Superpower Relations and the Cold War (1941 – 91)
SECTION 1: The origins of the Cold War, 1941 – 58
Cold war – a situation of hostility which does not become open hostility
Hot war – when two sides are actually fighting each other
Capitalism – the focus is on individual rights, freedom and free trade. Have democratic elections with
multiple parties
Communism – the focus is on the rights of the working class and equality. The economy us planned by the
government. The Communist Party controls the government
Two political ideologies clashing
History of Russia
Russian revolution, abdication of Tzar and murder of Romanovs in 1918
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR/Soviet Union) formed in 1922
1928, Stalin, a communist, takes control as a dictator, feared as a communist empire
The Grand Alliance
Russia, Britain and the USA formed the Grand Alliance in 1941 to defeat the Nazis
A marriage of convenience between communists and capitalists united only by their opposition to
Hitler, once he had been defeated, the Alliance became increasingly unsteady
Discussed how much to fine Germany and how much each country gets of Germany
Name Position Beliefs
Franklin D. Roosevelt President of Believed strongly in democracy
(1882 – 1945) USA Was more lenient in negotiations with Stalin as he thought
he would need Soviet support in Japan
Believed USSR should be recognised as a superpower
Winston Churchill Prime Traditional values and believed in the British Empire –
(1874 – 1965) Minister of suspicious of Stalin
Britain Saw his role as trying to stop Soviet expansion
Joseph Stalin (1878 – Leader of the Strengthened one-party rule
1953) Soviet Union Cut back on people’s individual rights
Convinced that the West wanted to destroy communism, so
was very firm in negotiations
Tehran Conference Nov 1943
Met to plan a winning strategy to end the war
USA and Britain ease pressure on the Eastern Front by launching an attack on the Western Front
USSR would help USA fight Japan once the war in Europe was over
Discussed future of Germany and agreed it should be kept weak
Laid foundations for the United Nations
Yalta Conference Feb 1945
Discussed the winning of the war and the government of post-war Europe
The Second Front had been launched in France, Germany were retreating to Berlin
Germany would be split into four sections, ruled by France, Britain, USA and USSR, Germany would pay
$20 billion – 50% to USSR, the Nazi party banned, and war criminals prosecuted
United Nations created – all nations could join, but Stalin denied all 16 Soviet Republics individual
membership in the UN
Stalin agreed to join war against Japan three months after the defeat of Germany
, Main dispute was over Poland - Poland’s borders reset to 1921 position but Stalin wanted to keep
gained territory, weaken Germany and ensure Poland had a pro-Soviet government
Stalin supported pro-communist government ‘Lublin Poles’ for Poland, while Churchill and Roosevelt
supported non-communist government ‘London Poles’
USA and Britain made Stalin agree that some of the London Poles would be included in government
and that future governments would be decided in free elections
Roosevelt and Stalin pleased with agreement on elections and UN
Potsdam Conference Aug 1945
Roosevelt Truman – very anti-communist and suspicious of Stalin, Churchill Attlee
German economy run as one although shared between four countries
Berlin divided into four although in Soviet quarter
USSR quarter least developed, so could have a quarter of the other three quarters, but had to provide
other zones with raw materials
Stalin wanted Germany to pay heavy reparations, but Truman was concerned about the impact on the
economy
Agreement not reached about government of Eastern Europe, Truman wanted Poland’s government to
have less communist influence
As Soviet troops liberated Eastern European countries, Stalin left troops there, stating it was a
defensive measure against possible future attacks, forming a buffer between Germany and USSR
Set up a Council of Foreign Ministers to organise the rebuilding of Europe
The Long Telegram 1946 USA Moscow ambassador Truman
Stalin called for the destruction of capitalism and there could be no peace while they opposed it
USSR was building its military capability
USA should try to contain communism
Novikov’s Telegram 1946 Soviet ambassador Stalin
USA wanted to rule the world and was no longer interested in co-operation with the USSR
USA public was being prepared for war with the USSR
The Iron Curtain
Name first used by Churchill in USA in March 1946 – no longer prime minister
Called for an alliance between Britain and USA to meet the Soviet expansion
Attlee agreed and Truman was there when it was given - feared a war with Russia
Moscow interpreted it as being provocative and accused Churchill of being a warmonger
Damaged relations between East and West
Creation of Satellite States
Satellite state – a country that is officially independent, but is actually controlled by another country
Hoped people would vote for communism but when they did not, USSR pushed for ‘free’ elections and
once in power crushed opposition and made each country a single-party state
Kept countries by ensuring communist party leaders were loyal to Moscow, spread fear and mistrust to
prevent uprisings, increased the use of police and army to ensure order, made the countries economies
reliant on the USSR to stop them being self-sufficient
Country Date Other information
Albania 1945 Took over while at war so least opposition
Never occupied by Red Army so had more independence
Poland 1944 Invaded at the end of a failed uprising
Pro-communist government ‘freely’ elected
, Hungary Aug Rigged elections held and communists won, by 1949 was a one-party state
1947 with all other parties banned
Bulgaria Late A coalition of left-wing parties took over
1944 Nov 1945 ‘free’ elections won by communists, abolished all other political
parties and executed any opposers
Romania Feb Coalition government dominated by communists
1945 USSR forced the King to appoint a communist PM
By the middle of 1945, communists were in control
1947 monarchy abolished
East Germany 1945 ‘free’ elections won by communist government
1949 became a separate communist state – The German Democratic
Republic
Greece Greek communists were unsuccessful as USA and Britain supported them in
a civil war against the government, defeated in 1949
Yugoslavia Communist resistance fought Germany and its’ leader Tito was elected as
President in 1945
Never occupied by USSR as Tito and Stalin got on well, but their relationship
deteriorated when Tito did not obey Moscow
Expelled from Cominform, had economic sanctions applied on it
Tito countered this by taking aid from the West
Czechoslovaki 1948 Coalition government, majority communist, tried to reinstate pre-war
a democracy which Stalin saw as a threat to the buffer zone he was creating
1948 Communists supported by the USSR and army seized control
Non-communists removed and rigged elections won by communists – other
political parties banned
The Baltic 1940 Conquered by USSR in 1940 and treated as part of the USSR, not a satellite
States state
Truman Speech 1947
Anti-communist USA will make its’ influence known in European affairs
Recognises importance in world peace
World peace needed as Soviet communism expands – threatens peace
The Truman Doctrine 1947
USA military to assess USSR military – in no position for war
Believed Stalin would encourage communist revolutions across Europe – communism was more
appealing post-war in poverty and hardships
Set out a new policy that stated that:
o The world had a choice between communist tyranny and democratic freedom
o USA had a responsibility to fight for liberty if threatened
o USA would send troops and economic resources to help governments that were threatened by
communists
o Communism should not be allowed to grow and gain territory
Important as it suggested USA not UN had a responsibility to protect the world – opposite to previous
stance of USA isolationism (staying out of international affairs)
Clearly stated that capitalism and communism were in opposition - no more co-operation between East
and West, unofficially ending the Grand Alliance and starting the Cold War
