1. Roots of the Cold War
Chapter 33

2. Events
Casual Themes
Traditional Views
Revisionist Views
1917 through 1933
National security and economic development
1. Russia withdraws from WWI
2. Red scare
3. U.S. soldiers fight the Bolsheviks
4. Russia in debt to:
U.S. gov’t-$193 mil.
Nationals-$107 mil.
Corp.-$337 mil.
1. Had to get out of WWI
2. Their ideology is their own choice
3. What if Russia supported the South in the U.S. Civil War
4. Debt represents capitalist exploits
Soviet relations with Hitler
National security
1. Signed Nazi-Soviet nonaggression pact
2. Stalin is just like Hitler
3. Poland split by Germany and U.S.S.R.
4. Seized Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finnish territ.
1. Had to sign to buy time to build army
2. Communism and Nazism non-compatible. Spoke out against appeasement.
3-4. Territory taken to provide greater protection against Nazis

3. Events
Casual Themes
Traditional Views
Revisionist Views
D-Day, opening a second front
National security
1. Delivered on promise in June 1944 with invasion at Normandy
2. Any invasion before that day would have failed
3. Had to take Africa first to secure oil
4. Had to take Sicily and Italy first.
1. Delayed from 1942 promise so that the Nazis and Soviets can annihilate each other
2. Soviet Union had more death and destruction than any other country fighting in WWII.
U.S.S.R. going to war with Japan
National security and economic development
1. Promised at Yalta to join war against Japan no later than 3 months after fall of Germany
2. Rushed into war after the A-bombs to gain desired territory
1. Kept promise-entered war on August 8th, 1945 within the three month period
2. Did fight Japanese, therefore should get territorial reparations

4. Events
Casual Themes
Traditional Views
Revisionist Views
Dropping of the A-bomb
National security
1. Dropped to end the war quickly and save lives on both sides
1. Japan ready to surrender-bombs’ purpose was to frighten U.S.S.R. to force it to surrender to U.S. desires
2. Nuclear black mail
Control of Germany and Berlin
1. Forced the permanent division of Berlin and Germany for purpose of spreading communism
1. Division occurred where troops occupied territories at the end of the war
2. A united Germany was too big of a threat to Germany-twice invaded in the 20th century
3. Division was talked about at Yalta and Potsdam

5. Events
Casual Themes
Traditional Views
Revisionist Views
Control of Eastern Europe
National security
1. Seizure of Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria to spread communism
2. “Iron curtain” makes these countries Soviet satellites cut off from the West
3. Promised free elections in Eastern Europe
1. These nations were “liberated” by Soviet troops
2. As promised elections were held- communists won.
Control of Greece and Turkey
National security and economic development
1. Communist guerrillas lead civil war in Greece
2. Truman Doctrine of 1947 to stop aggression in Greece and Turkey and contain communism
1. Their own civil war
2. The U.S.S.R. has long tradition of trying to secure warm water ports since winter freezes Soviet ports