How did the Cold War period shape international relations after the
Second World War?
1. Understanding the Cold War as an ideological war
Last year you studied the rise of communism in Russia and the challenges
faced by capitalism in the USA. From 1945, after World War II, these two
ideologies came into conflict with each other as both countries tried to
safeguard or spread their interests.
1.1. Briefly explain the difference between the communist and capitalist
ideologies.
By the end of this theme you must be able to define these terms:
Communism
Capitalism
The East
The West
Superpowers
Satellite states
Truman Doctrine
Marshall Plan
Iron Curtain
Cold War
MAD
Berlin Blockade
Berlin Airlift
Destalinisation
Red Scare
Berlin Wall
2. The defeat and division of Germany, May1945 (BACKGROUND)
Towards the end of the Second World War, in 1945, Russian (Soviet) troops were
moving in on Germany from the East and the Allied (British and American) troops
from the West, in order to defeat Nazi Germany. As the Soviet troops swept
across Eastern Europe they took control over a number of states (eg. Poland,
Czechoslovakia) wanting them to be loyal to the Soviet Union. This concerned
the Western allies who feared the spread of communism.
2.1. Why did the Western allies fear communism?
Hitler was finally defeated in May 1945 and with the power vacuum in Germany,
the Allies had to decide what to do with the country. Britain and America had
very different ideas to the Soviet Union. They were reluctant to punish Germany
too harshly, wanting to avoid a repeat of the consequences of the Treaty of
Versailles (1919). On the other hand, the Soviets wanted revenge for all the
atrocities committed by Germany against the Russian people during the war.
Unable to agree they decided the best compromise would be to divide
, Germany into two – a Western zone under British, American and French
control and an Eastern zone under Soviet control. The capital of Germany,
Berlin, fell within the Soviet zone and was thus also divided into two zones to
give the Western states access to the capital.
3. The defeat of Japan and introduction of nuclear weapons, August
1945
The Second World War continued after Germany’s defeat as the Japanese
refused to surrender although victory was impossible. In August 1945, US
President Truman decided to use America’s latest and most powerful weapon,
the atomic bomb. After hits on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Japanese
surrendered.
The Second World War was over but another international conflict was about to
begin: the Cold War. This ideological conflict would affect not only the USA and
the Soviet Union but the entire world as the two superpowers tried to establish or
protect their respective ideologies and spheres of influence. Because of the
danger of nuclear weapons, both sides would do their best to pursue their
interests without coming into conflict with each other. The reality of the situation
was often less important than the perceived reality of each other’s intentions.
Activity: What were the Superpowers’ perceptions of one another?
See Sources A to F below.
3.1. Using evidence from Sources A, B and C comment on the attitudes of the
Allied leaders to one another after the Second World War.
(2x2) (4)
3.2. Using evidence from Sources D and E, explain what Winston Churchill meant
by the “Iron Curtain”.
(2x2) (4)
3.3. Refer to Source F. List THREE ways that Stalin justified the Soviet control
over Eastern Europe?
(3x1) (3)
3.4. Comment on the usefulness of these sources for a historian researching the
origins of the Cold War. (2x2) (4)
SOURCE A
Stalin speaking to a fellow communist, Milovan Djilas (a supporter of Stalin) in 1945:
Perhaps you think that just because we are the allies of the English we have forgotten
who they are and who Churchill is. There is nothing they like better than to trick their
allies. During the First World War they constantly tricked the Russians and the French.
And Churchill? Churchill is the kind of man who will pick your pocket of a kopeck (low
value Soviet coin)! And Roosevelt? Roosevelt is not like that. He dips in his hand only for
bigger coins. But Churchill? He will do it for a kopeck.
SOURCE B
Churchill wrote this to Roosevelt shortly after the Yalta Conference in July 1945:
The Soviet Union has become a danger to the free world. A new front must be created
against her onward sweep. This front should be as far east as possible. A settlement
Second World War?
1. Understanding the Cold War as an ideological war
Last year you studied the rise of communism in Russia and the challenges
faced by capitalism in the USA. From 1945, after World War II, these two
ideologies came into conflict with each other as both countries tried to
safeguard or spread their interests.
1.1. Briefly explain the difference between the communist and capitalist
ideologies.
By the end of this theme you must be able to define these terms:
Communism
Capitalism
The East
The West
Superpowers
Satellite states
Truman Doctrine
Marshall Plan
Iron Curtain
Cold War
MAD
Berlin Blockade
Berlin Airlift
Destalinisation
Red Scare
Berlin Wall
2. The defeat and division of Germany, May1945 (BACKGROUND)
Towards the end of the Second World War, in 1945, Russian (Soviet) troops were
moving in on Germany from the East and the Allied (British and American) troops
from the West, in order to defeat Nazi Germany. As the Soviet troops swept
across Eastern Europe they took control over a number of states (eg. Poland,
Czechoslovakia) wanting them to be loyal to the Soviet Union. This concerned
the Western allies who feared the spread of communism.
2.1. Why did the Western allies fear communism?
Hitler was finally defeated in May 1945 and with the power vacuum in Germany,
the Allies had to decide what to do with the country. Britain and America had
very different ideas to the Soviet Union. They were reluctant to punish Germany
too harshly, wanting to avoid a repeat of the consequences of the Treaty of
Versailles (1919). On the other hand, the Soviets wanted revenge for all the
atrocities committed by Germany against the Russian people during the war.
Unable to agree they decided the best compromise would be to divide
, Germany into two – a Western zone under British, American and French
control and an Eastern zone under Soviet control. The capital of Germany,
Berlin, fell within the Soviet zone and was thus also divided into two zones to
give the Western states access to the capital.
3. The defeat of Japan and introduction of nuclear weapons, August
1945
The Second World War continued after Germany’s defeat as the Japanese
refused to surrender although victory was impossible. In August 1945, US
President Truman decided to use America’s latest and most powerful weapon,
the atomic bomb. After hits on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Japanese
surrendered.
The Second World War was over but another international conflict was about to
begin: the Cold War. This ideological conflict would affect not only the USA and
the Soviet Union but the entire world as the two superpowers tried to establish or
protect their respective ideologies and spheres of influence. Because of the
danger of nuclear weapons, both sides would do their best to pursue their
interests without coming into conflict with each other. The reality of the situation
was often less important than the perceived reality of each other’s intentions.
Activity: What were the Superpowers’ perceptions of one another?
See Sources A to F below.
3.1. Using evidence from Sources A, B and C comment on the attitudes of the
Allied leaders to one another after the Second World War.
(2x2) (4)
3.2. Using evidence from Sources D and E, explain what Winston Churchill meant
by the “Iron Curtain”.
(2x2) (4)
3.3. Refer to Source F. List THREE ways that Stalin justified the Soviet control
over Eastern Europe?
(3x1) (3)
3.4. Comment on the usefulness of these sources for a historian researching the
origins of the Cold War. (2x2) (4)
SOURCE A
Stalin speaking to a fellow communist, Milovan Djilas (a supporter of Stalin) in 1945:
Perhaps you think that just because we are the allies of the English we have forgotten
who they are and who Churchill is. There is nothing they like better than to trick their
allies. During the First World War they constantly tricked the Russians and the French.
And Churchill? Churchill is the kind of man who will pick your pocket of a kopeck (low
value Soviet coin)! And Roosevelt? Roosevelt is not like that. He dips in his hand only for
bigger coins. But Churchill? He will do it for a kopeck.
SOURCE B
Churchill wrote this to Roosevelt shortly after the Yalta Conference in July 1945:
The Soviet Union has become a danger to the free world. A new front must be created
against her onward sweep. This front should be as far east as possible. A settlement
