This document includes all of the information of the Cold War topic for GCSE history, beginning at 1941 with the conferences held by the superpowers and ending in 1991 when the Warsaw pact was formally dissolved. I received a grade 9 in history GCSE for the 2023 GCSE exams and used the notes here t...
Cold War 1941-91
The origins of the Cold War, 1941-1958
The three conferences
Tehran Conference Yalta Conference Potsdam Conference
Leaders Roosevelt, Stalin and Roosevelt, Stalin and Truman, Stalin and
Churchill Churchill Churchill
Date November 1943 February 1945 July 1945
Agreements Britain and USA agree to USSR enter war against Germany and Berlin to
open up a second front Japan. be split and
invading France in May Germany and Berlin to demilitarised.
1944. be divided into 4 zones: Free elections in
USSR wage war against US, UK, USSR, and Germany.
Japan once Germany France. Germany to pay
defeated. Eastern Europe to be a reparations in
UN to be set up after Soviet Sphere of equipment and
war. influence. materials.
East Poland added to All countries liberated Nazi Party to be banned.
Soviet Union. from German army to
have free elections.
Consequences:
Tehran conference: US-USSR relations improved. During the conference Roosevelt was not well and
tended to side with Stalin rather than Churchill. Also agreed on many things. United Nations was set
up in 1945. Agreed during conference UN to be set up after the war and was to develop friendly
relations and ensure peace to avoid another world war.
Yalta Conference: Berlin was to be divided into 4 zones. Each sector would be occupied and
administrated by one of the Allies – UK, USSR, US and France. Eastern Europe became a Soviet Sphere
of influence. This was one of the agreements made during the conference where the USSR would
control the Baltic states.
Potsdam Conference: US-USSR relations worsened. Stalin broke his promise in the Yalta conference of
free elections in Eastern Europe and Truman hated Stalin and communism in general and arguments
over where boundaries between zones would be. Berlin to be divided into 4 zones. Each sector would
be occupied and administrated by one of the Allies – UK, USSR, US and France.
Between the Yalta and Potsdam conferences, USA had tested the atomic bomb and Soviet troops had
liberated countries in E. Europe but didn’t remove military presence.
Soviet Expansion
The countries that became freed by the USSR of Nazi control became known as satellite states because Stalin
wanted communism to spread and have control over these countries.
Poland: 1945 coalition government was set up. 1947, elections were rigged to ensure the communist
party would win.
Romania: 1945 coalition government was set up. Then the Red Army disarmed Romanian army and
forced the king to elect Petru Groza as communist leader. 1946, elections were rigged (80% votes)
and became communist government.
Bulgaria: 1944 communist dominated government which was set up and in 1945 elections were
rigged banning all other parties.
, Czechoslovakia: 1947, communists were largest party in the coalition and controlled police and armed
forces. 1948, Red army was used to seize control of the country. Then rigged elections to ban parties.
Yugoslavia: Tito (leader) didn’t want to take orders from Stalin and accepted aid from the west.
Hungary: (said in Hungarian uprising)
Consequences:
US-USSR relations worsened. USSR used Comecon to control the economies of the satellite
states and give USSR their resources. Marshall Plan. As a result of communism starting to spread
Truman wished to contain it so in order that countries don’t have to turn communist, $17 billion
was given to Europe in equipment, aid and advice by 1953.
Telegrams (1946)
Long telegram: Telegram from US ambassador in the USSR warning Truman of Soviet expansion into Eastern
Europe and greatly influenced Truman’s policy of containment and his doctrine.
Novikov Telegram sent to Stalin by Novikov stating that the US wanted to use their military to dominate the
world and Americans didn’t want to cooperate with the Soviets.
Truman Doctrine (1947)
Truman believed the USSR wanted to spread communism first to East and then Western Europe. His aim was
to stop this which became known as containment. He did this by using the atomic bomb and US’s superior
economic strength. Also, he was prepared to send money, equipment and advice to contain communism.
Since 1944 there was a civil war in Greece which Britain could no longer support so the US decided to give aid
($400 million) to the Greek royalists which ensured they won against the Soviets and stopped Greece become
under Soviet influence.
Consequences:
Marshall Plan. As a result of communism starting to spread Truman wished to contain it so in
order that countries don’t have to turn communist, $17 billion was given to Europe in
equipment, aid and advice by 1953. Greek royalists defeated the communists. (Facts above)
Marshall Plan
To ensure Truman’s policy of containment, the US came up with the Marshall plan which included sending aid
in the form of money, equipment, and advice. Aid was offered to all of Europe and secured US’s place in affairs
with Europe. By 1953, $17 billion was given which helped to recover the effects of WWII.
Consequences:
US-USSR relations worsened. Stalin accused US of using the plan for selfish interests and to only
boost the US economy. Also, Yugoslavia accepted aid which was in Western Europe. Comecon.
Set up so USSR could support E. Europe countries financially but was used to control the
economies of the states and give USSR access to their resources.
Cominform and Comecon
Cominform Comecon
Date 1947 1949
Purpose Political organisation. Satellite Set up so USSR could support E.
states had to follow Soviet aims in Europe countries financially but
foreign policy and allowed was used to control the
collectivisation of agriculture. economies of the states and give
USSR access to their resources
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