The Cold War Begins

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The Cold War Begins
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Cold War Begins

• During WWII an uneasy alliance between the US
  USSR emerged
• On surface gt pleasantries but hostilities
  simmered beneath
• Stalin vs. Truman relationship
• Mistrust over a-bomb
• FDR on good terms/respect

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Tip of the iceberg
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End of WWII

• Soviet Union
• 20 million died, 4.7 million homes destroyed,
  2000 towns 70,000 villages ruined, 25 million
  homeless
• Most concerned about protecting self from
  re-arming Germany rebuilding shattered econ
• Desired a permanently weak Germany

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End of WWII continued

• U.S.
• Emerged more powerful than when we entered WWII
• Controlled nearly 50 worlds wealth
• Visions of peace prosperity
• Re-build Germany Japan

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Cold War Map
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Origins of Cold War

• Diplomatic war of words (high tension bitter
  rivalry)
• U.S.-Soviet conflict in which 2 superpowers avoid
  fighting each other directly but blocked goals
  around the world
• 1920-30s U.S. viewed Soviets as potential enemy
  hostile to communism

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Causes of the Cold War

• Philosophical Differences
• USSR communist, totalitarian dictatorship
• U.S. free-enterprise capitalism, republic
• WWII Conflicts
• USSR wanted Britain US to open a 2nd European
  front earlier in war
• US secretly developed atomic bomb
• Postwar Conflicts
• USSR refused to live up to wartime promises of
  elections in E. Europe
• US made efforts to resist Soviet expansion

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Yalta Conference

• Yalta Conference
• Feb 1945 high point of cooperation
• Stalin agrees to join against Japan, pledged
  support to U.N.
• Disagreement over E. Europe
• US Britain wanted free elections gt Soviet
  dictator policies

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Post-WWII Developments

• Potsdam
• July 1945 (Germany surrendered but Japan
  continued
• Disarm Germany gt zones of occupation (Berlin)
• Iron Curtain
• Churchill speech reflects
• sharp division in Europe

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U.S. Response

• Containment
• Restriction of communism to its current borders
• George Keenan (young Amer diplomat to Moscow
  embassy)

• Truman Doctrine
• Soviets try to force Turks to share control of
  key shipping channel between Black
  Mediterranean Sea
• Greek govt fighting communist rebels
• Truman asks Congress for 400 million in military
  economic aid
• Defined U.S. foreign policy for next 20 years

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Marshall Plan

• June 1947 Secretary of State George Marshall
  suggests plan to rebuild Europe
• 14 billion in aid sent to Europe over 5 years
• 17 nations participated
• Britain, France, Italy received the most aid

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Cold War Deepens

• Berlin
• 4 zones of Germany divided including capital of
  Berlin
• Soviet plan to keep zone communist vs. US,
  British steps to set up free, democratic
  government (French later join)

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Berlin Crisis

• Western zone Federal Republic of Germany (W.
  Germany) with same currency
• Upset Soviets gt June 1948 blockade with 2 million
  West Berlin hostages
• Berlin Airlift (each day average 7000 tons of
  supplies, every 3 minutes to launch for 11 months
• Improved relations between US Germany
• Disaster for Stalin because world opinion turned
  against him