Full note pack on the whole Cold War. The notes are sufficient for studying the cold war in the Matric syllabus.
from 1945 to the collapse of the USSR. These notes were created by an A aggregate history student. They have been checked by IEB history teachers.
EARLY TENSIONS BEFORE THE COLD WAR
The tensions started in 1917 when the new communist government was
established, it was not trusted by the west
In 1918 Russia concluded the treaty of Brest litovsk (ending Russia
involvement in WWI under harsh conditions with Germany) this angered
the west
The allies left Russia out of the discussions at Versailles, this angered
Russia
In 1918 a civil war broke out in Russia and the allies supported the
revolutionists (white army)
The USSR was isolated for most of the 20s and 30s but in 1939 she was
allowed to join the league of nations
Signing of the Nazi-soviet pact = Russia feared the west
When the USSR and the west joined forces in WWII there was tension
between the armies
There was constant fear that one side would betray the other and join
forces with Germany
Atom bomb was kept secret from Russia (until Potsdam)
1946 Churchill made the “iron curtain” speech
WARTIME CONFERENCES
,CONFERENCE DECISIONS IMPACT
Tehran 1943 o Britain and USA would not invade By limiting western
Germany through Greece involvement they
o This left the red army to defeat the recognized the supremacy
Germans in east Europe of Russia in this area
Yalta 1945 o Germany was divided Disagreements over Poland
o countries Liberated from Nazis created tension
would hold free elections to
determine what government they
wanted
o UN created
o Stalin wanted the soviet border to
be shifted west but Churchill
opposed
Potsdam 1945 o Stalin wanted to cripple Germany Tensions intensified over
and make them pay reparations disagreements
o Truman wanted to help Germany Truman adopted get tough
recover so they could trade with attitude towards soviet
each other union
o Truman opposed establishments of
pro-soviet governments in east
Europe
o Truman notified Stalin of the atomic
bomb
INTRODUCTION
o Ideological feud between communist Russia and capitalist USA
o Third bloc emerged = china
o Allies and Russia joined in WWII
o Post war period was discussed at Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam
, WHY WAS STALIN INTERESTED IN EASTERN EUROPE
1. Stalin wanted to create buffer states between the west and the USSR to
prevent attacks
2. Stalin wanted to set up soviet governments in eastern Europe so that he
could trade with these countries and have access to their resources for
industrialisation
DEFINITION
The state of intense competition. Political, economic and ideological which did
not reach the stage of armed conflict
Some areas did erupt into a shooting war:
The superpowers have come close to confrontation (Korea) but instead
they support opposing sides in mini wars e.g. Vietnam (war on proxy)
Characteristics:
1. Ideological struggle
2. USA policy of containment
3. International phenomenon
4. World crisis due to fear and mistrust of powers
5. Powers providing aid to countries they want to influence
6. Nuclear and arms race from 1961
Due to MAD (mutually assured destruction) the powers used weapons like:
Economics
Propaganda
Diplomacy
Dollar diplomacy
USSR used communist regimes in east Europe
Espionage
Veto rights when threatened (UN)
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