Air-lift supplies into the
city BUT this would cost a
lot & Stalin might shoot
them down…
The Berlin Blockade
Results:
O Over 1.5 million tons of food,
fuel & equipment sent to West
Berlin in 10 months.
O Eventually Stalin gave up and
reopened communications.
O Creation of NATO (north Atlantic
Treaty Organisation) – April
1949
O Creation of Federal Republic of
Germany (FDR – West Germany)
in May 1949 & German
Democratic Republic (GDR –
East Germany) in October 1949.
O Germany would stay divided for
41 years.
O Berlin would remain a centre of
Cold War tensions.
Significance:
O Marked the first major
flashpoint of the Cold War
O Relations between USA &
USSR reached such a low
position of distrust & suspicion
that meaningful dialogue
became difficult, let alone
agreement.
O Conflict & tension remained
features of the Cold War for
the next 40 years.
Who was to blame for the Cold War?
The USA was most to blame.
• Truman was very antiCommunist & refused to
cooperate with the USSR.
• The use of the A-bomb in 1945
increased tension.
The USSR was most to
blame.
• Stalin’s action in eastern
Europe increased tension &
suspicion.
• Stalin blockaded Berlin.
Both sides were equally to
blame.
No one was to blame. The
Cold War was inevitable.
• Both sides were unwilling to
compromise on security issues.
• Both sides misinterpreted the
others actions.
• Both sides set up rival
organisations.
• Both sides developed nuclear
weapons.
• Conflicting ideologies & past
events meant that cooperation
was always going to be difficult.
Exam Question – Q7 J09
a. What did Stalin gain from the Yalta Conference? (5)
O
O
O
O
Describe: give detailed account
Worth 5 marks
Approx. 8 minutes
Include specific details and information – approx. 4
valid points.
Don’t be too general or vague.
Exam Question – Q7 J09
b. Why did tensions between the USSR and the
Western Allies increase at the Potsdam conference?
(7)
O
O
O
O
O
Causation: give reasons why something happened.
Worth 7 marks
Approx. 12 minutes
Identify and explain at least four reasons.
Support reasons with specific details.
Don’t be too general or vague.
Exam Question – Q7 J09
c.
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Who was more to blame for starting the Cold War, the USA
or the USSR? Explain your answer. (8)
Judgment: analyse reasons why something happened and
reach a reasoned judgment.
Worth 8 marks
Approx. 20 minutes
Balance your answer - analyse the stated factor and suggest
other reasons
Support your answer with specific details
Focus on one factor per paragraph
Clearly state your judgment in the conclusion
Don’t be general or too vague.