KEY TOPIC 1: THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR, 1941-58
Early Tension Between East and West:
Origins of Cold War:
Before the Cold War, Britain, USA and Soviet Union, worked together as members of the
Grand Alliance, created in 1941 to defeat Nazi Germany.
However there were strains in the alliances because of different attitudes of the three
leaders, - Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill
The Tehran Conference:
November 1943
The Soviet Union would declare war on Japan once Germany was defeated.
The boundaries of Poland would be moved westwards, Poland would gain territory
from Germany and lose it to the Soviet Union.
An international body would be set up to settle future disputes between countries. Set
the scene for the establishment of the United Nations.
Agreed the USSR would have a “sphere of influence” in Eastern Europe in which
Communism was respected. This would guarantee that the USSR was not threatened by
any of its neighboring countries, same for Western Europe where Capitalism dominant.
Did not agree on Germany’s future – Stalin wanted to punish Germany for starting WW2
by being forced to giver up territory and pay reparations, Roosevelt and Churchill
believed Germany should be rebuilt.
The Yalta Conference:
February 1945
Germany, when defeated would be demilitarized, reduced in size and divided. It would
have to pay reparations.
Agreed Poland would be in the “Soviet sphere of influence” and would have a
communist government
The Soviet Union would declare war on Japan once Germany was defeated.
Disagreed as the Soviets and US had different concepts on democracy. Stalin believed a
democratic government had to be a communist government but Roosevelt believed
democracy involved a number of different political parties competing to win peoples
support from elections, when the Soviets agreed to free elections in Poland but could
not be enforced.
Disagreed on how much Germany had to pay reparations. Stalin wanted a much higher
figure than Roosevelt of Churchill. Increased tension, delayed decision until next
conference.
The Potsdam Conference:
July 1945
Agreed to divide Germany into four zones of occupation run by Britain, France, USA ad
the Soviet Union.
Size of Germany to be reduced in size by a quarter
Disagreement on the Reparations imposed on Germany
o Stalin wanted high value to make Germany weak so they did not pose a threat
o USA and Britain wanted to rebuild Germany.
, o Led to opposing views from both countries triggering tension and disagreement
between the two countries leading to rivalry, different visions for country’s
future.
o Consequence: the conference agreed a compromise where each ally would take
reparations from the zone they occupied, less than Stalin wanted as part of
Germany he controlled was poorer and much less industry.
o So agreed Stalin could have 25% of industrial equipment in the Western zones.
Consequence:
o Tension and suspicion caused between Stalin and Truman, during conference
Truman attempted to assert authority by firstly postponing conference to give
American scientists time to develop first atomic bomb,
o Following its success Truman changed as believed America possessed the
ultimate weapon and had power to destroy enemies without risking human life.
o Truman’s arrogance created a sense of mistrust and fear
o Stalin at conference showed no interest in the bomb but after in 1940, already
instructed Soviet scientists to develop one of their own
o Led to Stalin more than ever determined to protect the interests of the USSR,
which soured Truman’s and Stalin’s relationship.
End of Grand Alliance:
After Germanys surrender in May 1945, the Grand Alliance started to come to an end.
Roosevelt, key figure in holding the Alliance together, believed that the USA could work
with the Soviet Union after war.
His successor Truman, was more suspicious of the Soviet Union and did not trust Stalin
which increase tension between the superpowers and the start of the Cold War
Ideological Differences:
Differences in ideology between the USA and Soviet Union increased tension.
Britain and USA: believed in capitalism which was based on freedom and democracy:
everyone should be free and make money for themselves, trade between countries
makes everyone richer, several parties.
Soviet Union: Said capitalism exploited workers to make rich even richer. Based on
fairness everyone is equal, state should take control of economy and run it to benefit the
people, only one political party policy
Long and Novikov Telegrams:
Long Telegram (1946): Americas ambassador to Truman that Stalin has given a speech
calling for the destruction of Capitalism, there could be no peace with the USSR while it
was opposed to capitalism, USSR was building up its military power – made relations
between superpowers worse, greatly influenced Truman’s policy of containment
Novikov’s Telegram (1946): sent to Stalin in Sept 1946 by Soviet ambassador, the USA
wanted world domination and was building up its military strength, Soviet Union was
the only country that could stand up to the USA, the USA was preparing its people for
war with the Soviet Union, following Roosevelt’s death America no longer interested in
co-operation with the Soviet Union – this hardened Stalin’s attitude towards the USA
and worsened relationship with the USA
Satellite States:
, Stalin after the conferences took control of Eastern Europe under his sphere of
influence.
Gained control by establishing one-party states in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary,
Romania and Bulgaria using salami tactics
Also set up bodies on the Eastern Bloc including Cominform and Comecon (later on)
At Yalta and Potsdam conferences Stalin agreed to hold free elections in countries under
his sphere of influence
However Soviet Union fixed elections making sure the Communist Party.
Once in power, the communists shut down the opposition parties and each country
became a single-partied state.
USA saw the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe as betrayal of the Yalta agreement, in
which Stalin made promises about democratic elections.
Evidence for Soviet expansion, Eastern Europe a stepping-stone to a Soviet Takeover of
Western Europe.
USA was determined to contain communism through military and economic assistance
Truman Doctrine and Marshall Aid.
Soviet Union argued that it needed to control Eastern Europe as a buffering zone,
protecting it from attack from the West. The US response was unreasonable and
unnecessary.
Bulgaria: communist government 1945, non-communists elected executed.
Romania: communist led coalition took power, 1947 communist taken over to form a
one party state.
Hungary: communists lost in 1945, communist leader Rakosi used secret police, execute
and imprisoned opponents so communists would win.
Czechoslovakia: Edward Benes set up coalition government, however communists
retained control of the army, the radio and the secret police. 1948 seized power
completely turning country into a Communist state.
East Germany: original Soviet occupation zone became communist state Oct 1949.
Poland: Yalta Stalin promised to set up communist/non-communist government,
Invited 16 non-communist leaders and arrested them. Thousands of non-communists
arrested became communist state.
Iron Curtain Speech:
March 1946, made by Churchill, with the Iron Curtain being an imaginary line that
divided communist East from capitalist west in Europe.
Churchill suggested an alliance between Britain and the USA to prevent further Soviet
expansion.
The speech further worsened relations between the two sides of the Cold War with
Stalin seeing it as deliberately provocative.
The Development of the Cold War:
The Truman Doctrine (1947):
