During the Second World War, Russia, America and Britain had put their ideological differences aside in order to win the war against Germany. Europe was economically shattered at the end of the war and countries such as Britain and France were no longer able to play leading roles in the world as they had before the war. This opened the way for two superpowers to emerge: the Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States of America (USA). The tensions between them that re-emerged after World War II led to decades of rivalry and tension that became known as the Cold War.
WHAT IS A COLD WAR?
A cold war is a state of political tension and military rivalry that stops short of full-scale war. The threat of new and even deadlier weapons of nuclear technology prevented outright open warfare between the USA and the USSR, although they came close to it on various occasions. Conflict was conducted through proxy wars, the manipulation of more vulnerable states through extensive military and financial aid, espionage, propaganda, rivalry over technological, space and nuclear races and even through international sports events. The Cold War ended with the disintegration of the Soviet Union from 1989 and the creation of a united, independent Germany in October 1990.
ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR
WW2: USSR, USA & UK fought alongside one another. USSR – Stalin (implementing the 5 year plans at the time). USA – Roosevelt (implementing the New Deal at the time). February 1945: Yalta conference – BIG 3 have their first meeting. Decision to divide and occupy Germany. Undecided over Poland. July 1945: Leadership replaced. USA: Truman – against working with USSR and communism. UK: Clement Attlee. Led to a variety of issues: Stalin only leader with experience. Disagreements over German reparations. The Atomic bomb (USSR felt intimidated//USA asserting its authority) October 1945: Truman presented a speech stating the USA won’t tolerate communism. Affected USA’s relationship with UK and USSR.
SPHERES OF INTEREST A territorial region with political, economic or military advantages which appeal to another country; said country the influences, forces or persuades the region to serve its purposes. Satellite States/Buffer States refers to Russia taking over independent states and spreading communism. Red Army advanced through Eastern Europe. Set up temporary pro-communism governments. The Soviet Union refused to consider uniting East Germany with the West. Stalin continued to spread his influence throughout the East. On 5 March 1946 Churchill declared, in a speech, that there was an Iron Curtain which descended across Europe. Many Americans and politicians felt Churchill was trying to create further conflict.
IRON CURTAIN: a theoretical barrier separating the former Soviet bloc and the West prior to the decline of communism that followed the political events in eastern Europe in 1989.
POLICY OF CONTAINMENT Contain: To prevent something from spreading. USA wanted to contain (prevent) the spread of communism. This policy was implemented due to the USSR’s growing influence (policy of expansion buffer states). This policy had two components: The Truman Doctrine The Marshall Plan
THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE:
Aid to countries fighting communism. Prevent communism from spreading into Europe. Marked a formal declaration of the Cold War. US President Truman announced that the USA would supply aid to Greece and Turkey as part of a containment policy to ‘contain’ communism – in other words, to prevent communism from spreading further into Europe. In many ways, the Truman Doctrine marked the formal declaration of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. Under the Truman Doctrine, the USA announced that aid would be made available to any country threatened by external Communist aggression.
THE MARSHALL PLAN:
Connected to the European Recovery Programme Overall plan to contain the spread of communism. US economic aid was made available for the reconstruction of industry in Europe. The principle or belief underlying the Marshall Plan was that whereas poverty would encourage the spread of Communist ideas; Economic recovery would prevent the spread of these ideas. Marshall Aid under the Marshall Plan was made available to all countries in Europe; Russia prevented her satellite states from applying for this aid. Marshall Aid contributed to the rebuilding of the West European economy after World War II, particularly in West Germany.
BERLIN CRISIS 1948 – 1961
Continued division of Berlin after WWII caused tension between USSR (communism) and the West (capitalism/democracy). In 1946 USA, Britain and France decided to combine their ones = West Germany. Berlin at the centre and also divided. West Germany implemented a new currency – led to economic success. Stalin wanted control over all of Berlin. USA refused.
BERLIN BLOCKADE: Stalin retaliated by preventing ALL transportation of goods/supplies from East to West. USA didn’t want to cause an international incident, decided to airlift supplies to the city (began in June 1948 & lasted for 10 months). Blockade (transport) lifted. West Germany renamed – German Federal Republic (GFR) East Germany renamed – German Democratic Republic (GDR)
BERLIN WALL: GDR stripped of industrial machinery and raw materials (taken as reparations). Standard of living was low. Constant migration from east to west led to strikes and revolts. To contain the situation East German soldiers erected barbed wire barriers along the East West border in Berlin overnight. East Germans were dissatisfied, led to uprisings – that were suppressed. Between 1949 and 1961 2 million East Germans left the GDR. Led to stricter border patrols (constructed barriers, police guards, transport units etc) 25 August 1961 – Crisis at Checkpoint Charlie. US representatives wanting to enter the Soviet zone were searched. Caused outrage. Led to Soviet and US tanks being stationed near Checkpoint Charlie. Crisis averted after intervention of Kennedy and Khrushchev. A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHECKPOINT CHARLIE, BERLIN: The famed Checkpoint Charlie has a long and suspenseful history as an American military stronghold during the Cold War. Beginning in 1947, Checkpoint C, nicknamed ‘Charlie’ by the Allies, was established as a crossing point between East and West Berlin, something that became increasingly important after the Wall was erected in 1961. Once the Wall was built, Checkpoint Charlie was the only official crossing point for Allied troops and foreigners between the two sides of the city. Checkpoint Charlie was the site of some tense standoffs between the two sides, and it gained fame as a symbol of division within the city as well as in world politics at large during this era. Later in the same year when construction began on the Wall, one of the most famous of such stalemates between the East and West occurred as part of the Berlin Crisis of 1958-61. Both American and Soviet tanks were lined up here, ready to fire at each other. It happened following a dispute as to whether the GDR guards were permitted to examine the travel documents belonging to an American diplomat, Allan Lightner. The gridlock lasted for six long days and attracted international attention as the Cold War was briefly on the brink of turning hot. In 1962, the death of the 18-year-old East Berliner Peter Fechter occurred at the Checkpoint as he attempted to climb over the wall and was subsequently shot by GDR guards before making it to the other side. US troops couldn’t come to his aid as he bled to death, caught in the barbed wire of the fence. This incident caused much protest and controversy.
