Origins of the Cold War

Origins of the Cold War – #1 Ideological Differences Different philosophies/ideologies: Democratic capitalism Marxist communism

United States – Soviet Union No elections or fixed elections Dictatorship Communist Everyone helps everyone else (collective good) Society controlled by the secret police Total censorship Represents views of workers Free elections Democratic Capitalist “Survival of the Fittest” Richest world power Personal freedom Freedom of the media

Origins of the Cold War – Prior to WWII No Soviet representative participated in the Treaty of Versailles The U.S. had intervened in the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks by supporting the “Whites” – tsarist forces The U.S. did not establish diplomatic relations until 1933 The Soviets were not invited to join the League of Nations until 1934

Origins of the Cold War – Prior to WWII The Western Allies had appeased the growing power of Hitler partly in the hope that he would destroy the Soviet state for them. The U.S. and Britain believed that Stalin was a bigger threat than Hitler The USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) to delay a German invasion

Origins of the Cold War – #2 Delay of Second Front Delays in opening a second front angered the Soviets Western leaders promised it in 1942 & 43, but only delivered in mid-1944 From the fall of France until mid-1944, most of the fighting was left up to the Soviets

What message is the Soviet cartoonist conveying? In the cradle of German fascism – “Good Day Adolf Hitler” – 1933

Origins of the Cold War – #3 Atomic Bombs Britain and the U.S. didn’t help the Soviets in developing atomic weapons The U.S. had used nuclear weapons on Japan and Stalin was fearful of nuclear blackmail or an attack This led to the arms race

Origins of the Cold War – #3 Atomic Bombs 1949 – The Soviets exploded an atomic bomb In response, Truman ordered the development of the “H-bomb” (hydrogen bomb), which is 750 times more powerful than an atomic bomb 1952 – The U.S. tested its first H-bomb at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands 1953 – The Soviets tested their first H-bomb Each side tried to outdo the other in the scramble to build more destructive weapons

#4 – Teheran Conference (Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 1943) First meeting of the “Big-Three” Stalin Churchill F. Roosevelt Its purpose was to set the direction of WWII in Europe: The 2nd front was discussed Possible entry of the Soviets into the war against Japan Possible creation of an international organization to maintain peace after the war

#4 – Yalta Conference (Feb. 3, 1945) Most of the discussions involved the arrangement of Europe following the end of the war Peace meant different things to each leader: Stalin – an increase in Soviet power and safeguards against further attacks Churchill – a free and democratic Europe with Britain at its head Roosevelt – world democracy headed by the U.S.

#4 – Yalta Conference (Feb. 3, 1945) The decisions at Yalta were: Germany will be dearmed, denazified, demilitarized and divided Temporarily divide Germany into four zones of occupation, but it was to eventually be one country Stalin agreed to free, democratic and secret elections in Poland and all European countries Stalin agreed to enter the war against Japan Agreed on the UN

#4 – Potsdam (Jul. 16-Aug. 2, 1945) Truman, Atlee, and Stalin. The Western leaders didn’t get along well with Stalin. Their decisions were: To denazify and demilitarize in their own ways in their own zones The Soviets were to receive reparations (25% from the West zones) and the rest in food from the East zone The U.S. felt like there had not been a “free and democratic” vote in Poland United Nations was created

Origins of the Cold War – Immediate Aftermath of WWII With the serious weakening of Britain and France as world powers, only the U.S. and USSR were left as superpowers

Origins of the Cold War – #5 Sovietization of Eastern Europe Soviets want buffer zone for protection All countries in Eastern Europe became communist East Germany and other countries became marginally independent “satellite” states bound to the Soviet Union

How to Make a Country Communist – Salami Tactics The local military, police, and society would be infiltrated by Soviet Military Intelligence Each of the parties was “sliced off” one after the other Eliminated anti-Communist leaders before elections Forcefully installed a Communist government

Case Study – Sovietization of Poland Russia and Poland never got along: Poland had been partitioned three times Poles invaded Russia Katyn Forest Massacre Red Army halts

Case Study – Sovietization of Poland At Yalta, it was determined that Poland would hold free elections to determine their government In Jan. 1947 in Poland, elections distinguished by massive voter fraud gave the Communists 93% of seats Deportations to Siberia Winning candidates from democratic parties were murdered, were arrested, or fled Millions of voters were taken off the register

Iran Controversy (1946) After WWII ended, Stalin broke an agreement to remove his troops from Iran’s northernmost province He had occupied the land during WWII with British and American approval Why? The Soviets needed the oil It was a supply line to the USSR The Shah was pro-German during the war When Truman protested to the UN, Stalin backed down

Italy In Italy, the Communists were showing signs of great strength going into the April election Def. Sec. Forrestal worked closely with the Catholic Church, which feared the Vatican falling behind the Iron Curtain Prominent Italian archbishops proclaimed that anyone who voted for the Communists would not be allowed to receive holy absolution The U.S. funded democratic parties in Italy In the days before the voting, he ordered Navy planes to fly over major cities in a show of force When the election came, the Communists were defeated

France Communists had organized campaigns of looting and vandalism in major cities and a mammoth strike involving 3 million workers that brought the country’s economy to a virtual stop 13,000 troops had been needed in Marseilles The Marshall Plan would help to subdue any notion of a Communist France

Origins of the Cold War – #7 Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech In March 1946, Churchill addressed the American people with his famous Iron Curtain speech, “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent of Europe” These words marked the beginning of the Cold War

Origins of the Cold War – #7 Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech Soviet Reaction – Thought it was “racist” and a “call to war with the Soviet Union” Withdrew from the IMF Stepped up anti-West propaganda Initiated a new 5-year plan