Europe and North America

The Beginnings of The Cold War

1. Problems of Peace Occupying Germany Germany was in ruins and had no functioning government Allies had to establish a system to govern Germany and rebuild the nation

iii. Potsdam Conference Temporarily divided Germany into 4 zones of occupation Soviet Union occupied 1/3 Remaining 2/3 divided into 3 zones controlled by the U.S., France and Great Britain Allies divided Germany’s capital Berlin, into 4 zones

3. Established a plan to rid Germany of remnants of the Nazi party and beliefs One way was through the Nuremburg Trials Held in Nuremburg, Germany from 1945-1949 Allied Courts tried more than 200 Nazi and military leaders Several dozen were sentenced to death for their role in the Holocaust and other war crimes

4. Agreed to a plan for Germany to pay war reparations for the destruction caused by the war.

b. Eastern Europe Allies couldn’t agree what to do with Eastern Europe Stalin wanted a buffer zone of friendly governments to guard against another attack American and British leaders feared Stalin planned to establish a pro-communist government throughout Eastern Europe and beyond

2. The Conflict Worsens The Struggle Begins The Cold War An era of hostility and tension between the United States and the Soviet Union Cold War was also a struggle for power and control between two nations with very different forms of government, economic systems and ways of life Communism spread throughout Eastern Europe

iv. February 1946- Stalin stated publicly that a war between the East and West was bound to happen v. Winston Churchill will use the term “iron curtain” to describe the sharp division in Europe.

b. The West Resists The Truman Doctrine Issued by President Truman A pledge to provide economic and military aid to oppose the spread of communism Truman believed that if economic conditions grew worse in Europe more countries would turn to communism

iii. The Marshall Plan Launched in 1947 Massive U.S. economic aid program Named after U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall Plan provided 13 billion for rebuilding Europe iv. Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan demonstrate the U.S. policy of containment

3. Cold War Confrontations Crisis in Berlin 1947 Western leaders began planning for an independent democratic German nation, to be formed from the 3 western zones of occupations Planned to do the same in western Berlin

ii. 1948 Soviets blocked off all land, rail and water routes into Western Berlin Soviets hoped this would force the West to leave Berlin iii. Berlin Airlift A massive effort to supply Western Berlin by air Was successful and Soviets call off the blockade in May 1949

b. New Nations and Alliances Germany will have two governments West became the Federal Republic of Germany East became the German Democratic Republic or East Germany

ii. NATO- North Atlantic Treaty Organization Created in the aftermath of the Berlin airlift Members: U.S., Canada and most Western European countries Designed to counter Soviet power in Europe iii. Warsaw Pact Created in 1955 Members: Soviet Union and other Communist nations in Eastern Europe