Theme 1: Cold War – 1945-1991
In 1941 USA, USSR and Britain formed the ‘’Grand Alliance” to defeat Hitler.
1. The Yalta Conference February 1945
Grand Alliance (Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill) met in Yalta to decide fate of Germany
and fate of German-controlled eastern European countries
Divide Germany into 4 zones until they were ready for independent government
Agreed eastern Europe allowed to hold free elections and determine own governments.
2. Potsdam Conference July-August 1945
Germany was defeated in May 1945 and there was no more need for Grand Alliance
Soviet army was in control of much of eastern Europe
When Stalin had sent troops to eastern Europe to liberate them from Nazi control, he
kept troops in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and East Germany,
Stalin set up communist government in Poland; ignored wishes of Polish
Roosevelt died and replaced by Truman: more anti-communist and distrustful of Stalin
USA developed and tested first atomic bomb planned to use Japan
Stalin was furious USA had not informed him
Churchill was replaced by Attlee; explosion of suspicion and tension between Stalin and
Truman
A key area of disagreements between the leaders was what to do about Germany.
o Stalin wanted Germany to pay reparations for extensive damage they caused to USSR
o Truman did not want to create a bitter and hostile Germany. He realized that the harsh
terms of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 had pathed the way for Hitler’s rise to power.
Agreement was reached on the division of Germany into zones. The USSR would administer
the eastern zone while the USA, Britain and France would administer the western zones.
The capital city of Berlin, which was situated in the soviet zone, would also be divided
into four zones.
Germany would remain united and all four powers work together economically with
long term goal of keeping Germany as one country.
3. The Creation of Spheres of Influence
In atmosphere of tension and suspicion after WW2, both superpowers attempted to
strengthen their control over parts of Europe – the USSR in eastern Europe and the USA
in western Europe
In this was they began to create spheres of influence.
Stalin created satellite states in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and East Germany.
There was a communist coup in Czechoslovakia in 1948 which seemed to confirm
western suspicions that USSR was seeking to expand its influence and control.
, USA, Britain and France resented Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe and were worried
that communists’ governments would come to power in Greece, Italy and France
In 1946, during a speech, Churchill warned of an ‘’Iron Curtain” that was dividing Europe
into East and West.
4. The USA’s Policy of Containment: The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
The USA adopted a policy of containment to contain the spread of communism.
The Truman Doctrine
In Greece, civil war broken out between communist guerilla forces and Greek
government.
A similar situation in Turkey and was believed that Soviets were supporting communists
in both countries.
In March 1947, Truman asked congress for permission to send money, military
equipment and advice to any country threatened by a communist country.
This speech became known as Truman Doctrine
Almost immediately US aid was sent to the Greek and Turkish government, allowing
both countries to defeat communist guerilla forces.
Stalin would obviously be infuriated by this US military and economic aid.
The Marshall Plan
Truman believed that more than military aid was needed to prevent spread of
communism.
He sent George Marshall to Europe to investigate the post war economic situation there
Marshall reported that much of Europe had been destroyed by war and people were
suffering.
His visit paved way for Marshall Plan: US Congress would make 17 billion dollars of aid
available to the countries of western Europe to help them rebuild.
The Soviet Response to Marshall Aid
No soviet satellite states accept aid: increased divisions between east and west.
In 1947, Stalin set up the Communist Information Cominform, to coordinate the
communist parties of Eastern Europe. He used Cominform to keep a tight control over
the Soviet satellite countries.
He made sure communist leaders were loyal to him and replace those who were not
In 1949 the USSR formed Comecon (the Council for Mutual Economic Aid) in the eastern
bloc; and this was later joined by Cuba and Vietnam.
5. The Berlin Crises (1948 to 1961)
In 1941 USA, USSR and Britain formed the ‘’Grand Alliance” to defeat Hitler.
1. The Yalta Conference February 1945
Grand Alliance (Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill) met in Yalta to decide fate of Germany
and fate of German-controlled eastern European countries
Divide Germany into 4 zones until they were ready for independent government
Agreed eastern Europe allowed to hold free elections and determine own governments.
2. Potsdam Conference July-August 1945
Germany was defeated in May 1945 and there was no more need for Grand Alliance
Soviet army was in control of much of eastern Europe
When Stalin had sent troops to eastern Europe to liberate them from Nazi control, he
kept troops in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and East Germany,
Stalin set up communist government in Poland; ignored wishes of Polish
Roosevelt died and replaced by Truman: more anti-communist and distrustful of Stalin
USA developed and tested first atomic bomb planned to use Japan
Stalin was furious USA had not informed him
Churchill was replaced by Attlee; explosion of suspicion and tension between Stalin and
Truman
A key area of disagreements between the leaders was what to do about Germany.
o Stalin wanted Germany to pay reparations for extensive damage they caused to USSR
o Truman did not want to create a bitter and hostile Germany. He realized that the harsh
terms of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 had pathed the way for Hitler’s rise to power.
Agreement was reached on the division of Germany into zones. The USSR would administer
the eastern zone while the USA, Britain and France would administer the western zones.
The capital city of Berlin, which was situated in the soviet zone, would also be divided
into four zones.
Germany would remain united and all four powers work together economically with
long term goal of keeping Germany as one country.
3. The Creation of Spheres of Influence
In atmosphere of tension and suspicion after WW2, both superpowers attempted to
strengthen their control over parts of Europe – the USSR in eastern Europe and the USA
in western Europe
In this was they began to create spheres of influence.
Stalin created satellite states in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and East Germany.
There was a communist coup in Czechoslovakia in 1948 which seemed to confirm
western suspicions that USSR was seeking to expand its influence and control.
, USA, Britain and France resented Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe and were worried
that communists’ governments would come to power in Greece, Italy and France
In 1946, during a speech, Churchill warned of an ‘’Iron Curtain” that was dividing Europe
into East and West.
4. The USA’s Policy of Containment: The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
The USA adopted a policy of containment to contain the spread of communism.
The Truman Doctrine
In Greece, civil war broken out between communist guerilla forces and Greek
government.
A similar situation in Turkey and was believed that Soviets were supporting communists
in both countries.
In March 1947, Truman asked congress for permission to send money, military
equipment and advice to any country threatened by a communist country.
This speech became known as Truman Doctrine
Almost immediately US aid was sent to the Greek and Turkish government, allowing
both countries to defeat communist guerilla forces.
Stalin would obviously be infuriated by this US military and economic aid.
The Marshall Plan
Truman believed that more than military aid was needed to prevent spread of
communism.
He sent George Marshall to Europe to investigate the post war economic situation there
Marshall reported that much of Europe had been destroyed by war and people were
suffering.
His visit paved way for Marshall Plan: US Congress would make 17 billion dollars of aid
available to the countries of western Europe to help them rebuild.
The Soviet Response to Marshall Aid
No soviet satellite states accept aid: increased divisions between east and west.
In 1947, Stalin set up the Communist Information Cominform, to coordinate the
communist parties of Eastern Europe. He used Cominform to keep a tight control over
the Soviet satellite countries.
He made sure communist leaders were loyal to him and replace those who were not
In 1949 the USSR formed Comecon (the Council for Mutual Economic Aid) in the eastern
bloc; and this was later joined by Cuba and Vietnam.
5. The Berlin Crises (1948 to 1961)
