1. Origins of the Cold War

2. Origins of the Cold War – #1 Ideological Differences
Different philosophies/ideologies:
Democratic capitalism
Marxist communism

3. United States – Soviet Union
No elections or fixed elections
Dictatorship
Communist
Everyone helps everyone else (collective good)
Society controlled by the secret police
Total censorship
Represents views of workers
Free elections
Democratic
Capitalist
“Survival of the Fittest”
Richest world power
Personal freedom
Freedom of the media

4. Origins of the Cold War – Prior to WWII
No Soviet representative participated in the Treaty of Versailles
The U.S. had intervened in the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks by supporting the “Whites” – tsarist forces
The U.S. did not establish diplomatic relations until 1933
The Soviets were not invited to join the League of Nations until 1934

5. Origins of the Cold War – Prior to WWII
The Western Allies had appeased the growing power of Hitler partly in the hope that he would destroy the Soviet state for them. The U.S. and Britain believed that Stalin was a bigger threat than Hitler
The USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) to delay a German invasion

6. Origins of the Cold War – #2 Delay of Second Front
Delays in opening a second front angered the Soviets
Western leaders promised it in 1942 & 43, but only delivered in mid-1944
From the fall of France until mid-1944, most of the fighting was left up to the Soviets

7. What message is the Soviet cartoonist conveying?
In the cradle of German fascism – “Good Day Adolf Hitler” – 1933

8. Origins of the Cold War – #3 Atomic Bombs
Britain and the U.S. didn’t help the Soviets in developing atomic weapons
The U.S. had used nuclear weapons on Japan and Stalin was fearful of nuclear blackmail or an attack
This led to the arms race

9. Origins of the Cold War – #3 Atomic Bombs
1949 – The Soviets exploded an atomic bomb
In response, Truman ordered the development of the “H-bomb” (hydrogen bomb), which is 750 times more powerful than an atomic bomb
1952 – The U.S. tested its first H-bomb at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands
1953 – The Soviets tested their first H-bomb
Each side tried to outdo the other in the scramble to build more destructive weapons

10. #4 – Teheran Conference (Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 1943)
First meeting of the “Big-Three”
Stalin
Churchill
F. Roosevelt
Its purpose was to set the direction of WWII in Europe:
The 2nd front was discussed
Possible entry of the Soviets into the war against Japan
Possible creation of an international organization to maintain peace after the war

11. #4 – Yalta Conference (Feb. 3, 1945)
Most of the discussions involved the arrangement of Europe following the end of the war
Peace meant different things to each leader:
Stalin – an increase in Soviet power and safeguards against further attacks
Churchill – a free and democratic Europe with Britain at its head
Roosevelt – world democracy headed by the U.S.

12. #4 – Yalta Conference (Feb. 3, 1945)
The decisions at Yalta were:
Germany will be dearmed, denazified, demilitarized and divided
Temporarily divide Germany into four zones of occupation, but it was to eventually be one country
Stalin agreed to free, democratic and secret elections in Poland and all European countries
Stalin agreed to enter the war against Japan
Agreed on the UN

13. #4 – Potsdam (Jul. 16-Aug. 2, 1945)
Truman, Atlee, and Stalin. The Western leaders didn’t get along well with Stalin. Their decisions were:
To denazify and demilitarize in their own ways in their own zones
The Soviets were to receive reparations (25% from the West zones) and the rest in food from the East zone
The U.S. felt like there had not been a “free and democratic” vote in Poland
United Nations was created

14. Origins of the Cold War – Immediate Aftermath of WWII
With the serious weakening of Britain and France as world powers, only the U.S. and USSR were left as superpowers

15. Origins of the Cold War – #5 Sovietization of Eastern Europe
Soviets want buffer zone for protection
All countries in Eastern Europe became communist
East Germany and other countries became marginally independent “satellite” states bound to the Soviet Union

16. How to Make a Country Communist – Salami Tactics
The local military, police, and society would be infiltrated by Soviet Military Intelligence
Each of the parties was “sliced off” one after the other
Eliminated anti-Communist leaders before elections
Forcefully installed a Communist government

17. Case Study – Sovietization of Poland
Russia and Poland never got along:
Poland had been partitioned three times
Poles invaded Russia
Katyn Forest Massacre
Red Army halts

18. Case Study – Sovietization of Poland
At Yalta, it was determined that Poland would hold free elections to determine their government
In Jan in Poland, elections distinguished by massive voter fraud gave the Communists 93% of seats
Deportations to Siberia
Winning candidates from democratic parties were murdered, were arrested, or fled
Millions of voters were taken off the register

19. Iran Controversy (1946)
After WWII ended, Stalin broke an agreement to remove his troops from Iran’s northernmost province
He had occupied the land during WWII with British and American approval
Why?
The Soviets needed the oil
It was a supply line to the USSR
The Shah was pro-German during the war
When Truman protested to the UN, Stalin backed down

20. Italy
In Italy, the Communists were showing signs of great strength going into the April election
Def. Sec. Forrestal worked closely with the Catholic Church, which feared the Vatican falling behind the Iron Curtain
Prominent Italian archbishops proclaimed that anyone who voted for the Communists would not be allowed to receive holy absolution
The U.S. funded democratic parties in Italy
In the days before the voting, he ordered Navy planes to fly over major cities in a show of force
When the election came, the Communists were defeated

21. France
Communists had organized campaigns of looting and vandalism in major cities and a mammoth strike involving 3 million workers that brought the country’s economy to a virtual stop
13,000 troops had been needed in Marseilles
The Marshall Plan would help to subdue any notion of a Communist France

22. Origins of the Cold War – #7 Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech
In March 1946, Churchill addressed the American people with his famous Iron Curtain speech, “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent of Europe”
These words marked the beginning of the Cold War

24. Origins of the Cold War – #7 Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech
Soviet Reaction –
Thought it was “racist” and a “call to war with the Soviet Union”
Withdrew from the IMF
Stepped up anti-West propaganda
Initiated a new 5-year plan