PowerPoint Presentation

The Cold WarReasons for the Cold War in Europe

Superpowers

The cold warBetween 2 superpowers; USA and the USSR1945 1991 (Right after the war till the fall of the Soviet UnionCompeted in many areas to prove that their way of life was better

Reasons for the cold warIdeological ConflictDistrust during WWII: A Necessary AlliancePost WWII developments: Deterioration in US-SU ties

Key Differences between USA & SU

5

1. Ideological ConflictUSADemocracyCapitalisticFreedomEconomy: Profit-Driven, Market Economy, Private Ownership

USSR (Soviet Union)CommunistSocialistWorkers in democracy are not free since they work as slavesEconomy: Command Economy, government controlled

1. Ideological ConflictUSA was afraid Communism would spread to their countryUS helped the anti-communist forces in Russia during the Russian Civil War (1917 1922)USSR viewed it as an attempt to overthrow Communism in RussiaLenin, leader of USSR, set up the Comintern (Communist International)Comintern made USA even more afraid of the USSR

Comintern: An international communist organization that fights for world communism.

2. Distrust during WWII

SU (Jun 1941)USA (Dec 1941)Germany

2. Distrust during WWII3 Examples

Delay in opening of 2nd FrontDisagreements during the Yalta Conference and the Potsdam ConferenceUS Nuclear Monopoly

2. Distrust during WWIIEven though both USA and USSR were allies in WWII, they still viewed each other with suspicionExample: USSR was under a lot of pressure from the German ArmyStalin appealed for 2nd Front in France to relieve pressure on SU in 19412nd front was only opened in 1944USSR thought the USA was delaying opening a second frontStalin felt the Allies were waiting for Germany and SU to fight and destroy each otherIncreased mistrust between SU and USA

2. Distrust during WWIIYalta Conference (Feb 1945, before Germanys surrender)Discuss what to do with Germany after the WarAttended by: Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin

2. Distrust during WWIIYalta ConferenceThe Allies agreed that Germany was to be divided into 4 zones The Allies agreed that the Nazi war criminals will be brought to trial* The Allies agreed that USSR would help USA fight Japan in the Asia-Pacific while North Korea would be given to the USSR after the war is over However, the Allies disagreed on free elections in Poland. The USA wanted Poland to have free elections but the USSR wanted Poland to be under their control The Allies disagreed on Germany* The USA wanted Germany to recover but the USSR wanted Germany to remain weak*

2. Distrust during WWIIPotsdam Conference (July 1945, after Germanys surrender)Finish up discussion at YaltaAttended by: Atlee, Truman, Stalin

2. Distrust during WWIIPotsdam Conference The Allies agreed to demilitarised Germany* The Allies still could not agree on how to divide up Germany into four zones* The Allies agreed that there should be reparations by Germany* But they could not agree on the sum* The Allies agreed that there should be free elections in EuropeBut Stalin insist that there can only be Soviet friendly government in Eastern EuropeSuch differences and disagreements led the USA to believe that USSR wanted to spread CommunismThe differences and disagreements led the USSR to believe that the USA wanted to keep USSR weakSuch poor relations between the USSR and the West at the Potsdam Conference showed that the wartime alliance had come to an end

2. Distrust during WWIIUS nuclear monopolythe dropping of the atomic bombs on JapanThe USA has been secretly developing the atomic bomb since 1942They kept it a secret from the USSR However Stalin knew about it because of his spies* One of the reasons President Truman used the atomic bomb because he wanted to show USSR his countrys strength Stalin was worried that the USA kept it a secret from them because they wanted to make sure they are the only country in the world with the atomic bomb and to keep USSR weak through these bombs. USSR then went ahead and develop their own atomic bombs by 1949 This led to an arms race between both countries and the start of the Cold War

3. Post WWII developmentsPolicy of ContainmentTruman Doctrine, Marshall Plan (economic)

3. Post WWII developmentsTruman DoctrineThe Truman Doctrine was set up so that the USA can help other democratic countries when they were threatened by communism*President Truman believed if he doesnt help these countries, more of them will turn communism and finally threaten American influence*Successful in Greece and TurkeyMarshall PlanEconomic Aid to all countries in Europe whether the country was under communist influence or notCommunism spreads in weaker countries as it is one way to recover from its economic problemWith financial aid, it would make Communism unattractiveIn response, the USSR came up with ComeconBut it was weaker than the Marshall Plan

Marshall PlanTo build a prosperous Western Europe able to resist Communism16 countries including Britain, France and West GermanyUS$13bn in total of aids/loansDivided Western and Eastern Europe economicallyWestern Europe developed faster than Eastern Europe

Manifestations of the cold warManifestation: Results

Spheres of influenceEurope was divided along political and economic linesWestern Europe was under USA sphere of influence and they accepted USA Marshall Plan Eastern Europe was under USSR sphere of influence and they accepted Comecon

Western EuropeConsisted of Independent & Democratic States i.e Austria, Switzerland & BelgiumEastern Europe (Soviet Sphere of Influence) Soviet bloc of satellite countries

Churchills Iron Curtain Speech

Berlin Blockade (24 June 1948 12 May 1949)

Berlin Blockade (24 June 1948 12 May 1949)Stalin was afraid that Germany would become stronger and become a threat to SU & wanted to force Allies out of BerlinStalin planned to block food supply to West Berlin by blocking road and railway links between East & West Germany

Berlin Blockade (24 June 1948 12 May 1949)Tensions between the two superpowers reached its first high point over control of GermanyThe capital of Germany, Berlin was in the Soviet Zone but it was also divided into four sectors of occupationStalin however tried to block movement of supplies into West Berlin water and landHe also blocked electricityStalins aim was to starve West Berlin and to keep Germany divided and weak

Berlin Blockade (24 June 1948 12 May 1949)But the Western powers wanted to prevent the problem of poverty which might encourage the Germans to seek change by turning to communismThe USA and Britain agreed to transport supplies into West Berlin by air the only channel not blocked by StalinThe Berlin Airlift flew supplies into West Berlin for 11 monthsThe Soviets did not shoot the planes as it may be seen as an act of warKnowing that the blockade had failed, Stalin had no choice but the reopen the land and sea route to West BerlinThe failure of the blockade humiliated the Soviet UnionIt also boosted the credibility of the Western powers

In May 1949, the French, US and Britain zones became the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)In October, the Soviet zones became German Democratic Republic (East Germany)

West GermanyKnown as: German Federal RepublicDemocratic (supported by US)East GermanyKnown as: German Democratic RepublicCommunist (supported by SU)

Berlin BlockadeHow does the Berlin Blockade contributed to the Cold War?

The Berlin Blockade looked like Stalin was trying to take over the city. When the Blockade happened, the people in West Berlin faced starvation. Thats why the West decided to supply West Berlin by air. The crisis showed the competition and hostility between the superpowers.

Military Alliances North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) The USA feared that the Western European countries would negotiate with the Soviet Union over their security worries Thus, an alliance of USA and the Western Europe countries was needed to strengthen the security of EuropeThe Western European countries were also fearful of an aggressive Soviet Union and were interested in a collective security agreement with the USATherefore, under NATO, the member states agreed that they would come to each others defence if they were attacked by any external party

Military Alliances Warsaw PactIn reaction to NATO, the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw PactThis was an alliance with the Eastern European statesSimilar to NATO, under the Warsaw Pact, the member states agreed that they would come to each others defence if they were attacked by any external party

Additional Material: Berlin Wall