Major Events of the Early Cold War (1940s-1960s)

Division of Germany and Berlin Agreed even before the end of the war The Allied Control Council (located in Berlin) West Berlin (controlled by Western Allies) East Berlin (controlled by the Soviets) The city of Berlin – located entirely in the Soviet occupation zone.

The Berlin Blockade April 1948-May 1949 Soviet Union blockaded train/road access to West Berlin Ultimate Goal: Force Western Allies to abandon West Berlin (millions of civilians depended on “survival” supplies) Blockade imposed in response to: *The Marshall Plan *The London Conferences (creation of new West German state) *Introduction of the Deutsche Mark

The Berlin Airlift June 1948 – May 1949 Response to the Berlin Blockade 13,000 tons of supplies delivered daily / 270,000 flights Neither side wanted to escalate confrontation Negative publicity for Stalin and the USSR Symbol of Western resistance to the spread of communism

The Marshall Plan Known as the European Recovery Program (ERP) Provided $13 billion dollars in economic aid to rebuild Europe after World War II Tied aid to investments by American banks, purchasing American products/equipment, and business reforms (econ. liberalization) Biggest recipients: Great Britain (26%), France (18%), and West Germany (11%) Very successful in restoring major Western European industries. Offered to the USSR and Eastern European countries. The USSR refused and prevented other countries in its sphere of influence to accept it.

The Molotov Plan Designed to prevent participation of Eastern European countries in the Marshall Plan and tie their economies closer to the USSR Named after Vyacheslav Molotov (Soviet Foreign Minister) Led to the 1949 establishment of the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon) in the Soviet sphere of influence.

The Truman Doctrine / Policy of Containment "It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.“ President Truman’s message to the joint session of the U.S. Congress (March 12 th, 1947) Requested $400 million for military and economic aid to Greece and Turkey. Became also known as the Policy of Containment (first proposed by George F.Kennan) Tied to the Domino Theory

NATO vs. The Warsaw Pact NATO – North Atlantic Treaty of Organization U.S.-led military alliance designed to defend Western Europe against possible Soviet aggression. Greece and Turkey joined in 1952; West Germany joined in 1954 The Warsaw Pact – collective defense treaty of 8 Communist states led by the Soviet Union. Other members: Poland, East Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Albania, and Bulgaria.

THE USSR TESTS THE BOMB August 1949 Surprises the U.S. (Ends 4-year American nuclear hegemony) Solidifies bipolar division of the world Results in conventional and nuclear arms race between the two superpowers. RDS – 1 – the first Soviet atomic bomb test

The Invasion of Hungary, 1956 (The Hungarian Revolution) Stalin’s death in 1953/Khrushchev’s de-Stalinization = hope for ease of Soviet control in Eastern Europe M.Rakosi – Hungarian communist dictator was forced to resign October, 1956 – Street demonstrations – 16 Points (Demands): *Removal of Russian troops *Restriction on secret police *Expansion of personal freedoms New leader – Imre Nagy – allows political parties and promises to withdraw Hungary from the Warsaw Pact November, 1956 – Soviet tanks restore “order” (~20,000+ died, more than 100,000 left the country)

The Berlin Wall Constructed in August 1961 Physically divided East Berlin and West Berlin Put up in response to mass exodus of East Germans to West Berlin, especially the young professionals (Disparity in the standards of living = 2.5 million people left East Germany) Symbol of the Cold War division in Europe.

The Invasion of Czechoslovakia, 1968 (The Prague Spring – 1968) Late 1960s – complaints about repressive policies of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. New leader – Alexander Dubcek proposes reforms: *End of anti-government censorship *Opportunity to form cooperatives in rural areas *Greater personal freedoms/political democracy Assured Moscow that he will not take Czechoslovakia out of the Warsaw Pact Soviet –led Warsaw Pact troops invade – August 1968 Dubcek sent to Moscow; renounces all reforms after his return Dismissed as the First Secretary in 1969 ~300,000 fled the country