The Cold War in Europe: chapter 1
Origins of the Cold War to 1945
Relationships before 1945
Bolshevik revolution of 1917
o USA took part in Russia civil war to defeat Bolshevik threat but were
unsuccessful
There were attempts to normalise relations, but tensions always remained
USSR formed in December 1922 and is the first country in the world to be
based on Marxist socialism
Opposing ideologies
o Communism v capitalism
o The west feared the spread of Communism as it was seen as a
threat to their own values
Britain and USA not keen on engaging with Stalin
Relationship during WW2
Germany invades USSR (June 1941)
o Stalin was desperate for help, caught by surprise
o USSR and Britain worked together as they had a bigger common
enemy- the Nazi’s
Fear of the Nazi’s was larger than Britain and the USA’s fear
of the spread of communism
Unexpected allies
Anglo- Soviet Treaty (July 1941)
Tensions emerging during the war
o Opening of a second front- made Stalin suspicious of the motives of
the west
Causes the alliance to start breaking down
o Policy of Appeasement- indirectly heightened Stalin’s paranoia
o Nazi- Soviet pact (1939)
Supported USA notion that Soviets were not to be trusted
Wartime conferences
Stalin wanted to achieve a ‘sphere of influence’/ buffer zone
Tehran conference (November 1943)
o Held in USSR embassy in Tehran, Iran
o Stalin agreed to join war against Japan
o Anglo- American force to invade France
o USSR to gain Polish territory
o Would only accept an unconditional German surrender
o Clear disagreements with the Big Three about post- war Europe
Origins of the Cold War to 1945
Relationships before 1945
Bolshevik revolution of 1917
o USA took part in Russia civil war to defeat Bolshevik threat but were
unsuccessful
There were attempts to normalise relations, but tensions always remained
USSR formed in December 1922 and is the first country in the world to be
based on Marxist socialism
Opposing ideologies
o Communism v capitalism
o The west feared the spread of Communism as it was seen as a
threat to their own values
Britain and USA not keen on engaging with Stalin
Relationship during WW2
Germany invades USSR (June 1941)
o Stalin was desperate for help, caught by surprise
o USSR and Britain worked together as they had a bigger common
enemy- the Nazi’s
Fear of the Nazi’s was larger than Britain and the USA’s fear
of the spread of communism
Unexpected allies
Anglo- Soviet Treaty (July 1941)
Tensions emerging during the war
o Opening of a second front- made Stalin suspicious of the motives of
the west
Causes the alliance to start breaking down
o Policy of Appeasement- indirectly heightened Stalin’s paranoia
o Nazi- Soviet pact (1939)
Supported USA notion that Soviets were not to be trusted
Wartime conferences
Stalin wanted to achieve a ‘sphere of influence’/ buffer zone
Tehran conference (November 1943)
o Held in USSR embassy in Tehran, Iran
o Stalin agreed to join war against Japan
o Anglo- American force to invade France
o USSR to gain Polish territory
o Would only accept an unconditional German surrender
o Clear disagreements with the Big Three about post- war Europe
