The origins of the cold war 1941-58
→ Early tension between East and West
● The Grand Alliance:
An alliance created in 1941 between USSR, USA and Great Britain
→ Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt. Described as a ‘marriage of
convenience’ with the aim of defeating the Nazis
● Consequences of the Tehran conference:
Britain and USA to open up a second front to split the German
defences (to ease pressure on USSR)
USSR to declare war on Japan once Germany defeated
USSR to gain land from Poland
→ No agreement made about the future of Germany
● Who attended Tehran (Iran): Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt
● Consequences of the Yalta conference:
Germany and Berlin to be split into 4 zones with USSR, France,
Britain and USA each in control of a zone
UN established
Once Germany defeated, reduced in size, demilitarised and pay
reparations
Spheres of influence agreed on
→ Stalin wanted Poland as a buffer zone but USA and GB
disagreed (not wanting communism to spread)
● Who attended Yalta (Crimea - modern day Ukraine): Churchill,
Stalin and Roosevelt
, ● Consequences of the Potsdam conference:
Denazification of Germany
Germany reduced in size and divided into 4 zones
Reparations to be paid in assets and labour
→ Stalin wanted Germany to pay high reparations and be treated
harshly but Truman disagreed
→ Stalin broke his promises made at Yalta and did not allow free
elections in eastern Europe and was setting up a communist
government in Poland
● Who attended Potsdam (Germany): Truman, Stalin and Atlee
● Ideological differences between USSR and USA:
USSR = Communism
Based on the work of Karl Marx, aimed to create an equal,
classless society. All property was taken by the state, no private
companies or private land. All the assets of Russia belonged to the
government. Communism prioritises the needs of the society over
the needs of the individuals. Dictatorship, total censorship and no
elections
USA = Capitalism
Massive inequality of opportunity and education - earn what they
deserve. Capitalism prioritises the rights of individuals. Democracy -
free elections and freedom of media.
● Stalin’s attitude:
Disliked Truman and Churchill but only cooperated with them due to
same aim of defeating the Nazis
, ● Truman’s attitude:
Truman took a hard line approach to communism and was less
willing to compromise with Stalin.
● Churchill’s attitude:
Churchill hated the communists and was quoted as saying the
soviet regime should have been ‘strangled at birth’
● Development of the atomic bomb on US-Soviet relations:
The impact on US-Soviet relations of the development of the atomic
bomb:
On the second day of the Potsdam conference, the US dropped the
first atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Then 3 days later, they dropped a
second on Hiroshima.
Truman felt more confident and hoped it would intimidate Stalin
and ensure his cooperation with the US.
Stalin was annoyed he had not been told of this and was even
more determined to create a buffer zone to protect the USSR.
However, in 1949, he successfully tested their first atomic bomb.
● The Long Telegram 1946:
George Kennan, an American ambassador in Moscow, wrote an
8000 word telegram to Truman stating:
Soviets were determined to destroy the American way of life
Can be beaten through propaganda without going to war.
There cannot be peace between USA and USSR
USSR are aggressive and suspicious
USSR view capitalism as a direct threat that needs to be destroyed
USSR would back down if faced with strong opposition
→ Early tension between East and West
● The Grand Alliance:
An alliance created in 1941 between USSR, USA and Great Britain
→ Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt. Described as a ‘marriage of
convenience’ with the aim of defeating the Nazis
● Consequences of the Tehran conference:
Britain and USA to open up a second front to split the German
defences (to ease pressure on USSR)
USSR to declare war on Japan once Germany defeated
USSR to gain land from Poland
→ No agreement made about the future of Germany
● Who attended Tehran (Iran): Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt
● Consequences of the Yalta conference:
Germany and Berlin to be split into 4 zones with USSR, France,
Britain and USA each in control of a zone
UN established
Once Germany defeated, reduced in size, demilitarised and pay
reparations
Spheres of influence agreed on
→ Stalin wanted Poland as a buffer zone but USA and GB
disagreed (not wanting communism to spread)
● Who attended Yalta (Crimea - modern day Ukraine): Churchill,
Stalin and Roosevelt
, ● Consequences of the Potsdam conference:
Denazification of Germany
Germany reduced in size and divided into 4 zones
Reparations to be paid in assets and labour
→ Stalin wanted Germany to pay high reparations and be treated
harshly but Truman disagreed
→ Stalin broke his promises made at Yalta and did not allow free
elections in eastern Europe and was setting up a communist
government in Poland
● Who attended Potsdam (Germany): Truman, Stalin and Atlee
● Ideological differences between USSR and USA:
USSR = Communism
Based on the work of Karl Marx, aimed to create an equal,
classless society. All property was taken by the state, no private
companies or private land. All the assets of Russia belonged to the
government. Communism prioritises the needs of the society over
the needs of the individuals. Dictatorship, total censorship and no
elections
USA = Capitalism
Massive inequality of opportunity and education - earn what they
deserve. Capitalism prioritises the rights of individuals. Democracy -
free elections and freedom of media.
● Stalin’s attitude:
Disliked Truman and Churchill but only cooperated with them due to
same aim of defeating the Nazis
, ● Truman’s attitude:
Truman took a hard line approach to communism and was less
willing to compromise with Stalin.
● Churchill’s attitude:
Churchill hated the communists and was quoted as saying the
soviet regime should have been ‘strangled at birth’
● Development of the atomic bomb on US-Soviet relations:
The impact on US-Soviet relations of the development of the atomic
bomb:
On the second day of the Potsdam conference, the US dropped the
first atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Then 3 days later, they dropped a
second on Hiroshima.
Truman felt more confident and hoped it would intimidate Stalin
and ensure his cooperation with the US.
Stalin was annoyed he had not been told of this and was even
more determined to create a buffer zone to protect the USSR.
However, in 1949, he successfully tested their first atomic bomb.
● The Long Telegram 1946:
George Kennan, an American ambassador in Moscow, wrote an
8000 word telegram to Truman stating:
Soviets were determined to destroy the American way of life
Can be beaten through propaganda without going to war.
There cannot be peace between USA and USSR
USSR are aggressive and suspicious
USSR view capitalism as a direct threat that needs to be destroyed
USSR would back down if faced with strong opposition
