Full mark (20/20) GCSE Edexcel History essay on the cold war, more specifically a question that asks you to explain two of three options: The fall of the Berlin wall, the Potsdam conference or the Cuban missile crisis. It was marked by an experienced GCSE history teacher. The essay was done as a pr...
- The importance of the Potsdam Conference (1945) for the development of the Cold War
- The importance of the building of the Berlin Wall (1961) for relations between the USA
and the Soviet Union
- The importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) for relations between the USA and the
Soviet Union
Firstly, the Potsdam conference in 1945 was important for the development of the cold war as it was
the first time the difference of thoughts between Stalin and Truman were highlighted. Since the
Yalta conferences 5 months of great change had taken place. The Soviet troops were more
occupying rather than liberating eastern Europe and Stalin was ignoring the wishes of the newly
occupied countries like in Poland, where a new communist government was set up. Furthermore,
unlike assumption between the two superpowers: only the West took part in demilitarisation while
the Red Army continued expanding becoming the largest army. At the conference further
disagreements were made about the handling of Germany, Stalin wanting a permanently crippled
Germany while Truman believing the country just needed a guide into a fair democratic direction
under temporary supervision. Differed views were also expressed upon free elections within the
newly 'liberated countries', however Stalin refused US pressure of free democratic elections,
believing it was an unwelcome interference. Truman was furious by these disagreements and Stalin
himself felt unincluded in world affairs after the successful American nuclear bomb test was
conveyed to him late. This was therefore an important development for the cold war as it was the
driving force for its cause.
Secondly, the Potsdam conference was an important feature of the cold war for its development as
it created new rivalry between the once close allies. At the Potsdam conference a final agreement
was finally settled that Germany shall be divided into four zones, as well as Berlin. Half belonged to
the three western allies and the other half to the USSR with capitalism in the west and communism
in the west in both Berlin and the country as a whole. This created unmatched rivalry between the
allies as they attempted to make their ideology of ruling a country superior. As the east struggled
economically the Western capitalisation prospered and it was nowhere more evident than in
Germany. Millions defected to the west leaving the eastern factories empty and the economy
worsened there even more. Infuriated Stalin and the USSR poured more money into the arms race
etc to express superiority over the west to no avail, however this expressed the intense rivalry
forming between the two superpowers as a consequence to the Potsdam conference. Therefore, it
was an important feature for the development of the cold war.
An initial reason why the building of the Berlin wall in 1961 was important for the relations between
the USA and the Soviet Union was because it heavily expressed the division between the East and
West on a more 'personal' level for the leaders as both had been trying to sway Berlin towards their
political views. It also closed an underlying gap within the Iron curtain. Its height and infamously well
guarded characteristics made it impossible to climb over, separating families and friends across
Berlin overnight. This action by the USSR increased hostility between the two superpowers as it
breached numerous agreements made about Berlin and was perceived as an act of aggression by the
Soviet Union. Furthermore, Kennedy's lack of possible actions he could take against the wall left the
allies in a vulnerable position in Berlin. Overall all this expressed to the world that the tensions
between the USA and USSR were increasing and no collaboration was taking place.
Another reason why the building of the Berlin wall in 1961 was important for the relations between
the USA and the Soviet Union was because it led to a major standoff at checkpoint Charlie. The USA
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