The Cold War (1945-1952) J.A.SACCO
Superpower Aims in Europe United States Encourage democracy/ prevent communism Gain access to raw materials to fuel industry Rebuilt European nations to promote stability and create markets Reunite Germany to stabilize security in Europe Soviet Union Encourage Communism in other nations as part of a worldwide revolution. Rebuild U.S.S.R. economy by using E.Europe raw materials Control E. Europe to protect Soviet borders and balance U.S. influence in W. Europe Keep Germany divided to prevent war again in Europe
The Ideological Struggle Soviet & Eastern Bloc Nations [“Iron Curtain”] US & the Western Democracies GOAL spread world-wide Communism GOAL “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world. [George Kennan] METHODOLOGIES: Espionage [KGB vs. CIA] Arms Race [nuclear escalation] Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of Third World peoples [Communist govt. & command economy vs. democratic govt. & capitalist economy] “proxy wars” Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]
The “Iron Curtain” From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lies the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern Europe. -- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946
Post-War Germany
How to Contain the Soviets and Communism? Arms Race- Soviets test first A-Bomb in 1949- U.S. Congress passes Atomic Energy Act to oversee nuclear weapons research Policy of Containment- To economically, politically, and militarily to control the spread of Communism. (Sec. of State- George Kennan) Truman Doctrine
Truman Doctrine [1947] Civil War in Greece. Turkey under pressure from the USSR for concessions in the Dardanelles. “The U. S. should support free peoples throughout the world who were resisting takeovers by armed minorities or outside pressures…We must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.” The U.S. gave Greece & Turkey $400 million in aid.
Marshall Plan [1948] “European Recovery Program.” Secretary of State, George Marshall The U. S. should provide aid to all European nations that need it. This move is not against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos. $12.5 billion of US aid to Western Europe extended to Eastern Europe & USSR, [but this was rejected].
Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49) 1948- Brit./Fr./U.S. combine zones and form West Germany June 24, 1948- Soviets oppose this action. Block all roads, canals, RR’s to from West Berlin to West Germany. Soviets hope to drive Western forces out of Berlin
Berlin Airlift (1949) Lasted 10 months- 2 million tons of food/supplies to West Berlin May 1949- Soviets lift blockade/ embarrassment to them West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) East Germany (German Democratic Republic) * On top of economic security/ add military security
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949) United States Belgium Britain Canada Denmark France Iceland Italy Luxemburg Netherlands Norway Portugal 1952: Greece & Turkey 1955: West Germany 1983: Spain
Warsaw Pact (1955) U. S. S. R. Albania Bulgaria Czechoslovakia East Germany Hungary Poland Rumania