World War II & The Iron Curtain
The Big Three Josef Stalin Winston Churchill Franklin D. Roosevelt U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union) United Kingdom United States
Soviet Contribution to the War
The Big Three: Conferences Roosevelt (US) Stalin (USSR) Churchill (Britain) Location: Black Sea Issues: Unconditional surrender of Axis Powers Post-war plans for Europe & Asia The Yalta Conference February 1945
Goals of the Cold War U.S. & Britain United Germany United Germany Independent Nations in Eastern Europe Independent Nations in Eastern Europe Spread of Democracy Spread of Democracy USSR (Russia) Weak, divided Germany Weak, divided Germany Satellite States Satellite States Spread of Communism Spread of Communism
Iron Curtain: Europe Divided
Germany’s Fate
Division of Germany East Germany & East Berlin East Germany & East Berlin – U.S.S.R West Germany & West Berlin West Germany & West Berlin – U.K. – France – U.S.
Berlin Blockade & Airlift, Soviets block overland access to West Berlin Soviets block overland access to West Berlin Planes deliver food Planes deliver food – Airlift nicknamed “Operation Vittles” – “Raisin bombers” – Medical evacuations
“Operation Wiggly Wings” Candy on parachutes for children in Berlin Candy on parachutes for children in Berlin Wiggled wings of plane before a drop Wiggled wings of plane before a drop
U.S. Policy in the Cold War
George F. Kennan, presidential advisor George F. Kennan, presidential advisor Containment Policy Containment Policy – U.S. cannot defeat Soviets over short term – U.S. should stop further spread of communism Containment
U.S. promises aid to countries which resist Soviet influence U.S. promises aid to countries which resist Soviet influence – Greece – Turkey Extension of the containment theory Extension of the containment theory Truman Doctrine, 1947
Marshall Plan Economic Recovery plan for Europe after WWII Goals: Help Europe rebuild Help European countries contain communism
NATO & Warsaw Pact
Containing Communism NATO= North Atlantic Treaty Organization 12 Western European & North American nations join forces Purpose: Act together to defend Western Europe against Communism SEATO=Southeast Asia Treaty Organization Asian Version of NATO Purpose: Prevent the spread of communism in Asia.
RUSSIA retaliates… Warsaw Pact Alliance of Eastern European Nations Goals… Defend each other against attack Spread Communism