The Cold War Part I:

The Cold War Defined Period of hostile relations between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. (and respective allies) after the Second World War using any means short of direct military conflict.

Why No “Direct Military Conflict”? The “Baker” Tests of 1946

Origins of the Cold War U.S. – Russia Rivalry Early as 1820’s: Oregon Territory 1890’s: Over China and Open Door Policy Bolshevik Revolution: Add ideology

Origins of the Cold War WWII Alliance: a temporary aberration Pure necessity: Common Foe Always tense Media portrayed as friendly, but… Mutual suspicion As victory became eminent, cooperation breaks down

Wartime Conferences Tehran (1943) Most congenial: war still in doubt Confirmed May, 1944 date for Operation Overlord Agreed that Poland would be “moved” west.

Wartime Conferences Yalta: February, 1945 Last Meeting with FDR (dies in April) Declaration of Liberated Europe pledged to the “earliest possible establishment through free elections of Governments responsive to the will of the people”; to facilitate where necessary the holding of such elections. Separate declaration on Poland

The Declaration on Liberated Europe To foster the conditions in which the liberated people may exercise these rights, the three governments will jointly assist the people in any European liberated state or former Axis state in Europe where, in their judgment conditions require, (a) to establish conditions of internal peace; (b) to carry out emergency relief measures for the relief of distressed peoples; (c) to form interim governmental authorities broadly representative of all democratic elements in the population and pledged to the earliest possible establishment through free elections of Governments responsive to the will of the people; and (d) to facilitate where necessary the holding of such elections.

The “Big Three” at Yalta

Yalta Four Power Occupation of Germany Reparations U.S.S.R. to enter war v. Japan War Crimes Trials

Yalta Controversies The meaning of “free elections” and “responsive to the will of the people” The Yalta Controversy Did FDR and Churchill “sell out” Eastern Europe? Was the “Declaration” meant literally?

Yalta Controversies Most Cold War Issues date back to Yalta “Liberated Europe”, esp. Poland Division of Germany FDR dies in April; tried to be balance between Stalin and Churchill Documents v. “Understandings”

Wartime Conferences: Potsdam Potsdam: July 1945 FDR Dead Truman’s “plain speaking” Churchill voted out mid- conference Mutual suspicion evident

Potsdam: Major “Decisions” Demilitarization and de-nazification War Crimes Trials to be held Unconditional Surrender of Japan Allied Control Council for Germany

The Division of Germany

Analysis of Origins Salience: the quality of being important or striking; the U.S. and U.S.S.R. were the only two “great powers” left Hegemony: the dominance of one group over other groups, with or without the threat of force Ideological differences: capitalism v. communism; democracy v. totalitarianism Truman v. Stalin: personality conflicts

Formalizing the Cold War: Two Policy Initiatives The Truman Doctrine: The Philosophical Underpinning of U.S. Cold War Policy The Marshall Plan: European Economic Recovery Plan

Formalizing the Cold War Background to the Truman Doctrine Feb. 1947: Britain can no longer support Greece against communist rebels Turkey under pressure to allow Soviet control of Bosporus and Dardanelles

Formalizing the Cold War The Truman Doctrine March, 1947 Special Session of Congress Truman’s Speech “I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.”

The Truman Doctrine Requests $400,000,000 in aid to Greece and Turkey Based on a new policy: containment George Kennan’s The Sources of Soviet Conduct Soviet expansion is traditional Russian policy Must be opposed

Containment The Sources of Soviet Conduct “The main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union, must be that of a long- term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.”

The Sources of Soviet Conduct The U.S. must counter “Soviet pressure against the free institutions of the Western world” through the “adroit and vigilant application of counter-force at a series of constantly shifting geographical and political points, corresponding to the shifts and maneuvers of Soviet policy.”

The Sources of Soviet Conduct Containment would “promote tendencies which must eventually find their outlet in either the break-up or the gradual mellowing of Soviet power.”

Formalizing the Cold War The Marshall Plan (June 1947) Western Europe also in chaos, years of war destroyed basic infrastructure for economy Weak economies are subject to communist sympathies 1947 Secretary of State George Marshall proposes that the US provide aid to all European nations that need it $13 Billion to Europe by 1952

The Marshall Plan

Formalizing the Cold War The Division of Germany Western occupied Germany (Allies): Federal Republic of Germany Eastern occupied Germany (Soviets): German Democratic Republic

Formalizing the Cold War NATO The Warsaw Pact

Major Crises of the Cold War 1948: Berlin Blockade and Airlift 1949: Soviet A-Bomb Suez Crisis (1956) U-2 Incident (1960) Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961) Berlin Wall (1961) Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Berlin Blockade and Airlift Two Issues Test of “will” Currency reform in Germany June 20, 1948: 10 billion, 701 million, 720 thousand of the new German Marks (Duetschmarks) Gamble based on free market principles Implicit was unification of the western zones

Berlin Blockade and Airlift March 20, 1948: USSR walks out of Control Council March 30, 1948: USSR slows traffic into Berlin June 7, 1948: Western allies plan West German State June 24, 1948: USSR blocks access to Berlin for 321 days: “road repairs”

The Airlift Chosen over military option 272,000 flights into West Berlin May 12, 1949: Soviets reopen West Berlin

The Airlift