Cold War Confrontations: Germany & Berlin Divided  Germany was divided into four zones controlled respectively by the USA, Britain, USSR and eventually France.

Germany & Berlin Divided  Germany essentially became divided into East and West Germany = the West was democratic and the East was communist.  The city of Berlin was in the Soviet sector; eventually it was further divided into East and West Berlin (West = democratic + East = communist.

The Berlin Blockade, 1948  A new currency (Deutsche Mark vs. Reichsmark and Rentenmark) was introduced in Western Germany to stop hyperinflation but the Soviets did not want the new currency in Berlin.  To protest, all rail and roads were blocked = The Berlin Blockade - April1, 1948 – May 12, 1949; was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War.

The Berlin Blockade, 1948  Supplies had to be flown into the Berlin sector – via the Berlin Airlift (began in spring 1949) where planes flew in supplies for a year 24 hours a day + 7 days a week.  The end result was a wall – the Berlin Wall – was built to divide East and West Berlin.

Cold War Confrontations: Berlin Wall Construction of the Berlin Wall (1961):  Soviet leader Khrushchev built the Berlin Wall to prevent people from fleeing communist East Germany to capitalist West Germany.  Came to signify the Cold War divisions: The Iron Curtain.

The Berlin Wall

The division of Berlin and the Berlin Wall would become one of the strongest symbols of the Cold War = physically symbolized the Iron Curtain.

Checkpoint Charlie & the Wall

Cold War Confrontations: Korean War Korean War ( ): Canada’s “Forgotten War”  Korea was divided into North and South Korea. The North = Communist. The South = Democratic.

Korean War  In 1950, the North (communists) invaded the South, the fighting lasted for three years.  The countries remain divided to this day = North – Communist; South = Democratic.

Korean War  N. Korea received helped from USSR & China.  S. Korea was aided by USA & UN: USA considered use of atomic bomb. Canadian troops served in UN forces = sent 27,000 soldiers.

Cold War Confrontations: Cuba, 1962  Was essentially a game of “nuclear chicken” where the USSR (under Khrushchev) blinked first (before the USA under Kennedy).

The Cuban Missile Crisis  Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962:  Fidel Castro takes over leadership of Cuba in 1959/60. He is Marxist / Communist + pro-USSR.

The Cuban Missile Crisis  The US/Kennedy on October 1962 spotted Soviet Missiles in Cuba via U-2 spy plane. The US planes took photos of Soviet- installed nuclear bases in Cuba.

Soviet Missiles in Cuba

The Cuban Missile Crisis  The US invoked a naval blockade just outside of Cuba to prevent Soviet reinforcements – the USSR eventually turned back. The world came extremely close to direct conflict = nuclear war.

The Cuban Missile Crisis  The US promised not to invade if the Soviets/Khrushchev remove the missiles.  They did and the end of the world did not take place.  Canada was hoping desperately for peace and spoke out during the Cuban Missile Crisis via the UN (made the USA angry).

Canada and the Cuban Missile Crisis Kennedy, Khrushchev, Diefenbaker

Cold War Confrontations: Suez Canal Crisis The Suez Crisis (1956):  Israel (aided by USA) and Egypt (aided by USSR) were at the brink of war over control of the Suez Canal (a major trade route).

Suez Canal Crisis  Canadian Lester B. Pearson proposed a UN peacekeeping force (emergency force) be sent in to mediate – Canadians + other nations went as peacekeepers.  RESULT: Pearson won Nobel Peace Prize. Canada gains reputation as peacekeeping nation.

Suez Canal Crisis

Cold War Confrontations: Vietnam Vietnam ( ):  Was a French colony but Japan invaded in WWII and won.  The French attempt to come back.

Vietnam War  USA and UN supported dictatorship in South to prevent the Domino Theory (dictator was not communist).  Fought communists in North who were supplied weapons and training by USSR and China.

Vietnam War Vietcong/Vietminh (Vietnamese Communists) used guerrilla warfare. US troops used napalm and bombing raids on civilian targets.  Despite superior weapons, the US was unable to win the war – hurt national pride and international reputation.

Vietnam Vietnam was the first war recorded by American media.

Vietnam Draft Dodgers  War was unpopular in US - hippies and/or anti-war activists.  Many draft dodgers fled to Canada = we offered them sanctuary/protection.

Vietnam Draft Dodgers  Many Vietnamese also fled to Canada = we offered them a new home.  PM Pearson’s criticism of the US in Vietnam led to problems = bad relations.

Cold War Confrontations: Cyprus  Cyprus: :  Canada's longest peacekeeping mission began a few years after the Suez Crisis.  In 1959, Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean, gained its independence from Great Britain = Greek and Turkish communities on the island, however, could not coexist peacefully.

Cold War Confrontations: Cyprus  Cyprus: :  By 1963, fighting had broken out between the two groups and an international crisis loomed.  UN troops, including a Canadian contingent, were stationed in Cyprus to keep the peace.

Cold War Confrontations: Cyprus  Cyprus: :  The conflict continued, however, and led to the partitioning of Cyprus into Turkish and Greek republics.  Canada kept an infantry battalion of varying size in Cyprus until the mid-1990s and still maintains a small group of observers there.

Cold War Confrontations: Afghanistan Afghanistan ( ):  1979: USSR invaded Afghanistan to restore communist government.  The US feared the fall of the Persian Gulf (oil).

Afghanistan  US funded and armed anti-Soviet rebels (Taliban/Bin Laden) to fight communism = Canada supported action from afar. Often called the USSR’s version of Vietnam due to cost of war, in money and life, and loss to an “inferior” foe.  1988 – the Soviet withdrew – loss for the USSR.

Cold War Confrontations: Diefenbaker  The US expected Canada to provide unconditional support throughout the Cold War.  PM Diefenbaker refused to - he instead: Placed Canada’s NORAD forces on alert. Allowed US planes with A-bombs to land.

Diefenbaker  RESULT:  Canadian independence preserved.  But relations with USA were damaged.

Next: