Topic 1
The Cold War
V/S
A complete analysis of the IEB History
curriculum, including: Post wwii until the end of
the Vietnam War
By Daniel KApeluschnik. All Rights Reserved
, History P1 Final Examination Notes 2024:
Topic 1 | The Cold War Discursive Essay and Extended Writing
Background: WW2
By 1935, Hitler had been in power for 2 years, and he started to look outward, and at
domination of Europe and the world. He starts by taking back all the land that was lost due
to the treaty of Versailles.
In 1938 there was a meeting in Munich between Britain, France, Russia, and Germany,
where Germany’s territorial expansion was discussed. Britain and her allies took on a policy
of ‘appeasement’, meaning pacifism and giving in to someone’s demands in the hopes that
they won’t ask for more. British prime minister Neville Chamberlain thought he had brought
peace – a year later they were at war.
The reason why the allies let Germany take back the land initially, was because they thought
their response was too severe and drastic, then then ‘realised they were too harsh’ with the
passage of time.
Hitler was sly with his alliances, as he signed a pact with Mussolini and told him there would
be no war and signed a non-aggression pact with Stalin (Von-Ribbentrop-Molotov) just 6
months before war. (The splitting of Poland).
However, there was one problem: The Soviets and Fascists hated each other. Their
ideologies were opposites. They still did sign their pact. 2 years later, in 1941 Hitler attacks
the USSR in operation Barbarossa.
The allies should have been more scared of Hitler, than they were of the communists…
After the war, the Americans never told the Russians about a morally evil plan about using
atomic bombs in Japan. Japan was close to the USSR, and the USSR were very scared and
angry after the USA used the bombs. The USSR were so concerned that they invaded Japan
and her empire to ‘get a piece of the cake’.
The video also introduces us to the idea of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).
Daniel Kapeluschnik Notes 2024 1
, The cold war has no start or end date. There are no absolutes. It took 2 years from when
the Berlin wall fell in 1989, to when the USSR fell in 1991. There are NO dates – an issue
that is clear.
Background: After WW2
The cold war was not a direct war fought between the militaries of the two powers (USA
and USSR), it was not ‘a hot war’. It was a build-up of intelligence, suspicion, spying, proxy
wars and economic conflicts.
WHO WAS TO BLAME?
This is the main question surrounding the Cold War.
And so, we will consider:
• How the alliances of the allies (USA, UK, and USSR) broke down after WW2.
• How the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe and the USA’s response.
• The consequences of the Berlin Blockade of 1948.
It is very important to emphasise that Russia lost tremendously because of the war. They
lost 20milion people in WW2. People think that the USA and UK wanted the Soviets to suffer
and become weaker before they landed in Europe. The UK lost about 370000 people, and
the USA 297000. We can see that the Russian damage is much bigger.
Stalin knew he had to make his country strong, as if he didn’t, the USSR would not be able to
repel another attack.
The positions of the USA and USSR after WW2 were vastly different. Their common
purposes were now gone. Hitler was defeated and their reasons for alliance were now null.
A cold war ensued – a war with different weapons.
• Money (Dollar/Ruble diplomacy).
• Spying/Espionage.
• Alliances.
• Propaganda.
Another key factor is how Truman and FDR varied in leadership stance. Truman moves the
USA away from ‘a path forward’ to their own entity.
Daniel Kapeluschnik Notes 2024 2
, Problems After WW2:
• Who would lead new governments?
• The USA wanted capitalist governments; the USSR wanted communist.
• Who would these new countries align themselves with militarily and economically?
• Containment of communism.
The conferences of during and after WW2 include:
1. Atlantic charter à August 1941. Churchill and Roosevelt.
2. The Tehran Conference à 1943. The big 3 (Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin). The UK and
USA encouraged the USSR to attack through Europe. Russia joins the grand alliance.
3. The Yalta Conference à February 1945. The big 3. Finer details (governments, the
UN, what do to with Germany). Cracks forming. Mistrust.
4. Potsdam à Germany, July/August 1945. A new big 3 (Stalin, Churchill/Attlee,
Truman/Roosevelt). Stalin gains the upper hand. The cracks show more. The iron
curtain forms.
“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain
has descended across the continent”. – Churchill.
The USA and USSR Before and After WW2:
Pre 1945: Post 1945:
Both countries were against a common What happened to change to situation:
enemy: The Nazis. Once Hitler was defeated, they had nothing
in common, so a split was inevitable. There
were different agendas.
Both countries were not really friends: Why might both countries be suspicious of
They were not good friends and were each other: A lot of mistrust because they
weary (mistrust). were ensuring that they were the sole
supreme. A difference in opinion (ideology).
How were the countries different: How did technological advancements
Capitalist democracy vs. Communist make a difference: Whoever has newer
dictatorship. ideas and technology was at an advantage.
Hence better weapons, technology, easier
lives.
The Atlantic Charter:
Members: Roosevelt (USA) and Churchill (Britain). The USA was not yet involved
in the war. Some say the US knew they were going to join.
Where: Off the coast of Newfoundland Canada.
Daniel Kapeluschnik Notes 2024 3
The Cold War
V/S
A complete analysis of the IEB History
curriculum, including: Post wwii until the end of
the Vietnam War
By Daniel KApeluschnik. All Rights Reserved
, History P1 Final Examination Notes 2024:
Topic 1 | The Cold War Discursive Essay and Extended Writing
Background: WW2
By 1935, Hitler had been in power for 2 years, and he started to look outward, and at
domination of Europe and the world. He starts by taking back all the land that was lost due
to the treaty of Versailles.
In 1938 there was a meeting in Munich between Britain, France, Russia, and Germany,
where Germany’s territorial expansion was discussed. Britain and her allies took on a policy
of ‘appeasement’, meaning pacifism and giving in to someone’s demands in the hopes that
they won’t ask for more. British prime minister Neville Chamberlain thought he had brought
peace – a year later they were at war.
The reason why the allies let Germany take back the land initially, was because they thought
their response was too severe and drastic, then then ‘realised they were too harsh’ with the
passage of time.
Hitler was sly with his alliances, as he signed a pact with Mussolini and told him there would
be no war and signed a non-aggression pact with Stalin (Von-Ribbentrop-Molotov) just 6
months before war. (The splitting of Poland).
However, there was one problem: The Soviets and Fascists hated each other. Their
ideologies were opposites. They still did sign their pact. 2 years later, in 1941 Hitler attacks
the USSR in operation Barbarossa.
The allies should have been more scared of Hitler, than they were of the communists…
After the war, the Americans never told the Russians about a morally evil plan about using
atomic bombs in Japan. Japan was close to the USSR, and the USSR were very scared and
angry after the USA used the bombs. The USSR were so concerned that they invaded Japan
and her empire to ‘get a piece of the cake’.
The video also introduces us to the idea of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).
Daniel Kapeluschnik Notes 2024 1
, The cold war has no start or end date. There are no absolutes. It took 2 years from when
the Berlin wall fell in 1989, to when the USSR fell in 1991. There are NO dates – an issue
that is clear.
Background: After WW2
The cold war was not a direct war fought between the militaries of the two powers (USA
and USSR), it was not ‘a hot war’. It was a build-up of intelligence, suspicion, spying, proxy
wars and economic conflicts.
WHO WAS TO BLAME?
This is the main question surrounding the Cold War.
And so, we will consider:
• How the alliances of the allies (USA, UK, and USSR) broke down after WW2.
• How the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe and the USA’s response.
• The consequences of the Berlin Blockade of 1948.
It is very important to emphasise that Russia lost tremendously because of the war. They
lost 20milion people in WW2. People think that the USA and UK wanted the Soviets to suffer
and become weaker before they landed in Europe. The UK lost about 370000 people, and
the USA 297000. We can see that the Russian damage is much bigger.
Stalin knew he had to make his country strong, as if he didn’t, the USSR would not be able to
repel another attack.
The positions of the USA and USSR after WW2 were vastly different. Their common
purposes were now gone. Hitler was defeated and their reasons for alliance were now null.
A cold war ensued – a war with different weapons.
• Money (Dollar/Ruble diplomacy).
• Spying/Espionage.
• Alliances.
• Propaganda.
Another key factor is how Truman and FDR varied in leadership stance. Truman moves the
USA away from ‘a path forward’ to their own entity.
Daniel Kapeluschnik Notes 2024 2
, Problems After WW2:
• Who would lead new governments?
• The USA wanted capitalist governments; the USSR wanted communist.
• Who would these new countries align themselves with militarily and economically?
• Containment of communism.
The conferences of during and after WW2 include:
1. Atlantic charter à August 1941. Churchill and Roosevelt.
2. The Tehran Conference à 1943. The big 3 (Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin). The UK and
USA encouraged the USSR to attack through Europe. Russia joins the grand alliance.
3. The Yalta Conference à February 1945. The big 3. Finer details (governments, the
UN, what do to with Germany). Cracks forming. Mistrust.
4. Potsdam à Germany, July/August 1945. A new big 3 (Stalin, Churchill/Attlee,
Truman/Roosevelt). Stalin gains the upper hand. The cracks show more. The iron
curtain forms.
“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain
has descended across the continent”. – Churchill.
The USA and USSR Before and After WW2:
Pre 1945: Post 1945:
Both countries were against a common What happened to change to situation:
enemy: The Nazis. Once Hitler was defeated, they had nothing
in common, so a split was inevitable. There
were different agendas.
Both countries were not really friends: Why might both countries be suspicious of
They were not good friends and were each other: A lot of mistrust because they
weary (mistrust). were ensuring that they were the sole
supreme. A difference in opinion (ideology).
How were the countries different: How did technological advancements
Capitalist democracy vs. Communist make a difference: Whoever has newer
dictatorship. ideas and technology was at an advantage.
Hence better weapons, technology, easier
lives.
The Atlantic Charter:
Members: Roosevelt (USA) and Churchill (Britain). The USA was not yet involved
in the war. Some say the US knew they were going to join.
Where: Off the coast of Newfoundland Canada.
Daniel Kapeluschnik Notes 2024 3
