The Cold War begins 1945 -1948 Key issue: Why did the wartime alliance fall apart? What were the major points of difference The importance of Yalta and Potsdam conferences The roles of Stalin and Truman

The Chronology and Narrative Major point: The USSR lost around 20 million people in WWII Stalin was determined to make the USSR secure in the future By contrast GB lost around 370,000 and the USA lost 297,000 people. KEEP THIS IN MIND

The Rise of the Superpowers Before WWII there were a number of countries which could have claimed to be superpowers – USA, USSR,GB, France, Japan, Germany. The damage caused by the war to these countries left only two countries with the military strength and resources to be called superpowers….USA and USSR.

What they Believed Don’t forget USA was capitalist and USSR was communism They were complete opposites They had allied against Fascism ….. Now the common enemy had been defeated the reason for co-operation was gone Differences soon emerged

Europe at the End of WWII After the war who would lead the countries and form new governments The USSR favoured the communist groups, the USA favoured the non-communists Examples would be Greece and Yugoslavia This was one cause of tension between the superpowers

TASK Two conferences were held in 1945 at Yalta and Potsdam The aim was to discuss the future especially What to do with Germany’s leaders after the war What would happen to the occupied countries after liberation, especially those of Eastern Europe How to end the war with Japan How to build a lasting peace.

YALTA (in the USSR) Date: Feb 1945 Present: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin

YALTA The “Big Three” Roosevelt (US), Churchill (Italy), and Stalin (USSR) met to plan the end of WWII The Big 3 planned the United Nations but at the time of the YALTA conference, the Atomic bomb was not yet developed

POTSDAM (Germany) Date: July 1945 Present: Churchill, Truman and Stalin

From Allies to Enemies Potsdam July 1945 Following victory the allies could not agree over the spoils of war. The U.S. wanted to establish democracy in war torn Europe, while the U.S.S.R. hoped for communism. They agreed to occupy Germany with the Allied Control Council. The Soviets had 2.5 million troops in Eastern Europe. Potsdam July 1945